a modders review

[Aladinsaneuk]

While out playing at the shropshire meet I got to ride Jay's Oasis green - which is broadly speaking bog standard.

So - it gave me the opportunity to compare and contrast things - and to assess if the things i have done have been worthwhile.

So - the oasis is, as i said, standard bar two things - the side stand has been changed for one and the longer mirrors from a 125 have been fitted.

For those of us who do not have a USA spec falco, the side stand should be the first job ALL falco riders should do - so yes - it is a worth while mod

The mirrors - a relatively straight forward mod - easy to acquire and fit - worth it? Well, if you love to look at your elbows, then no, leave the standard mirrors on - but if you would rather know what is happening behind you - get them sorted

Apart from that, the Oasis is standard so we will start at the front and head backwards

THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT THE FALCO - EVEN STANDARD - IS AN AWESOME MOTOR CYCLE

My little scooter has the 4 pad callipers fitted with dual braided HEL lines. The stander falco brakes are good - especially if well maintained and bled - the higher spec callipers are nice and are more responsive - but to be honest the standard brakes are plenty for my skill level - if you do a lot of track days etc, then yes this is a worthwhile mod - but not really necessary

I have dinky little indicators at the front - pure bling and not necessary at all

I have fitted cheap pazzo copy levers - the standard levers are ok, and do have some adjustment on them, but the pazzo copy's are better for my short fingers - I have also noticed that I am adjusting the levers depending on what i am doing - i.e. as i moved from long boring motorway to more "interesting" roads i adjusted them to increase the control.... worth it - at 200 quid for the real pazzo's probably not - at 40 quid for the copies - yes

I have moved my bars over the triple crown. Now comparing that to the standard falco was very interesting - the original bars are more of a sports emphasis - the steering is lithe and accurate. Though not as bad as a mille's riding position, i know my back prefers the more upright position...

I have a skidmarx double bubble screen - and i really noticed that with the standard screen i got a lot more wind noise - i think if you are going to do a trip of more than 75 miles a double bubble really does make sense

I have fitted radiator and oil cooler guards - from beowulf for about £75 - these replaced my original home made chicken wire versions. My initial thought was that they were just bling - BUT - i think there is a justifiable need for them - the welsh roads do have a lot of loose stones and i would hate to have one hit the radiator at speed....

I have the skidmarx belly pan - pure bling.... but i do prefer the look

I have fitted R&G bar ends - the originals are fine - so just pure bling :)

I have heated oxford grips - which i feel should be standard on all bikes in the UK :) the original falco grips do feel better - perhaps a set of wrap round grips would have been better??

I have the MPL clutch slave fitted - and yes - even though the standard falco clutch is pretty good, i rate the MPL - no wrist ache for me.

I have a bagster tank cover - because i always have a tank bag for waterproofs etc with me.... it would be a sin to cover up the oasis colour but i do think that for people who use their bike as i do, should consider it - one of those "Its a nice idea" mods

I have a sergeant saddle - a shed load of money as i imported it from the USA - the oasis had the latter two panel saddle - apparently more comfortable than the original saddle type. The oasis saddle was ok - especially for the kind of bike the falco is. Would i like to ride 200 plus miles in one day on it - nope - and I have a fat, well padded arse! Would i suggest a sergeant saddle instead? no - more likely i would pay 70 quid to have a standard one recovered and upgraded.

I have a remote pre load adjusting ohlins shock - the original blue sucks unit was on the oasis..... it was probably ok - when it was first wheeled off the forecourt as a new bike - but now... awful - admittedly it was not set for me, but it was crap. Would i recommend what I have? nope - a well serviced and set up white spring sachs mille shock would perform well and be a lot cheaper

I have a swanky rear light unit with integrated indicators etc - total and utter bling.... but i do like it so!

The original falco needed the arse end tidying up - so I think a tail tidy is necessary

So thats the cosmetics - what about the performance side of things?

Lets start by saying that even in standard trim - and presumably derestricted, the oasis green had a lot of power and rode well - many many people would like such a good motorcycle

I have a full Renegade airkit fitted - the induction roar still makes me smile - the throttle response is instant, where as i found that it felt the standard air box was choking off the air intake. (I am ignoring the debate about snorkels....)
I am also running iridium plugs - i do not think that they make any performance difference at all - they may help starting though! Would i suggest them - yes, i would
I am running a full mille renegade high mount dual can exhaust system. Now the standard falco cans are quiet - heavy and quiet. just about all the after market cans for the falco add to the sound and character of the bike - I think that changing even the slip ons is something that all owners should consider and do
I have 54mm throttle bodies - and irrespective of what others say, my arse dyno tells me that the bike feels like it has a super charger that kicks in from 4500 to 8000 revs... the oasis picks up and moves well - but .... is it worthwhile doing - to me yes - would i suggest anyone else doing it... no
I run a renegade +10 chip and power commander 3 - that way i get the best out of the performance of the bike - but is it worth it..... in short no - but if you are doing a lot of modding then you probably do need to consider it


***
Future work that i do need to consider - having ridden a few bikes over the week end, I do want to get my forks serviced - i will probably end up with Shohlins.
My Oz wheels will be fitted by the time we head off to mallory.....
***
there is no conclusion - apart from the realisation that even standard, the Falco is a stunning motor cycle.
The majority of the mods that I have done have added to the enjoyment of my bike, but are not all are necessary for any one to enjoy the Aprilia Falco

[snapdragon]

nice review

[D-Rider]

I am a fat, well padded arse!

[Tonyunn]

Nice reveiw and it is nice for those of us who will only ever do the standard mods (battery, side stand and shock) to know that the basic bike is a damm good machine.

In a perfect world it would be good to have two Falcos, a standard one and a project to do what ever you and your wallet can do.

I have now done just over 800 miles since I got it and it just keeps getting better and better, recently did a 100 mile ride with a bunch of other bikes and I was suprised to see how a ten year old Falco stood up and matched some of the latest bikes.

[wayofthedarkhand]

Nice write up.

I haven't tried a DB screen on mine yet, but the standard Falco screen does seem very noisy to me compared with the lovely Givi DB I had my previous bike.

Sold my Givi Tank Lock tank bag now, lost about £20 on it. Great piece of kit, but the filler cap on the falco is too far back. If I filled the bag it hindered my movement on the bike. Don't fancy a bagster cover though.

I disagree about the tail tidy. I actually like the rear end. There's something odd about basically having the number play directly bolted underneath the light. I like the gap that their on the original.

[fatboy]

A bloody good honest useful review by a man who's been there,done that,
More than enough info to save the curios time and money

[blinkey501]

Nice write up.

I haven't tried a DB screen on mine yet, but the standard Falco screen does seem very noisy to me compared with the lovely Givi DB I had my previous bike.

Seriously do you wear ear protection.
I have two falco's one with normal screen and one with a double bubble.
I wear good fitting hearing protection and no issues.

[wayofthedarkhand]

Nice write up.

I haven't tried a DB screen on mine yet, but the standard Falco screen does seem very noisy to me compared with the lovely Givi DB I had my previous bike.

Seriously do you wear ear protection.
I have two falco's one with normal screen and one with a double bubble.
I wear good fitting hearing protection and no issues.

Yep, earplugs.

Also i'm only 5'10 but stil the screen is poor.

[Aladinsaneuk]

Re the screen

It's ok - but I do find it noisy

BUT - this was riding around Wales on roads that I do d not know.... So maybe I was sitting up higher than normal? I know I was a tad nervous and cautious :)

Is a DB worth it - yes