| Author |
Message |
Dave Penhale (Dapper)
Member
Username: Dapper
Post Number: 333
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 9:12 am: | |
Roger, forgot to mention, I'm a second wave biker also, had bikes in late 70's, then a 10+ yr lay off due to other commitments, then back into bikes from about 92 onward. |
Dave Penhale (Dapper)
Member
Username: Dapper
Post Number: 332
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 8:57 am: | |
Roger,
Good to hear about your experiences with the MV.
In a nutshell mine is kind of love/hate...I have had lots of problems but would like to think I'm in for the duration and can't see myself ever selling it, mainly because I love its looks! I set out to buy a 996 but ended up buying the MV due to its looks and comaprative rarity.
My MV is post the main changes early in production i.e. it alraedy had 2 radiators. However, I bought it when they were still reasonably hard to obtain. Consequently I got it brand new but from an Aprillia dealer in Brighton who had imported two bikes from Belgium. They had the bike PDI'd by Powerhouse, a main MV dealer in Kent, UK.
I soon got my hands on a UK owners manual and the service log was in all languages so no problem.
At 400 miles my bike was due its first service. Coincidentally I was riding it one day and the main computer failed (first in the country they said!). So it was taken by lorry first to '3X' the main UK importer, they were pissy about working on it as it wasn't originally an official UK import. I spoke to the main dealer who did the PDI, Powerhouse in Kent, who had other warranty bits to replace so it went to them by lorry.
After replacing the computer under warranty that dealer had a new set of throttle bodies to fit to the bike as it was pre a certain serial number. I was experiencing a flat spot at low revs (common on some bikes I'm told) so the dealer tried to swap out some other parts to try and erradicate, to no avail. i took the bike back home with the understanding that the factory were working a software fix to reschedule fueling....still dont know if this ever became available as my bike hasn't gone back in for its second service yet (due @ 3600 miles?)
I then enjoyed some 1000 miles of trouble free motoring and then my bike was booked to go in for the free Front brake caliper upgrade. My bike was also due to have a replacement oil filter under recall, However my nearest MV main dealer (now conveniently in my home city of Bristol, UK), didn't have any recal standard oil filters!!!!
One week later I went out on a ride and I had my oil filter canister casting split and it spat oil all over my rear tyre!! Luckily I smelt the oil and saw the trail of smoke (oil burning on exhausts) behind me. Had I cranked it left onto the motorway as would have been my intended next move, my engine, bike and me would have been trashed.
My bike then sat in garage unuseable for several weeks whilst I tried to obtain a new standard oil filter from literally anywhere in the world! I eventually got one, and the clamp ring to prevent it from loosening (something my original one had never done).
The bike is now ok apart from that minor flat spot and the fact that I know my rear brake needs attention because it doesnt function (I never use it in any case).
So there you have it. |
roger j comer (Comer)
New member
Username: Comer
Post Number: 1
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 17, 2002 - 11:43 am: | |
Hey Dave: I have an early one which I enjoy to some extent. The bike is beautiful but I find the engine very buzzy and difficult to drive unless really trying. I ride other bikes and find the throttle response and feathering of the throttle to be sad on the MV. I fitted a Teclusion (sp) fuel injection enrichment device which improved the throttle response and reduced the "jerky" ride. However, I still prefer to ride my 998 Ducati.
The darn gizzmo electronics are difficult for me to recall for operation and reset but the worst of all bikes I've driven (in this respect) is the Mille "R"...you even need to have abattery charger attached to keep the settings after a couple of weeks inactivity!!!
I guess I haven't found any interest in after market parts for this bike...what I have seen are generally from the UK and very expensive with no real idea if they work.
I haven't modified my bike any other than the Teclusion add-on and tearing out the wadding in the tail pipes...oh yes I did add some handle bar angle changers which I also did on my Duc. They improved the weight distribution from the outer edges to the palms of my hands. I also had the front brake update offered free for early bikes.
Would I sell it....yes...would I sell my Duc....NO!
Dave, I'm a re cycled rider from the 60's so you'll probably have a very different view of the MV. I'd be interested to hear from you.
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Dave Penhale (Dapper)
Junior Member
Username: Dapper
Post Number: 215
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Monday, September 09, 2002 - 5:40 am: | |
Any of you guys got one, if so be interested to hear your views/experiences. Had mine 2 yrs so will reciprocate. |
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