OK Hubster, this is all theoretical now as I have already bought a new $3700 wheel assembly and it's back on the bike. To answer your prior question, no, the TPMS sensor and all of the valve parts including the O-ring are available for purchase separately. Watt I'm looking at here is salvage this wheel as a back up, maybe a track setup spare wheel with a slick tire. It's too dam expensive to throw it away for that little nick in the tire valve seating surface. I measured the hole with my vernier calipers and it's 11.3 mm I.D., which after some quick research turned out to be industry standard for most sport bikes, Jap and Euro. So any 11.3 mm sportbike right angle valve kit should fit. If I order one of these right angle kits and forget the TPMS sensor, install it, it might seal up fine. If not, Dow Corning RTV sealant on the nicked surface? Yes you will get a TPMS warning on the display as the computer is trying to pear with the sensor but if I'm not mistaken, that can be switched off in the vehicle menu settings for track use on this machine?

https://www.motomentum.com/ariete-racing-valves-11-3mm-4564794?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA_aGuBhACEiwAly57MaMJ1xj5W9oLJpFoXZKOPeB2npiDiRgyiOkHI0sKNrzqN0NrOJFJbBoCKbgQAvD_BwE

Compare rubber seal to BMWs:

* Last updated by: Kruz on 2/11/2024 @ 12:24 PM *

It looks like there are two seal actions hear, one against the flat surface on the outside of the rim under the valve seat and a second seal against the ID of the 11.3 mm hole as the rubber seal is compressed. That nick or displaced material on the inside is not a sealing surface but may effect how true the valve is to the surface of the underside of rim, 90 degrees. Such a simple thing but hard to fix without resorting to RTV silicone to plug the gap. If this was on a tractor back on the farm, it would have been fixed already!

Better shot of the BMW OEM seal Hubster, that's all that seals the deal...

I'd be willing to bet you could find something similar at Home Depot on the hardware aisle that would work.

Hindsight is 20/20 but now I wish I had not spent $3700 on the new wheel, this can probably be fixed for a few bucks..

* Last updated by: Kruz on 2/11/2024 @ 1:01 PM *

If I order one of these right angle kits and forget the TPMS sensor, install it, it might seal up fine. If not, Dow Corning RTV sealant on the nicked surface?

That would be a negatively on the RTV. Up against E6000 (aka Amazing Goop Glue) is the better application. Run a bead of RTV so it has some height. Same bead with E6. I see the RTV shimmy like jello if you hit an air gun at it. The goop, it wouldn't budge.

Removing the RTV: it is picked off and breaks off. E6 will come off as one piece. It will stretch. RTV has none. I have a video goofing on Rook about running a lighter bike, where he's using nuts and bolts to hold something and I have a round glass cover off a compression gauge, drilled a hole with a door hole saw, goop'd the glass onto a crank cover. It held the oil back and stayed dry with all those heat cycles.

That test mule had E6000 peppered all over it. Doubt the RTV could even compete against thishit. My approach to the flat spot is run a dab of E6 on the flat, install the sensor/11.3mm stem, bark it down, you're done. Let it setup for 24hrs before pressurizing.

The beauty of Goop glue is the removal of say a 90° stem is more a sacrificial stem. Breaking the glue is more a twist of one part to separate the glue from the other part. Sure, you can salvage the stem if you use less glue. From walmart to lowe's/HD has it.

First play with it to see what you're up against. Thishit is so good a hoop slipped out of my flip-flops. Goop'd them back in, ran a bead to the other loops. Those straps aren't going anywhere. Book pages were coming out of an old spec book. Who came to the rescue?

When I sent this I noticed the flats on the stem. If you goop'd the shit out of it, those flats would break it loose no problem. I'd goop a circle around the hole, install the 11.3mm in, goop comes out of the hole, add the rubber washer over the stem and let that extra goop to cover the press between stem and hole, it's double sealed still with the old compressed rubber on the stem. That goop will close things up.

Slick wise, more buy it at the track. That's if a rep comes out with a truck full of tires and tools to balance and change them out.

Plus, buy a set of discs so it just swaps that fast, not wear out the rim threads and time wasted at the track swapping discs.

