Aprilia SXV Problems – Diagnostics and Repair

Among legendary dual-sport motorcycles, Aprilia SXV is an important player on the market. Unfortunately, the vehicle is not in production anymore, but still, its owners write wonderful reviews while mechanics are claiming this motorbike is bad because they have no work due to its quality and durability.

Today, we'll try to find common problems in the Aprilia SXV and will tell you what exactly you need to do to cope with these problems. This motorcycle offers cool options for those who want a really light dual-sport bike with all-purpose use. Once you ride it, you can't help but think about purchasing this bike even though it's not a new model and it only can be bought used.

Aprilia sxv problems

Here's what we'll discuss today:

  1. How good is the Aprilia SXV motorcycle?
  2. What are the common problems of the model?
  3. What should you do to keep your Aprilia dual-sport bike running?
  4. How long can Aprilia SXV last?

Let's get started!

Our short review of Aprilia SXV - is it actually good?

The motorcycle is really beautiful compared to any other dual-sport bike from that time. The Aprilia SXV looks wonderful and invites you to have a great ride. But what about the second emotion after you actually start riding it? You may have noticed that a lot of dirt and dual-sport bikes are not really comfortable and are pretty noisy, so riding them is not as cool as watching them.

But with Aprilia SXV things are a little different. This motorcycle feels really good. Being only 268 lbs, this motorcycle is extremely light and it can be a big advantage for the person who is looking for a light dual-sport bike for better control on the road.

Here are some important features you should consider:

  • the motorcycle is powered by one of two possible engines - 449cc or 549cc for the 450 and 550 versions respectively;
  • the engines are pretty much similar - they are twin-cylinder (V-twin) water-cooled 4-stroke engines with no extraordinary technologies;
  • the power is 54 or 69 hp depending on the engine type, the torque is not specified and it actually doesn't matter much;
  • the transmission is manual, of course, it's a 5-speed transmission with a separate lubrication option - quite a good choice;
  • the front suspension fork offers adjustments (2 possible positions) but the standard settings are actually ideal;
  • the seat height is 918 mm which is not very low, so shorter riders may experience some problems;
  • the motorcycle holds only 2 or 3 gallons of fuel depending on the version, the gas mileage is estimated at 55 mpg, on average.

So, the Aprilia SXV with the smaller engine will probably go about 100 miles between fuel pumps. It's not that much and you have to consider it when you are setting off on a long ride. Though, the SXV model isn't made to save some fuel. If you go off-roading or rev it up to the red line, the fuel consumption will be hard to call economical.

The Aprilia dual-sport motorcycle is actually good. A lot of owners write wonderful reviews and say that they would buy another SXV if they were sold new. But in 2010, Aprilia discontinued the model along with the RXV dirt bike. Instead, you can look at the Dorsoduro which is actually a sister model for the SXV.

What are some common problems with the Aprilia SXV?

We know that Aprilia bikes are very long-lasting and they aren't usually thought to be problematic. But you may know our persistence in finding true facts about different vehicles. So, we decided to dig deeper and see if there are a lot of problems with the SXV motorcycle reported by owners.

Here's what we managed to find.

  • The wiring and battery problems

Actually, all the wiring problems come from one 30A fuse placed on the left side of the motorcycle. This fuse tends to blow after the long shelf life of the bike or just after it stands in your garage for some time. Once it blows, you aren't able to start and ride the bike.

Also, this fuse is one of the reasons for battery drains. If you see that the battery is dead, just check the fuse.

We should say that battery drains may also occur due to other problems in the bike's construction. But, in most cases, the 30A fuse is to blame.

  • Plastic oil filter cover

Stock Aprilia SXVs used to have plastic oil filter covers. You can easily find an aftermarket part made of metal (aluminum). So, if your Aprilia still has the plastic cover, better get rid of it as soon as possible. It may overheat and then the consequences will be unpredictable.

