Barn Find Motorcycle project - 2002 Aprilia RSV abandoned for 8 years outside! 

What kind of blockhead leaves such a beautiful motorcycle sitting outside in the elements for eight years.....unbelievable. I am glad this incredible machine has a new home and a caring owner.

Dont try to crank it with a weak battery, it will kill the sprang clutch. Greetings from Germany!

AP Workshop is the best place for parts and advice on these. Griff there is an aprilia genius

I’ve bought several bikes that sat for a while, my current Ducati sat indoors for 7 years. I never ever fire them up with the tank and old fuel attached, always a small cup/funnel with a pipe to the fuel inlet. That way you can rule out poor fuel, blocked injectors etc. if you saw what same out of my Ducati tank; what looked like a packet of crushed biscuits, you’d never risk starting on an unknown tank and bad fuel again.

I once owned a 1999 Aprilia RSV Mille, the front brake was incredible and it just went like a scalded cat and gave me minimal issues, great bike.

I also found a low mileage gen1 barn find. All the right colours and was very good tbh, engine out and gave her a freshen up, changed most of the bolts and added all the mods, it’s cost me about a grand to get to what it is now but I absolutely love it, enjoy it more than my latest crop bikes tbh

I saw that bike on one of the fb groups, I have a Tuono so have a soft spot for rsv's even though my back doesn't allow me to ride one for long, anyways, I seriously pondered that one and spent some time on the photo's weighing it up. Now I'm glad I found this video and get to watch someone bring it back to health and beauty again. Coolbeans!

May all the motorcycle angels be with you on your endeavour.

I have owned four Tuonos and a Mille exactly like that. All of them were bulletproof. Beautiful bikes

You done them, proud every one of them as you can never say, every time you put your Leg over the bike, but only give it 100% and some so chin up and a new chapter on the horizon 👏👏👏

if possible avoid cranking it with a weak battery, you'll be needing a new sprag clutch in no time. A high CCA battery is highly recommended, got a 220CCA Yuasa for mine. Starts much easier and no worries on damading the sprag clutch. I love these bikes, keep it going!

Great Video, looking forward to the next instalment

Enjoyed this thanks. Good memories of owning one of these for several years. Mine would rarely start if it was wet and I did several mods to try and cure that problem. Also if it doesn't start within the first few seconds it's worth taking off the seat and disconnecting the fuel pump. Turn it over with the fuel pump disconnected until it splutters / starts to fire, then re-connect the pump and it will probably start. Always worked on mine - not with 8yr old fuel though! Turning it over too much does wreak havoc with the sprag clutch. Had to change mine once and it's quite a job. Good luck with the project.

I have a Falco, which shares the same engine. It's very likely that the tea bag filter in your fuel pump assembly is clogged up. The internal pipes are also liable to splitting and perishing. Might be worth taking it apart and having a look.

great show, i look forward to part 2

Great video, always love how much effort and time you put into these.

It's good to see you hard work, you're a great mechanic

great to have you back again and another exciting project cant wait mate

Can you hear the fuel pump prime ? Mine did exactly this After being left in a barn for 10 years. Fuel flowing when the key turned but no pressure as the pipe in the tank was split / turned to jelly. On the lock situation - mine came with no keys, I picked the fuel tank lock and got a key cut the same on both sides and it worked all barrels from a shoe shop of all places - shout out to Birro's of Colne. AP workshop sell a full pump kit and it's worth every penny ! Good luck with the project

Was never gonna start on eight year old fuel .

I think with that much water in the tank, the fuel pump, fuel filter, electrical connection in the tank is toast. I would recommend taking the pump off the bottom of the tank and deep cleaning the whole tank while you’re at it.

Nice find....also i found my most loved bike in your garage and it's giallo colored... For myself i allways cover a found bike in lot's of Brunox and let it rest for 2 to 5 days before i start any powercleaning.

I had the 1000 Millie TriColour and its was a blast - I changed my Blade out for it but then changed back. The Honda's a smoother ride and all round a better bike. IMO.

I had the 2003 model in red and gold with plenty of carbon fibre! I have a few videos of trips around Scotland. I can give you loads of tips etc. Like! The standard battery is a ytx12 but a ytx14 will fit and give you plenty more power for starting.

Beautiful collection of beast's 🏁🏁🏁

Clean the fuel rail 😮 Props on the safety❤

Epic, I remember when their 2 strokes were sold in cycle shops here in the US. Finding the elusive 2 stroke model is a bigger prize.

Just recently bought a 03 mille R and will be getting to work on it soon ( in reality thats late spring no garage 😂). Subscribed and looking forward to more.

