I'm new to the forum. I've only been riding for 4.5 years but have been riding every day all year round. Have ridden CBR600Fs since I passed my big bike test and after writing off 2 (Non-fault Cat D), finally took a gamble and got myself an Aprilia. It was a stunning 06 Black/Gold RSVR Factory but sadly it lasted just 13 days before some b*stards targeted it and paid my carpark a visit and cut through the squire lock attached to my almax chain with an angle grinder.
Angry, bitter and depressed I was wondering what to replace it with. I'd love to get the same bike again or even the non-factory version but a) there's nothing to stop the thieving tw&ts that took the first one from doing exactly the same again b) I live and work in London so even if I turned my home into Fort Knox, I'd be paranoid about parking it on the street even just for an hour.
So, what to replace it with.....well after my first v-twin experience, I'm hooked. I was looking for something relatively cheap, something less attractive to thieves, as reliable or almost as reliable as my old cbr, but fun to drive and with that lovely v-twin rumble. SV1000S was my first instinct and I did a lot of reading about the upside and its shortcomings and in doing so, stumbled across the Falco and then this forum.
So, a few questions.
Would you expect me to have less trouble with theft given age and model or is its relative rarity going to cause me a problem on that front vs the fairly common SV1000?
There aren't too many up for sale at the mo, so hard for me to gauge what a good price is but if you're looking at a max budget of £2,500, preferably less, which of the ones below would you go for and why?
2005, high mileage
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2005-APRILIA-SL-1 ... 500wt_1156
2002, low mileage
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aprilia-SL1000-SL ... 945wt_1139
2002, medium mileage
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/APRILIA-FALCO-SIL ... 834wt_1139
2004, medium mileage
http://www.gumtree.com/london/10/73876110.html
Now, for insurance purposes only, nice if it has an alarm and immobiliser already as that will save me a few bob for putting one on. I like the idea of aftermarket cans making the v-twin sound even better but am too tight/practical to shell out for them after I've bought the bike. Also nice if the battery has already been uprated, sidestand mod done and not so importantly (for me anyway at the moment) uprated shock.
I'm going to be using it predominantly during the week for commuting and as the weather warms up, ferrying the missus around at weekends so I'm going to be racking up between 7k and 9k miles a year. Given the opportunity though I will take it out for a blast at weekends and I'm not likely to take it on any trackdays but who knows, the bike might change that!
Lastly, mechanically, I'm a total noob. I've owned hondas, so all I have ever done is tighten the chain, fit honda heated grips and honda replacement indicators (No wire cutting involved).
A lot of questions and info in a first post, I know, so thanks for your time and any opinions/advice welcome even though I know at least 2 of the bikes I've listed belong to people on this forum
