RSV4 engine teardown, Part 2

This 2013 aprilia RSV4 Factory went bang at COTA with only 2,500 miles of use. After pulling the top end off it looks like the problem was caused by a rod bolt coming loose at high RPM. Go to 16:00 to see wildly varying torque values on the remaining rod bolts.

Thanks to Sena for the Prism camera.
#rideconnected

[Bird-ye]

I'm 2 years late. Been planning to trade in my 09 crossplane for a 2011 V4. Thanks a lot for this video! Read up everywhere that motor oil leak was common due to poor quality gasket used in factory (small issue). But this rod bolt factory issue is too serious. I shall keep my crossplane.

[Sugarkryptonite]

I have a 1984 V65 Sabre (1100cc V4), and I can't get over how similar this engine looks to my V4. Nice job on the teardown. Only vid on YouTube about these engines, really.

[waynevmax]

When the connecting rods and the crankcase have an argument the rods usually win!

[junemacdonald]

I believe we call that, in the industry, FUCKED. That’s a super bummer, what an incredible machine these RSV4s are.

[ogrethug]

Awesome videos Shaun ! You rock ! I've watched part 1 also. I tore down my old RSV Mille engine. The cranckshaft bearings gone bad. Got another engine now. Would love to own a RSV4. But I see they're rather problematic. Also love that electric tool with torque metter at the end. Never seen that before !

[jeffduv]

Great Video, Very interesting. Very disappointed to see Aprilia's quality control was/is so poor

[soybeanrice]

Thanks for your videos! I'm gonna be doing a valve check and poss adjustment myself and these videos give so much reference i think I can do it

[AlfaAddict]

This is the problem with small-ish bike manufacturers. They have sexy looking bikes at decent prices. However, this screams of a bad install. Why? Because they don't have the super fancy machinery like BMW, machinery that can tighten down bolts all at once to the right torque. Also the extra silicone is poor. Again, major manufacturers would not make that mistake because, things like the application of silicone, would be automated.

I am looking at buying RSV4 but this made me think twice - for a couple of grand more you can get a HP4 and have reliability, power and extra comforts. Still, the rsv4 right now is a bargain, specially the higher mileage ones, which is great because you know the bolts have been done up correctly if it hasn't gone bang! Great video!

[syk]

Your video steered me away from pulling the trigger on buying a RSV4. What I understood from you video, Apilia has an awesome concept/design of an engine but their level of quality control/execution in manufacturing is nonexistent. I guess being a smaller company, Aprilia was forced to cut corners and it seems they cut corners on the build quality.

Edit* This confirms that the people who post on forums with higher mileage RSV4s and rave that the RSV4 is reliable don't actually ride their bikes but instead baby it its whole life.

[ahndajong]

Oh! That sounds expensive. Haha! Great video!

[-smp-scientificmethodpersp]

"Gonna feel a little good so I'm gonna keep on dancing!" "Gonna hold me like you should so I'mma keep on dancin'!" Sounds like the motor was singing to you

[ApriliaRacer]

Very informative vid...thank you kindly for the post Shaun!

[apollomorris]

That's A monday motor built after a long weekend of drinking and sleepless nights.

[Antprilia.]

i just bought a 2018 rsv4rr from the auction with only 2 miles and i took the back spark plugs out necause bike sounded awful. one plug is chewed up bad, bike smokes and is dripping oil out of the exhaust. how does this happen with only 2 miles? display says 80mph max on dash..

[Apexium]

Nice video, hopefully more is coming! I suppose rebuilding was not economically ideal, so that the reason why it was parted out? Wondering, how much rebuilding would have cost?

[razerloche]

I wouldn't even do a clutch replacement on my 150cc myself, and this guy is a tearing down a 20k dollar V4 engine.

[mickeyfinn]

how the heck do you remember how it all goes back together ??? nice vid

[nightbringersteve]

Cool dude. How do you repair the fractured enginge walls? or you just keep the cylinders and swap the block? but seeing that broken piston... must have scrapped the cylinder walls too. :S

[sukhjitsingh]

Thanks for sharing the process, were you finally able to rebuild it ?

[Speedytrip]

Damn Id be paranoid to forget something when putting it back together lol