RSV Valve Clearances

[QED]

I need to get the valve clearances checked on my 02 Aprilia RSV1000R and am wondering if anyone would have an idea of what I can expect to pay?

I am confident doing the rest of the servicing on my bike but have never done valve clearances and the potential for getting it wrong is just not worth it! I'm sure if you know what your doing it is not all that difficult but unless someone showed me how, I wouldn't be confident enough to do it myself. I intend to strip the bike of fairing and anything else which would otherwise incur unnecessary workshop time and will drop the bike off in a van so that the engine is cold.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

[TKDMitch]

I don't know off hand mate, sorry, but you can bet your life that someone on here will, along with knowing everything else about the bike.

Mitch

[marcaztls]

Well if you supplied the bike to me like that for just the valves checking I would charge 2 hours labour, £82.25 inc. vat

If they needed adjusting it would probably add another hour to it, £41.13 inc. vat plus whatever the shims are. Without looking you I'd guesstimate the shims to be about £4 each.

Hope that helps.

[QED]

Well if you supplied the bike to me like that for just the valves checking I would charge 2 hours labour, £82.25 inc. vat

If they needed adjusting it would probably add another hour to it, £41.13 inc. vat plus whatever the shims are. Without looking you I'd guesstimate the shims to be about £4 each.

Hope that helps.

Sounds fair to me. Any idea how likely it is that they would need adjusting? My bike has just done 11000 miles.

Thanks.

[marcaztls]

Sounds fair to me. Any idea how likely it is that they would need adjusting? My bike has just done 11000 miles.

Thanks.

No worries.

To be honest at that mileage I doubt they will. On the 'prillas I've done around that number it's pretty uncommon to have to adjust them

[matt_the_blat]

I need to get the valve clearances checked on my 02 Aprilia RSV1000R and am wondering if anyone would have an idea of what I can expect to pay?

I am confident doing the rest of the servicing on my bike but have never done valve clearances and the potential for getting it wrong is just not worth it! I'm sure if you know what your doing it is not all that difficult but unless someone showed me how, I wouldn't be confident enough to do it myself. I intend to strip the bike of fairing and anything else which would otherwise incur unnecessary workshop time and will drop the bike off in a van so that the engine is cold.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

I've just done mine! 02 RSV-R too

Only ever done them on my FZR400 before (checked and had to adjust too) but a big v-twin isn't quite the same. Checking them really isn't that hard - mine were all in spec - but if any need adjusting I can see that it would get a bit more involved.

The rear cylinder is a doddle but the front cylinder is a pain - the frame is right in the way for accessing the sparkplugs and getting the valve cover off so a universal joint or similar is recommended!

As marcaztls says, the Rotax engine is well known for rarely needing the valve clearances adjusting - see www.apriliaforum.com among others for details. But to be honest, if you can spare the cash and can get it done as cheap as marcaztls says then fill yer boots

RFTR,

Matt

(currently doing a coolant flush and change!)

[marcaztls]

but if any need adjusting I can see that it would get a bit more involved.

The rear cylinder is a doddle but the front cylinder is a pain - the frame is right in the way for accessing the sparkplugs and getting the valve cover off so a universal joint or similar is recommended!

Yep, adjusting them is a pain the first few times but you get the 'knack' after a bit.

As for the front cam cover, I know the bolt you're talking about, front left right? I often find it much easier to take the horn and shroud off just behind the forks and go in from there. Just a word of warning to anyone doing this themselves, the front cam cover is a crap magnet on these bikes so before you take anything to bits, clean as much as possible

[MotoNik]

Recently had my Falco done by Bikers in Hampshire (official Aprilia dealer) and they did the clearances, balanced the TBs and re-set the COs. All in it was £155, which I thought was reasonable. Might have been a shade more if more of the clearances had been out.

The Falco and RSV motors are more or less the same, so that ought to give you a good idea. Like you, I did all the basic stuff myself (oil, clutch and brake fluid, plus air and oil filters) to save a few quid, and I've still got the dealer stamp for what they did, plus the receipts for the oil and filters that I did myself, so it keeps the history there.

Nik