Great video 👍🏻😎

Look forward to seeing this run

Interesting and well documented. New subscriber gained 👍🏻👍🏻

I had the same bike im sure it had 2 plugs per cylinder and the coil pack was goosed on right side great bike looking forward to next vid 🏍️🏁

Lawn looks nice!

Such a lovely looking bike.

Poor old starter motor is taking a hammering !!, great vid, love the old V twin aprillas, neighbor near me has one in Colin Edwards paint scheme. 👍👍👍👍👍

My god!! I used to resurrect 35 year old 70's Suzukis that had sat in the garden without covers, and they used to come to life quicker and looked a lot less manky! 😞

Great content. Im glad i gave stumbled across your channel. New subscriber right here

The rust from the disc brakes cleaned up nicely. New subscriber.

Nice find brother

Legend, great video

Really appriciate these restoration videos. Nicely edit and the videoquality and the skill to fix the bike makes it a joy to watch. Looking forward to part two! Thanks and good luck! 🙂👍👍

What a find pease treat it with a lot of respect.

Whatever you do, don't try and start it without replacing the fuel first 😮, it could have anything in it that would make it very difficult and cause damage later on.

I find it fascinating that the brake calipers are full of dirt but the brake discs are clean AF

For GODS sake it's an Aprilia, work of art.

Had the same Yellow Ducati loved that thing!

i like this, looking forward to the next one, i just sold my tuono 1000r

Shame it was parked up in the elements..but it happens. 💁🏻‍♂️ At least it’s being looked at and hopefully sorted as it has more life to give. 👍🏼 I recently sold my lovely Gen 2 RSV Factory.. gorgeous bike, but a bit tall in the saddle for me. I instead added a mint ‘99 Suzuki TL1000R to my collection of bikes…because you have to have a v-twin in there somewhere 😄🤙🏽 Will follow with interest.. Nice video mate 👊🏼 (& subbed)

Oh that poor starter motor!😢 As a mechanic there is no way known I would try to start a bike sitting for years (particularly outside) without doing the following first. Replace oil & filter, check/replace coolant, remove & flush tank including remove & clean out pump & filter assy(ps why not remove fuel filler/cap assy by removing the allen bolts???), remove spark plugs & crank over to check for siezure/valve problems & to ensure oil pressure, carry out compression test & fit new plugs. I always crank an unknown engine manually at first (plugs removed) by placing the bike in gear & turning the back wheel. Then if ok I will use the starter to generate oil pressure. The way you have tried to start this bike could cause irreparable damage!🇦🇺

You can strip the fuel filler cap fairly easily once it is out of the tank. Done it a few times (including the fun of getting a snapped key out of a friends RS125 many years ago). If you need to fully strip it, once the lock barrel is out you can take the cap off the top (only crimped on in a couple of places), then there is a pin you can see. Remove the pins and the wafers for the lock will come out. This way you can possibly fiddle with a replacement cap to keep a matching key.

I could hear the starter weeping from here! 😂

I use AP workshops for all my parts on a gen 2 tuono factory, they’re super helpful and might have what you need 🤞

I had that exact bike. Long gone nowbut I've still got theoriginal exhaust stashed, it's in mint condition and all wrapped up safe. If you want to put it back to stock get in touch. I remember having a big problem sourcing seals for the Brembos. Not available from Aprilia or Brembo. Tried Ducati and they weren't selling them either! There had been a law suit in America and nobody was selling seals for the goldline calipers (a home mechanic made an arse of fittting them and crashed and sued big time). KTM saved the day thank f**k and stocked them for the RC8. Phew😅 Check your 'choke' cable and lube it. Your's didn't sound like it was operating at all, it should rev really high from a cold start on fast idle. I think that is oart of your issue. Mille's always need full choke to start, unless it's totally hot after just running. AP workshop are a gift from the gods. Get to know Griff. There's upgrades needed to the shite charging/starting system. Fit their recommended up-spec battery and I'm sure the sprag (starter) clutch needs their upgrade mod too... it's a weak point on the Mille. Get read up on these points. The lack of a slipper clutch on this spec RSV makes it "interesting" 😳. Be careful. Or get yourself a slipper clutch upgrade too if possible... it honestly seriously needs it.

Nice viewing. I had a very similar problem on my Honda CBR project. Thought it was rails etc. guess what causes so many problems? The fuel non return valve on the fuel pump. It will prime and stop, not because there is pressure but because the computer says stop. What happens is that with a faulty non return valve the pressure from the pump simply escapes back into the tank via the non return valve and therefore no real pressure to the injectors..I don’t think you need to remove the rails. Good luck!

Take you air nozzle and blow air into the lock mechanism on the fuel tank. The air will blow the penetrant deeper into the mechanism hopefully blowing out any debris.

Criminal it was left in this state. This is a dream bike for so many.

