[drthompson65]

Once again the BMW rules and the mighty V4 comes in DEAD LAST. No matter what you can't polish a turd.

2010 Superbike Smackdown VII Street FMM - Sportbike Motorcycle Comparison Review - Motorcycle USA

 

[916WI]

I love the ranking that they gave in the "engine" category......The V4 Aprilia got a rating of "2" while the I4 BMW got a "10" So much for that V4 dominance......I wish that this was discussed in the text of the article so that I could quote it over and over for the next 10 to 15 years..........

 

[sqd8r]

I wonder how Aprilia will react to the increasing criticism from the pundits? No doubt the RSV4 is an excellent machine with quality components but it does have a few things working against it. The price is abhorent in good times let alone now to begin with, coupled with the recent engine debacle which has tarnished the image of the RSV it makes one wonder why drop 3X the money when a Honda, Suzuki and now BMW etal are equal to/superior to the RSV4. Even WSC success won't move $30K models when even a Ducati has an enviable price, reliability and dealer network.

No doubt the RSV4 will still sell well, motorcycle purchases are rarely a rationale action and the RSV never had any issues selling but then again the RSV was a bit more special imo, winning masterbike even when it was past its prime. The RSV4 is a great machine but it will be missing from my garage until a more agreeable priceline is introduced and a better dealer network - sadly.

 

[sburns2421]

So M-USA pans the Aprilia (sort of, two testers still picked it). Cycle World, Sport Rider, Motorcyclist, and RRW in their new issues all either directly or backhandedly criticize the RSV4-R.

I wonder if this relatively bad press is hurting sales? Already some dealers have discounted them from $16k down to $14.5k. The omnipotent BMW has taken the spec sheet crowd, Japanese riders tend to stick Japanese, and you always have a new MV and the current tasty 1198.

A brutally competitive market, in other words.

 

[nomo]

Yup , very good time to be a moto enthusiast , but I don't think it's fair to relegate the BMW to mere spec sheet status . It offers a great deal for the money and is I think a significant bike historically speaking as it represents an enviable effort by an esteemed manufacturer to meet tough competition head-on , instead of just being quirky , staid , and expensive . I know that I'd pay full MSRP for it if only I had a track within a 4 hour drive , and I'm cheap :banghead .

 

[sqd8r]

Yup , very good time to be a moto enthusiast , but I don't think it's fair to relegate the BMW to mere spec sheet status . It offers a great deal for the money and is I think a significant bike historically speaking as it represents an enviable effort by an esteemed manufacturer to meet tough competition head-on , instead of just being quirky , staid , and expensive . I know that I'd pay full MSRP for it if only I had a track within a 4 hour drive , and I'm cheap :banghead .

Exactly. Spec sheet wars are usually won by one trick ponies like Kawasaki in the bhp department; often spec sheet winners miss the refinement angle that Honda regularly wins which usually leads to road and in many cases track honours. BMW's first year model beats not only the one trick ponies but also the omnipotent sublime Honda. That's not done just on the spec sheet since Honda rarely ever wins the spec sheet honours but is often the best ride out there - except this season.

 

[Jami6989]

The RSV4 better start selling because all those free engines and dealer work to get them changed out must've cost them a fortune. This could turn into an epic failure at the prices they're asking and the current economy they're selling them in.

 

[sburns2421]

When the RSV4 came out I said it would be like the 916 was for Ducati.

Of course Cagiva/Ducati was flat broke 18 months after the 916 came out, hopefully the RSV4 doesn't do that for Piaggio/Aprilia...

I had a thread a couple of months ago on which bike would hit $10k on the used market first, as it sits now my vote will probably be Aprilia.
http://www.speedzilla.com/forums/street-track/59515-new-bike-will-hit-10k-first.html

 

[mikstr]

The RSV4 better start selling because all those free engines and dealer work to get them changed out must've cost them a fortune. This could turn into an epic failure at the prices they're asking and the current economy they're selling them in.

You mean they`re not selling like hotcakes? What of all the pent-up V4 demand we keep hearing about? Could it be just another in a long list of delusions by our man Larry? Say it isn`t so!!!!!!

 

[sburns2421]

If I had to buy a brand new bike, I would take the overweight, underpowered Aprilia over anything made in Japan or that hemorroid-ugly BMW.

If the only thing available was the S1000RR, the only personal plate I can think of to get would be: PILES.

 

[mikstr]

I would be quite happy with the Ape too, I am sure (or any other new literbike for that matter). They are all so far above the abilites of most mortals that it boils down to personal preference. That being said, the numerous comparison results do point out that the V4 is by no means the inherently superior package the fringe element on here purports it to be.

 

[twowheelcossack]

I am always amused when one magazine gets results that are polar opposite of another in these "shootouts". I'm convinced those ratings in that tabulation reflect each manufacturer's total expenditure on advertising relative to one another in said publication/website doing the comparing. HA!

 

[sburns2421]

I am always amused when one magazine gets results that are polar opposite of another in these "shootouts". I'm convinced those ratings in that tabulation reflect each manufacturer's total expenditure on advertising relative to one another in said publication/website doing the comparing. HA!

I really don't think so, it would be too obvious. All of the manufacturers have single or double paged spreads in every magazine every month it seems. I cannot see that much difference in price for one in the middle of the magazine than the inside back cover. Maybe some difference, but not a huge amount.

It is possible that manufacturers have a little leverage though, if brand X is constantly bashed they may be less forthcoming with test bikes in the future.

Say you were Honda:
"Dear Motorcyclist,
You have panned the DN01 as pointless, the CBR600 as boring, the VFR1200 for having technology no one needs, and the Goldwing as badly needing an update. We now have a new 1000cc V4 MotoGP replica, the RC61. Enjoy reading the test in Cycle World."