Thanks Hub, I'll look into the E6000 product. I ordered a set of 11.3 mm CNC machined aluminum alloy 90 degree valve stems today, $9 for a set of two, so I have a complete set of spare parts if I ever need them. I might first try installing the new stem and see if the new O-ring will seal it up, the seal is against the outside surface of the rim which is not damaged, my only concern is that gouge on the inside will not allow the new valve to seat perpendicular but I might be over thinking this.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/404493771044?hash=item5e2db52124:g:Ps4AAOSw0vFk9o4A

Good idea on the extra brake discs so I have two complete wheels for easy swapout. Still don't know if the ECU will throw a fit with no TPMS sensor signal, will find out tomorrow when I go for a ride.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 2/12/2024 @ 8:13 PM *

Hub, rode the BMW yesterday, what a machine, easiest bike I've ever ridden, glad now I stuck with CF wheels!

Got a huge red warning flag on my TFT display screen for a tire pressure issue but after stopping the bike and rebooting, the warning went away and I can see accurate front and rear tire pressures now in My Vehicle menu, so maybe it self-paired the TPMS to the processor?

... but after stopping the bike and rebooting, the warning went away... so maybe it self-paired the TPMS to the processor?

Exactly. Light came on due to a new sensor. Already had it figured out within 5 seconds or less. Light just stated on. To turn the code light off, it [key off] recycled, self pinged itself for resistances, showed or recognized the tire sensor was within spec.

Code light was on riding home with the broken sensor that day setting the code.

Exactly. Light came on due to a new sensor. Already had it figured out within 5 seconds or less. Light just stated on. To turn the code light off, it [key off] recycled, self pinged itself for resistances, showed or recognized the tire sensor was within spec.

Code light was on riding home with the broken sensor that day setting the code.

That looks like an ordinary 90° angled valve stem such as those made by Bridgeport and lots of other manufacturers. You could buy the size made for the hole size in the rim. Air up the tire and let it sit several days to see if it holds air. It would be a risk to ride on though. You never know when the rim might bust open.

I don't know where people get the idea that if you hit a pothole these carbon wheels shatter like they are made out of glass but it's simply not true. Yes, there are photos of carbon wheels that exploded after a massive head on collision but the entire motorcycle was also destroyed in the process and an aluminum rim would have been bent like a paper clip. Aluminum bends, carbon fiber shatters but we are talking about massive impacts here not rock chips in the clear coat. A little common sense would tell you that a company as suable as BMW has done their home work before releasing the first production motorcycle with carbon fiber wheels as standard equipment. There is just so much disinformation out there on this subject. My current employer, Diamond Aircraft Industries, builds entire airframes of of autoclaved carbon fiber prepreg and has repair schemes for just about any component. Lockheed Martin's F-35 Strike Fighter airframe is almost entirely made out of carbon fiber and the last time I checked, fighter jets get shot at a lot and have to survive and return to base. Think about it, this stuff is incredibly strong,light and damage tolerant,if you exceed the structural limits however, it will fail just like anything else.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 2/20/2024 @ 6:31 AM *

This bike is back on my radar Hub, they should be in stock at the local Aprilia dealer in two weeks and I'm thinking again about picking one up in order to round out the fleet. Thoughts,comments,snide remarks? Here are the two color choices I'm considering.

RS660 Tribute

RS660 Time Attack Black

* Last updated by: Kruz on 3/8/2024 @ 8:29 PM *

The problem asking me is going to be a yes, go for it. Why? It's a healthier addiction than putting it up your nose, down the throat, or shooting it up. Once you say new bike, it's the price of controlling the bike's break-in from the start. No novice attempt at modifying anything on it, let alone expect their money back on the bling.

At the moment, you can see how competitive Ape is in the racing arena. You get the trickledown applied to the production bike, i.e., the electronics alone. I have no fear of the black box. Way too dependable is the evolution of the hardware, as you know. Same parts in a plane, meaning, diodes, capacitors, integrated chips, etc.

It comes down to slipping on a comfortable shoe and walk for days on end. If the Ape squeezes the frame of the body where the comfort zone is broken too soon? Something like the 14 is a perfect example. Where the handlebars would begin to numb my arms. Just an inch or so higher with the aftermarket raising the bars just enough to stop the numbness and can ride for hours.

As stated, the sport bikes sort of shrunk with the V-type swing arm tucking in, the transmission shafts raised vertical from its horizontal layout. More like an average height of a 5'7" frame that fits more comfortably than built for a 6' over body with long legs, arms, body types.

Being a previous Ape owner I know the handling will be on par with any other sport bike, but more of an Italian flavor. You should know about adjusting the body to every bike change-out every few weeks of swapping to another bike. Yes, it takes a few minutes to tell you are not riding a handler, but a different way they handle.

