I know everyone needed yet another Riva review, right?
After almost a year of happily using my standard 510 setup (and never having lost a battery to failure, by the way), I decided to get a Riva from Liberty Flights for an upcoming vacation so I wouldn't have to wrestle so much with recharging on the trip.
First impressions are extremely positive. The battery life (time between recharging) is obviously a great improvement over my 510s. So let me address, as they apply to me, a few things that others have noted as shortcomings.
The finish on the black Riva is a bit more shiny than the matte black standard 510 finish, making for a visible difference when a carto is screwed in. But it's noticeable only at close range and to very interested parties. I can't say I'd personally notice it if someone else were using it, and would be more likely to comment on the gold band in the button area, which gives the impression of Miami Vice-era faux elegance. Anyway, the thing looks fine.
I was concerned that the standard (non-carto-specific) cones would not work well with my cartomizers, especially given that Liberty Flights offers but is perpetually out of stock of a model specifically for cartos. But both the stock 510 cone and the extra, shorter 901 cone I bought fit fine over my usual XL CE2s. Mileage may vary with other cartos.
The machining of the threads for both the cone and the cartos/attys is a little rough, but I'm careful and everything screws together just fine. I kind of get the feeling it will improve with use, as whatever irregularities there are wear away. Once assembled, the parts fit together very well, with nothing funky in the tolerances at all.
Otherwise, it works exactly as expected. I'm very pleased, and now wondering why I didn't do this sooner.
After almost a year of happily using my standard 510 setup (and never having lost a battery to failure, by the way), I decided to get a Riva from Liberty Flights for an upcoming vacation so I wouldn't have to wrestle so much with recharging on the trip.
First impressions are extremely positive. The battery life (time between recharging) is obviously a great improvement over my 510s. So let me address, as they apply to me, a few things that others have noted as shortcomings.
The finish on the black Riva is a bit more shiny than the matte black standard 510 finish, making for a visible difference when a carto is screwed in. But it's noticeable only at close range and to very interested parties. I can't say I'd personally notice it if someone else were using it, and would be more likely to comment on the gold band in the button area, which gives the impression of Miami Vice-era faux elegance. Anyway, the thing looks fine.
I was concerned that the standard (non-carto-specific) cones would not work well with my cartomizers, especially given that Liberty Flights offers but is perpetually out of stock of a model specifically for cartos. But both the stock 510 cone and the extra, shorter 901 cone I bought fit fine over my usual XL CE2s. Mileage may vary with other cartos.
The machining of the threads for both the cone and the cartos/attys is a little rough, but I'm careful and everything screws together just fine. I kind of get the feeling it will improve with use, as whatever irregularities there are wear away. Once assembled, the parts fit together very well, with nothing funky in the tolerances at all.
Otherwise, it works exactly as expected. I'm very pleased, and now wondering why I didn't do this sooner.