Beside the bike damn that E46 m3 and E92 M3 is clean 😍

Lots of water on an old Italian motorcycle 😱😁

Tyres look new 👍

Greetings from Poland😊

Hello mate Fairplay to you starting a channel good stuff something to watch I thought if it had that bad fuel in it and throttle bodies have been sat for awhile they run on vacuums and they have diaphragms you may well have a split in one of the throttlebody diaphragms

My neighbour bought a repairable write off, all parts replaced its a beast

Nice bike and video. You don't mention (understandably) were approx you are in UK, have various Italian bikes, have Aprilia but no Ducati plus a Japanese bike currently must applaud you for giving the Italians some love.

why do you try to fire it up, without changing the old oil and old gas?

No need to break the petrol tank lock. Simply undo the Allen bolts and remove the entire cap assembly, providing access to the tank, and then remove the lock barrel from the cap and soak it in evaporust or something similar.

I noticed the fast idle lever ( left switch gear) is off, the starting procedure for a mille is fast idle fully on and DO NOT touch the throttle what so ever, I doubt very much you'll need to mess about with anything on the fuel injection side other than replacing the injector O rings at the spray head end, fuel pump is priming so that's good, you need a YTX 14 battery on it or you will kill the sprag, you are flooding it even looking at the throttle .... I've owned a Mille R for 14 years, also pack it in with the brake cleaner ! ! 😂😂😂 and again DON'T TOUCH THE THROTTLE ! ! 😂😂😂

Starts like every rsv mille 😀

I can’t believe you tried to start it with out a complete cleaning of the tank and entire fuel system first. That’s just asking for trouble, sending all the gunk through the system .

yeah well done!! new subscriber here!

Lacquered fuel, around a year life of normal fuel before it starts to break down, super apparently lasts around 10 years

sneaky E46 hiding in the background there too

Id be curious if its just priming and not running the pump constant since it starts rev then dies.

IN RSv u have to replace the spark plug first and drop some engine oil into to lubricate, clean the TB.. the tank gas filter, remove the air filter n cleaned.. then u can try to give it a crank.. and dont crank too long on rsv.. u will ruined the starter aswell.. plus trying to crank in weak battery u will get many error code later on the ecu

you need to flush and celan that entire fuel system, tank, pump, rails, injectors, you can hit the injectors with a 9 volt radio battery and run cleaner thru the in end, make a nice switched set up or touch wires with alligator clips.. 3-4 times an hour apart, fill injectors with cleaner in between, you prolly know this trick but someone might find it useful..

✌

smart smash on the sump,,,,,,,,,,,,

Hi, great video just a Heads up those screws on the Tank are not decoration its faster to unbolt them

🏍👍👍

Seat looks mint for 8 years outside 😂

Almost 😲👍 did you know that your jet washer was made by the company that built the Nimbus bikes in Denmark 😂

These did not want to start when new 😂 good luck boys

I'm impressed by the lack of corrosion

Never strap a bike down by the handle bars. When using a dodgy ramp put the bike in gear then use the clutch as a brake…

23:01 pov:you live next to the Aprilia owner on a cold morning

That’s bye bye to the sprag bearing!

Did you use the fast idle lever when starting the bike. Switch on left handle bar. Pull it back all the way

A mota é linda todas elas que estão ali sempre tive motas adoro motas tenho uma suzuki gsr abs 750 de 2017 adoro abraço para todos os amantes de motas

THE SPIDER was like dude this is my bike !!!!!

The fuel cap will come off in one piece if you remove the six bolts holding it on, then just put a new cap on.

Just needs a little Turtle Wax, and some fuel cleaner and it will be ready for Barrett Jackson ! Lol

This is the way how you destroy sprag clutch :D

Has it got a datatool alarm fitted?

Hi just want to ask when you picked up the Bike , what was the Black Bike next to it ?

Dude are you serious, I had one of these, was my second bike I owned after my buel xb9sx, I had one in R trim, not an actual R just the paintscheme. Such awesome bikes, I was 25 at the time and have had fast cars, a bike before but this thing made me respect speed and pulling power for the first time in my life, the first time I turned that handle I was like owkay, this moves, lets maybe build it up a bit haha. GL with this man, you gonna love this bike trust me on that.

Cant believe you tried to start it with old fuel 😢

You could have sprayed a little Quick Start into the air intake to get it to fire. Everyone has their own way I guess...

you need to put a cup of metholated spirits in the tank, it will do no harm to the rest of the fuel system, in about half a tank of fresh fuel ok

Erm new plugs, fresh oil, not mentioned, battery definitely an issue put a new one on

What happened to the CB750F2N RC42 that was parked next to it?

I've never understood why people just leave there bikes outside and forget about them. It was someone's pride and joy once.