This is a bad construction defect, but thank goodness, it's really very easy to fix. Just buy an aftermarket oil filter cover with a brand new O-ring to avoid leaks and your bike is OK.

  • Speedometer cable issues

Unfortunately, the speedometer cable is routed in the wrong way in the Aprilia SXV. It may be easily chewed on the front disc just during your ride. It won't be a catastrophic accident, but your speedometer will stop working anyway.

Also, what happens when this cable is chewed on the disk, one of the fuses blows up and needs replacement. Without locating this problem, you won't start your bike. The start button will give no reaction from the engine.

Avoiding or fixing this problem is not hard. You need to buy a new speedometer cable and change its routing. It's as easy as that. Better do it now before you experienced one of the common problems.

  • Oil leaks

We've heard dozens of stories when people said that they had lost a quart of oil in just 10 minutes of riding. Aprilia SXV owners need to have some extra oil just in case always with them. Once this bike starts leaking some oil, it gets rid of pretty much all oil you have in the engine.

This is a common problem for all dirt bikes and dual-sport bikes because the engines often work at high RPMs and they are vibrating hard. This means seals and gaskets are worn out quickly and lead to leaks.

Also, these engines can burn some oil after 15-20 thousand miles on them. If you notice a lot of black smoke behind your Aprilia, it's time to repair your engine.

  • Sport maintenance intervals

These bikes are made for sport. But sport riding makes it really hard for all equipment to survive. So, you should look at the manual carefully and read some sections of it. Especially, pay attention to the section with maintenance intervals.

Aprilia SXV is a sports racing bike that you are likely to rev up hard. So, be careful with oil change intervals and oil qualities. Once you buy bad oil or forget to change it on time, your SXV may start suffering.

Also, these bikes are very demanding in terms of the quality and viscosity of oil and the quality of filters. Never buy any suspicious parts and fluids for maintaining your Aprilia. This may lead to bad wear.

  • Fuel consumption

We've mentioned already that the consumption must be about 55 MPG. But when you are racing, the fuel consumption will be much worse. We can think of probably 20 MPG on the racing track or even less.

It's not the problem or disadvantage of the bike, but it's the thing that you should obviously control and know about. Why? Because you may just get your Aprilia SXV stalling in the middle of a circle.

  • Overall reliability

We can't say these bikes are extremely unreliable. But they are not actually as good as they are being rumored about. We've seen some Aprilia SXVs at dealers' shops with 700-1500 miles on them and with blown-up engines. Why?

One reason is that people don't know how to use these bikes because they are sport motorcycles made for racing and getting adrenaline. But a lot of owners tend to just ride their bikes off the road or use them for cruising for hundreds of miles.

Also, there is another reason - this bike has a lot of small problems. Once you overlook one of these problems that started developing, you will have to pay a lot of money for a total repair. The small engine isn't made to survive in any conditions. It has certain limitations on performance.

Final words

We know very well that Aprilia SXV was a good bike. But we wouldn't buy one with more than 25 or 30 thousand miles on it. We really like the idea of having a sports bike in your garage, but we see that these models have a lot of hidden issues and possible problems once you start using them actively.

So, yes, it's a good bike to own if you bought it new and care about it with all the rules of TLC. But it's an awful choice if you want to buy a used sports motorcycle. You can get a load of problems coming with it.

C
CarAraC Research

About the authors

The CarAraC research team is composed of seasoned auto mechanics and automotive industry professionals, including individuals with advanced degrees and certifications in their field. Our team members boast prestigious credentials, reflecting their extensive knowledge and skills. These qualifications include: IMI: Institute of the Motor Industry, ASE-Certified Master Automobile Technicians; Coventry University, Graduate of MA in Automotive Journalism; Politecnico di Torino, Italy, MS Automotive Engineering; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Mechanical University in Skopje; TOC Automotive College; DHA Suffa University, Department of Mechanical Engineering

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