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Well...Don't flame me (yet).

I will have some insurance money coming. That made me think hard. The thing is that I'm moving to Poland, where Aprilia means nothing. Nobody knows it exists. So, if I take the bike with me, I'm left all alone with servicing, parts will need to be dragged from abroad, will never sell it either...Plus Polish roads are not really that good.

So, started thinking if it wouldn't be a good idea to find out if I can get enough money for my baby to change to something more suitable for me...KTM 950SM maybe?

Pity I haven't thought about it prior to countless hours and pounds spent on her...The bike plus all mods cost me in excess of 4500, I know that I will not recover that, but that is not my point. The bike looks absolutely lovely, better than any fighter I've ever seen, far better than Tuono's IMHO, all the lines blend together beautifully. I'm really proud of the result as she looks like she was meant to be that way straight from the factory (no chop/weld streetfighter jobbies here).

If I decide to sell her on, I will cry my eyes out, honestly.

It is heavily modded, so the offer is for enthusiasts or individualists only (I imagine). Has been lowsided (hence Fighter conversion) but no substancial damage apart from the front fairing and cooler (replaced). HPI clear. Low mileage (6000) 2004 bike.

Mods include:
-fighter fairing and subframe
-HID (UK headlight)
-Renegade airbox
-PC3
-Akra 2-1 road legal exhaust
-Mille swingarm, oil tank
-adjustable footpegs
-Convertibars
-braided hoses
-altered gearing (15/40)
-Tuono bellypan
-Mille shock
-many many others, countless really

Things to do:
-paintjob - scratches on the rear fairing (I'd do it myself prior to sale, planning on something subtle - black rear underseat fairing and black front fairing, the tank - left as it is).
-that's it!

Summing up, gentlemen, what is your opinion on my bike value? And what are the chances to get the money I/she deserves? It's just a feeler, just thinking about it, nothing more. Yet. But you know, once you get that idea...it's just growing in there...Donno...

The photos show her straight after the swap, now everything is finished.

Parts would be the least of my worries. Ebay and ur friendly forum mates will help you out!

minime wrote:Parts would be the least of my worries. Ebay and ur friendly forum mates will help you out!

... and a forum trip to Sabs place in Poland to educate his countrymen (and women) in the art of Aprilia .....

{Actually just another stop off in the Euro tour that we really MUST get round to organising}

Who's gonna fill the roads in then so He can ride it?

I agree Seb, you'd be better off with something else for 'over there' although I wouldnt be so sure the Falco wouldnt be able to handle it. Just buy a spare set of wheels and higher profile tyres...

D-Rider wrote:

minime wrote:Parts would be the least of my worries. Ebay and ur friendly forum mates will help you out!

... and a forum trip to Sabs place in Poland to educate his countrymen (and women) in the art of Aprilia .....

{Actually just another stop off in the Euro tour that we really MUST get round to organising}

Thank you gents.

I never doubted I would be able to count on your help. But it may be frustrating to wait for a *whatever part* for more than a month (that's the postal service you get from here to there and the other way round for some reason...).

This bike is simply not designed to be dropped, and this is inevitable over there. I already fitted her with two sets of frame protectors, spindle bobbins, bar-ends etc, It's got no bodywork (almost). So I'm quite sure
La Sporca would cope with roads, but would I? It's got a sport bike suspension after all...

Mind says: 950SM, which seems ideal for those roads. Ugly, though. Unfortunately not ugly enough to be loveable, if you know what I mean!

Heart says: don't.

So it's even. That's why I'm asking for your advice! Let the market decide.

If I'd need to part with a lot of cash, I wouldn't bother. But on the other hand, if I was to get a decent money for her, I would definitely consider.

Side note:
D-R, DO NOT ride to Poland. It is the most biker unfriendly place I've ever been to. Terrible surface, zero motorways, zero etiquette and no bike awareness, bully-ness on the road, plus thieves and vandalism.

When I drive to Poland I plan a day to get from Kent to German/Polish border (including a ferry) and then another day to get to Warsaw. Check on a map to understand. And that's not because of scenic routes.

Bikers in Poland are either to young to understand or too old to care. I fit right in the middle - I don't understand and don't care!

Fly to Krakow instead.

Kwackerz wrote:Just buy a spare set of wheels and higher profile tyres...

I'm in the process (sort of)

Italy loves Poland, so I bet its no more of an issue there than here.

However Polish winters are cruel and last 7 months.

WTF are you going to some 3rd world country

Gio wrote: WTF are you going to some 3rd world country

I think if you insert the word "home" between "going" and "to" you'll be well on your way to the answer .....



..... but yeah Sab, if the roads and other factors are so biker-unfriendly, the call of home must be very strong!

3rd world my arse! Theyre doing a lot better than us on some fronts.

Kwackerz wrote:3rd world my arse! Theyre doing a lot better than us on some fronts.

Well our plumber says so.

Gio wrote:Italy loves Poland, so I bet its no more of an issue there than here.

Myth. The only connections between us were Napoleon and Fiat.

Gio wrote: However Polish winters are cruel and last 7 months.

Myth. That would be 6

Gio wrote: WTF are you going to some 3rd world country

Sometimes it feels like it. But on most occasions the UK is trying hard to convince me that it's the other way round. I'm moving back to Europe, lads. ;)

Hi Seb

Looking good, I may be in the market, was thinking Tuono maybe R1 very different I know, just sold the TLR and looks like I have a buyer for the Fazer 1000, looking for something with charachter etc

Never know you may tempt me back to the prilla club, let me know what the numbers look like and the age milage etc, watching the pennies now as baby Stokesy is en route

Would be great if she stayed in the family, it would definitely lesser the pain! But...please read on.

My KTM experience day

Apparently some KTM dealers sell 950SM and 950SMR at 5999! 2 grand less than RRP! Madness!

I logged onto ktmtalk forum, same issues as Aprilias'...

Even worse dealer support, even worse (!) side stand on SuperDuke, even worse fuel economy, faulty EFI (hunting, jerking etc), plus engines blowing up (mainly singles, though)! Scary stuff nevertheless.

I went to KTM dealer and had a looksie at 950SM, 990SM and SuperDuke.

I had been there previously, my impression was - poor finish quality, bikes felt like they were made in China...Low quality of a sort (which was quite surprising - maybe I'm spoiled by Aprilia).

Well, today's visit confirmed all that. New SuperDuke felt better, though. SM - lotsa plastic, fuel cap just killed me: absolutely crap plasticky donnowat. Terrible. 8k quid quality? More like 3k to me.

When compared to Aprilia aluminium and robust plastic parts KTMs feel like toys from Romania (no offense intended)...I don't know if I could live with that (especially that I'd need to pay a lot towards those).

When sat on SM - very roomy and upright position, plus very uncomfortable seat. It lets you know straight away that it wants you to ride it. NOW. FAST.

Same with SuperDuke, but more road bike like. Very comfortable still. Shorter than my Sporca, sort of cross-over between Tuono and a supermoto. Very nice, if not ideal.

Could not ride those things, unfortunately. Had a knee op on Friday. Riding them would probably change a lot...

Still, for me, biking is not only about riding, there are people who think - if you're on it, you can't see it. Well, I'm not one of them, I like the quality feel and looks of the bike I own, I like to feel proud of it when I look at it.

So, summing up - I highly doubt I would be happy with KTM...But there's no alternative to my Aprilia apart from Tuono - which denies my point of changing bikes. I guess - I'm staying!