Alright, let’s talk about that Aprilia SL 750 Shiver. It wasn’t my first bike, not by a long shot, but it definitely left an impression. I remember seeing one parked up years ago, that funky exhaust under the seat, the trellis frame… it just looked different, you know? Italian. Didn’t pull the trigger then, went for something else entirely.
Fast forward a few years, I was looking for something with a bit more character than the usual suspects. Stumbled across a used Shiver 750 online, decent price, looked clean in the photos. So, I went to check it out. The owner fired it up, and that V-twin rumble, man, it had this raw edge to it. Not obnoxiously loud, but definitely present. Took it for a spin around the block. First thing I noticed? The throttle. It was the early ride-by-wire system Aprilia used. A bit… snatchy, especially in ‘Sport’ mode. Took some getting used to, definitely kept you on your toes pulling away from lights.
Getting Used To It
Once I got it home, I spent the first few weeks just riding it everywhere. Commuting, weekend blasts, you name it. Here’s what stood out:
- The engine: Plenty of grunt down low and in the middle. Didn’t need to rev its nuts off to get going, which was nice around town. Felt strong.
- Handling: Pretty decent, actually. Felt solid in the corners, maybe a bit heavy at slow speeds, but stable once moving. Brakes were good too, plenty of stopping power.
- That Throttle: Yeah, still took some finesse. ‘Touring’ mode smoothed it out a bit, became my default for just cruising. ‘Rain’ mode felt a bit too sluggish.
- Comfort: Seat was okay for an hour or two, but longer trips got a bit uncomfortable. Typical naked bike wind blast, obviously.
It wasn’t perfect. The dash was okay, but felt a bit dated even then. Fuel gauge was notoriously pessimistic – showed empty way too early, which caused a bit of range anxiety initially until I figured out its little lies. And yeah, finding neutral sometimes felt like a mini-game you didn’t always win on the first try. Little Italian quirks, I guess.
Memorable Moments
One weekend, took it up through some twisty mountain roads. That’s where the bike really came alive. Leaning it into corners, feeling that V-twin pull you out… it was just plain fun. The sound echoing off the hillsides, the responsive chassis (once you learned the throttle), it just clicked. Didn’t care about the slightly hard seat or the quirky neutral then. It felt like a proper rider’s bike in those moments. That’s what I remember most vividly.
Did have one minor electrical gremlin once, turned out to be a loose connection, easy fix. Maintenance wasn’t too bad, parts weren’t as crazy expensive as I feared, though maybe not as cheap as Japanese bikes. Just needed a bit more attention, maybe.
Eventually, I moved on to something different, needed more practicality for longer tours. But I still look back fondly on the Shiver 750. It had personality, bags of it. It wasn’t the most refined bike, wasn’t the fastest, wasn’t the most comfortable. But it had soul. It felt mechanical, engaging. If you want something a bit different from the mainstream, something that makes you feel involved in the ride, quirks and all, it’s worth looking into. Just gotta learn its ways.
