Mille R mini-review

Not before time, but since I did *nearly* *two* *hundred* miles on the thing
today I thought it was time to be stringing a few sentences together.

Coming from the old Mille, the new model feels like a completely different
bike, which is reassuring, cos it pretty much is. The old bike was
physically big - the new one is tiny by comparison, feeling more like the
GSXR750 I had a quick go on a few weeks ago. Whereas the old bike had a
distinct top-heavy feel to it which meant that getting it round tight bends
in town was a bit of a handful, this one feels much more eager to go where
you point it, without having to wrestle the bars. You feel crouched closer
to the road, very much "in" the bike, and at the risk of a wibble-flip-doo,
closer to the centre of gravity

The motor's very different too, seeming much more eager to rev, though
noticeably more breathless low down. Still running in, of course, but I can
definitely feel that it needs a bean or two more away from a standstill.
Consensus on the Aprilia forums is that this is easily sorted with the fuel
map from the 05 bike, or a chip-and-pipe job.

Overall it feels much more Japanese than the last bike - and I mean that in a
nice way - although there are still a couple of Italian "touches" such as the
heavy Brembo hydraulic clutch and near-useless rear brake. The (non-radial)
front brakes are even more mind-bending than on the 02 bike, by way of
compensation. Fit and finish is a step-change up from the last model, and
the battery-sapping Austin Montego clocks are now banished:

http://www.simonk.org/bike/mille/

Riding round Basingstoke and Alton today, with a minging cold and the
expectation of just going for a potter at not-much-above-NSL speeds, I was
repeatedly, pleasantly surprised at what the speedo was telling me - 80 felt
like 50, though the muffled engine note and my bunged up head probably
contributed to this.

Probably the only thing I'm not too keen on is the rock-hard stock suspension
settings[1], so I'll be having a tinker next weekend.

In short, it rocks.

[1] anyone with any ideas for a proper, methodical way to approach this,
apart from "just **** around with it until it feels OK" ?

 

They're both based on the Gol<BANG>

 

There are some issues around the clutch master cylinder, and the fuel
injection "hunting" on a trailing throttle at low speeds, but these are
fixable by recall - replacement Brembo part for the clutch, new ignition map
to fix the throttle problems (can't say I've noticed it, mind)

Other than that, which isn't much more than a typical Jappo bike, that seems
to be about it. My last one was mechanically fine, but let down by a crappy
fuel pump connector, which gave me problems starting until I traced what it
was (having completely shagged the battery in the process)

 

My brother has one bonwicks seen it.
http://simonb.zapik.com/swiz2004pics/DSCF0414.JPG

Brov has sorted it already. And a re-map for race cans. Makes it go much
better.

Again brov has set his up much softer. It makes it very plush. But frame
etc is so good it doesn't upset it at all.

That's what my brother says. He's also fitted the higher bars from the
tourno?

You really need to speak to my brother.

 

Does he weight about 75kg? Cos if he does, I'd love to know what he's set
the suspension to ...

 

He should be here soon...

 

Really? The size of it is one of the reasons I didn't buy one. Is it as low
as say the 10R or new Gixxer Thou?

Now that's a shame, I liked the old motor, tons of torque low down.

IMO you buy a Mille R because it feels different to Japanese bike but lack
their quality.

Nice review

CIHAGM

Don't. Please don't

If you must then just try setting the static sag first.
http://www.bikegirl.co.uk/resources/racing/suspension.html

If you're still not happy wait until everything losens up after say a couple
of thousand miles. By then you may like the suspesion.

--
Molly
"Gower School" By Appointment".
GSX-R1000
GHPOTHUF#27
TGF, UKRMFBC#7, Two#24, BOTAFOF#11, YTC#9, GYASB#1. SbS#23.
DFWAG#2, DS#2, DIAABTCOD#20. remove "thisbit" in the reply
http://www.sportsbike.org

 

True enough.

 

Bro says he has now set his suspension back to standard. He had it on
soft while it was running in.

 

Right then... I havn't eaten for two days and spent all yesterday out
on the dirt bike without drinking any water. Managed to get out of bed
this morning to weigh myself. Shit, still 15 stone.

As for suspenion setup. I ran it in for a little while with everything
set on the softest. Then increased the comp/rebound untill it felt
right. I like very little compression. I told myself that I should
check the sag. Maybe I will one day... I don't think it is far out.
Mind you mine has not got the Ohlins kit.

Done 9000 miles on mine. I just ride the thing...

Joss.

 

Note to Kenyon, check the indicators. They seem to stick on.

 

Note to Kenyon, check the indicators. They seem to stick on.

-- ogden, zx7r

Didn't seem to have much time to look down at indicator light on the
French run. To busy trying to keep a Zx7r in sight...

Joss

 

really? The size of it is one of the reasons I didn't buy one. Is it as low

I have ridden K3 and found the seat was high and sloping forward. Put a
lot of weight on my rists. I found it uncomfortable. The height is
pretty much the same.

<snip>

New engine revs to eleven grand...

IMO the Japs don't finish a bike off. The always look laking in
something. The Aprilia has top quality parts and finish. I don't think
there are any reliability issues with the Aprilia.

Just remember what was standard.

Personally, I have never ridden a bike that handles as well and so easy
to get in and out of a corner...

I just rode it around for a while on the softest settings. You will
probably need to replace the springs...

Joss

 

Hear that simon? An '05 Mille R had trouble keeping up with a pissed
bloke on a stone age pseudo-600.

 

Hear that simon? An '05 Mille R had trouble keeping up with a pissed

It's an '04 RSVR. If that makes a difference. I need an outrider to
remind me to do the more mundane things one needs to do on public
roads. ( Like overtaking on right. Not using every inch of tarmac.
Correct use of indicators. etc.)

 

< a full bags of snips>

The K5 is tiny when compared to the K4. It's smaller that the CBR1000.

I still fancy the 10R though.

 

Molly_Thai says...

A whale on the pie and chips plan diet is smaller than a CBR1000

Oh, *that* CBR1000...

 

A co-worker of mine, known for her small stature, had a sit on a K5 at
the weekend. She doesn't ride on roads any more, just track days, but
she was sorely tempted due to being able to get both feet comfortably
on the ground; she normally rides a ZX-6R track bike (with lowered
seat & suspension).

 

DR says...

Go on, tell her I think it'd be a good idea for her to buy one. How is
her old man getting on now?

 

Will do. He seems to be okay now, itching to ride again but he's
decided the Mille has to go, as it's tried to kill all the previous
owners too...