comparing apples and oranges does make sense at times. they don’t look the same, they have different taste & features, but they still serve the same purpose and, for that reason, may be compared.
just like the yamaha yzf 600 r, aka thundercat, and the aprilia rsv mille. i’ve ridden the mille for a couple of hundred kilometers now, and for me it is just natural to compare its features and riding characteristics to those of the yamaha, the bike i traded it for.
yamaha yzf 600 r.
it is apples and oranges, indeed.
the yamaha is a mid-range sports touring bike. this implies that is built around a tried & tested, but also slightly outdated, engine, with good, but not top notch, components around it. the yzf has a deltabox frame, as found on yamaha’s sports bikes, however, not made from aluminum, but from steel. brakes and suspension are also good but standard material.
aprilia rsv mille.
the mille on the other hand is a superbike replica, and while it is of course far from the model that is raced in the wsbk series, it features quite some high-end components and unique technical solutions.
it has a high-end v2 engine, slightly less powerful than that of its rivals, the ducati 998r, and the honda vtr1000 sp2, but still quite a handful. frame and rear fork are aluminium, it has top brakes (brembo gold series) and very good suspension parts (if not as good as the ohlins used on the r model).
in car terms the yamaha would probably be something like a bmw 3 series, probably the ‘touring’ model, while the aprilia could better be described as a porsche. a 911 of course, what else. back to apples and oranges for a moment: both are cars, but you better be aware of what you can – and want to – expect from each of them.
legroom.
first thing you notice when you swap to the mille is that the bike is much higher, while at the same time your body is tilted more forward towards the handlebars. after the rather relaxed position on the t’cat this seems a little tense at first, but the much more narrow tank and the better placed pegs eventually make it easy to accomodate to this racy position. same goes for the seat: seems a little small and hard at first, but actually it is quite comfortable. the shape of the tank really deserves a little more attention: the only bike i have every tried that offered such a slim tank was my ktm, and that says a lot. the tank does not spread your legs in the way it did on the yam, which – i guess – has a lot do to with the fact that in-line-fours build a lot wider than vee-twos.
i like it. the fairing is big enough to protect you from wind & weather, and there is a small storage space under the rear seat.
captain future.
after the rather conservative instruments on the yamaha you feel almost like a fighter pilot on the mille. however, unless you plan to spend considerable time on a race track the mille does not offer that much more functionality. only the the lap timer (max 40 laps) and the max & average speed readings really become important.
i do like the little red flash, though, that indicates it’s time to shift to the next gear. not that i see it very often. 😉
weight lifting.
the mille feels light. i don’t know exactly why, on paper both bike weigh the same, but still somehow the mille is easier to handle. maybe the japanese engineers were slightly more optimistic, or gravity pull less over there, but the yam was always a pain to move around.
looks.
there is not a lot to say: the yzf is a neat bike, but the mille definitely got the looks. especially in silver, the other colours are a bit too flashy for me. plus you got one grim set of headlights (1 low beam + 2 high beam).
sound system.
sound does matter. at least it does to me. i love low, rumbling engine noises, and i get very nervous and upset by high-pitched, wailing sounds. this is e.g. one reason why i don’t ride two-stroke bikes, and it is also a reason why i prefer twins over in-line-fours. i just can’t stand the noise. the aprilia’s low grumble sounds a little loud at first, but the funny thing about it is that the engine does not get much louder when you go towards the limiter. and it keeps my blood pressure low, too. 😉
the exhaust is a piece of art. so is the asymmetric rear fork. this piece of aluminium is probably one of the most beautiful parts found on any bike there is.
hands on job.
i can’t complain about the brakes of the yamaha, although i found them a little on the soft side. this got a bit better when i changed the brake fluid, and would probably have gotten even better had i changed the original rubber hoses for steel-flex parts. the aprilia comes with steel hoses, and a very crisp feel. the brakes are generally working extremely well, with different size calipers – like the yamaha – and split pads. almost a little too well, a little care does not hurt, whereas carelessness definitely could.
the clutch was one of the (few) points i never liked about the yamaha. it was light enough to pull, but had strange feel and an unpleasant rattle. the rattle might have been a sign of old age, although the mechanics told me it was ok. still, no comparison to the hydraulic clutch of the mille, with its power-assist. same goes for the gearbox: while i could not really complain about the yamaha, the mille is just easier & smoother.
heart & soul.
the yamaha has an excellent engine, really. quite some torque and easy to ride from low revs, but there is no comparison to the power of the 1000 cc vee-twin of the mille. as my mechanical engineering pal andi used to say: displacement can only be substituted by one thing: more displacement. i can confirm this is absolutely true. while the yamaha needs at least some 6000, but rather some 8000+ rpm to really start moving, with the mille it is more a case of just opening the throttle. ok, the twin does not feel comfortable below 3500 (although it can be forced to cooperate from about 2000), but then output is smooth and overwhelming. and it just keeps coming, right up to the rev limiter. i love it: i can pull out of a corner with a little twist of the gas hand, get going, and quickly shift up. need a little boost? just do it! the engine never feels stressed and never ever fails to make a serious impression on your stomach.
the straight is the shortest connection between two bends.
this is, if you like, the ultimate summary of motorcycle riding. as far as i’m concerned, at least.
and if there is one thing i never really like about the yamaha it was the way it cornered. don’t ask me what it was, but i always had to work to get it in the corner, and then to keep it on track through the rest of the bend. straight-line stability was never a problem, though. the mille on the other hand does exactly what you want it to, no more and no less. i don’t recall ever having the very unpleasant feeling of being a little short of traction, something that happened to me on the yamaha several times, and always on the front wheel! not much fun, i can tell you.
some cars would kill for a 190/50 rear tyre.
comfort zone.
generally life on the thundercat is more relaxed. just a look at it, and you see why. compared to the quite racy position on the mille, the yzf feels a little bit like a chopper, really. let’s be honest, driving to work, home, or going round the back roads behind your house might be more a job for the yamaha. still, the mille is actually more comfortable than it looks. i was quite surprised to find that a few hours in the saddle did not tire me out, neither my hands & wrists, nor my bum. still, life on the mille starts at about 80 kmh. below that it really is a bit of a drag, and there is not enough air pressure to support your body. above that it is getting better, and at highway speeds it is actually quite good. don’t ask me how it is at high speeds, yet. wind / rain protection is also surprisingly good, at higher speeds the rider will need to tuck in behind the fairing, but that’s what is is for, right? and i already mentioned the tank. actually it is a plastic tank, obviously it is not so easy to form such a shape from metal.
a verdict?
apples and oranges, remember? both can be great, it is up to you to decide which one you prefer, give a certain situation, or as a matter of general taste. the yamaha could be the better day-to-day ride, with good comfort and – let’s be fair – more than sufficient power. it’s overall quality is good enough, and it is an excellent compromise between fun & reality. no wonder it has it’s fans.
the aprilia is a bike for people who are looking for something special. and every little bit of it is special, indeed. for me owning it is also a dream come true. the question you need to ask yourself is: do you want to compromise some every-day comfort for the pure pleasure you get from riding it.
do you?