So bottom line is what I'm saying is: I thought I could wait and sit on a new bike on the dealer floor, and think I could tell if and when the numbness would set in. It didn't. That's the crapshoot.

Then again, I'm too embarrassed to show a shot of me going down the cork on a Triumph T-140, a 6'2" frame at the time, both legs spread out like wings. But it was the best handling bike I ever raced. Go figure.

Hubster, I appreciate the thought that went in to that response. I see getting this bike as a step back and try something different, S1000RR and RSV4 are top of the food chain, apex predator products, this is a new direction, slow down and focus on the experience, finesse over brute force kind of thing. There are hundreds of videos out on YouTube on the RS660 and I believe it's now the #1 selling sportbike in the world, so they must be doing something right. Besides drop dead gorgeous looks, the 660 is uber-light, has quick accurate handling and a punchy 270 parallel twin engine that has "enough" power to get the job done without scaring you senseless. To your point, the RS660 seems to score high on comfort points, slightly more relaxed geometry, somewhat less aggressive stance than a pure supersport. I have to admit I'm intrigued by this machine, I don't really need it, but would like to try one on for size, different strokes.

Which color way moves you Hubster? Subjective yes but I am leaning towards the Red White and Bluerple one, the Black/Red is nice, conservative and a little less flashy. Have not seen either one in the bones yet, only photos.

I'm not Hub. Just here to comment on the 2 paint schemes. Really like them both. The white red blue would probably be my choice. Just has a little more flair without being gaudy. The black red is keen, but there's orange or gold missing that would really set it off.

I like the clear anodizing too. I've always wished my 14 had clear anodizing instead of black. I do think if the black bike had black anodizing, it might be my pick.

I saw on their site they have a yellow model too... hmm very plain except I like the red wheels.

The blue/red/white for sure. Will match the RR. Black has to be black all the way. Choosing red killed it for me. Only certain colors work with black and red is not one of them.

I'm not Hub. Just here to comment on the 2 paint schemes. Really like them both. The white red blue would probably be my choice. Just has a little more flair without being gaudy. The black red is keen, but there's orange or gold missing that would really set it off.

I like the clear anodizing too. I've always wished my 14 had clear anodizing instead of black. I do think if the black bike had black anodizing, it might be my pick.

I saw on their site they have a yellow model too... hmm very plain except I like the red wheels.

Thanks Vic, I agree with you, the red white and blue/purple...blupurple ... looks really good to me also.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 3/10/2024 @ 8:21 AM *

The blue/red/white for sure. Will match the RR. Black has to be black all the way. Choosing red killed it for me. Only certain colors work with black and red is not one of them.

Thanks Hubster, the blue/white/red it is then, next step is to see the bike in the flesh and possibly snag a test ride before pulling the trigger, if that is even possible and they have a demo available. I have heard this is the #1 selling sportbike in the world right now, they're hot, not even close to being the fastest bike I own but may turn out to be the most fun. They're selling out as soon as they hit the showroom floor!

You are right, good match up between the baby Ape and Daddy BMW...

* Last updated by: Kruz on 3/10/2024 @ 8:31 AM *

I'm not Hub either but as similar as they look, I think the 660 looks even better than the BMW 1000. LOL you have so f--ing many bikes, people are starting to not know one from the other!

Go with the blue silver red and black. I'd paint the raw aluminum black on the black and red one but it would still not look as good as the Blue silver black and red. I'd take the red and black if offered at a substantial discount. You have what?...9 bikes? This deal is yours. There's no hurry. Get what you want or don't bother with it.

Thanks Rook, the blue/red/silver/white is the one I'll go with, it seems the popular choice. Yessir this would make 10 bikes in my garage if I pull the trigger, definitely don't need another one but I do like this machine. My only question is where does it fit in? It will for sure be my slowest bike, I'm seeing them top out with larger riders at about 143 mph, even slower than the ZX-6R but very possibly the best handler in the tighter twisties. I don't need or want anymore ultra fast bikes, I have plenty of those, looking for something different and fun and I've heard a lot of very experienced riders say this bike is a boat load of fun and makes you really focus on cornering technique.

The jury is still out on whether it beats put the S1000RR M Sport on looks but they're both undeniably sharp looking packages, can't go wrong really with either one.

I decide to log in after who knows how long, and see Kruz having one hell of a time. Your experience is why I hate letting anyone touch my vehicles. I do not mount my own tires, so this the exception.

As I am now back in Texas, and actually nearby in Greenville. At what shop did this happen? Want to make sure I avoid them!!

freedom powersports