Swingarms

[MartDude]

If said Futura arm becomes available at the right price, I could be tempted, but with a different set of wheels too. I reckon I would probably have to go onto a Mille exhaust as well.

You'd be very hard pressed to find an alternative rear wheel to fit the Futura hub/axle assembly; AFAIK it's unique.

The OEM king bearing - a large double-race bearing in the hub - is bloody expensive (but there are plans afoot to source a cheaper alternative); one of the races has magnets embedded in it for the speedo sensor.

Dismantling of the hub/king bearing assembly often results in FUBARing the king bearing, and can also knacker the stub axle; if the bearing has been neglected, it can snatch on the axle, necessitating serious work on the axle - e.g. flame spraying and re-machining.

Oh, and you can't remove/replace the caliper hanger without dismantling the hub/axle assembly.

Still interested? I've got a spare swinging arm, and hub, and axle. But it would take a very good offer to persuade me to part with them

[Falconihlist]

To do it would need a whole load of commitment, for something more aesthetic than practical. Different circumstances, then I would say it may be worth doing, but currently, I think I will stick to what I have for the time being.

[Nooj]

And if you do get a VFR swinger to fit round the shock and exhaust, there's still all the work of machining the pivot point, and then there's the problem of getting the sprockets in alignment. It's a 'money no object' mod.

One of the guys on the other Aprilia forums has fitted a Fut arm to his RSVR and finished it off with a 1098 exhaust system. Looks great, but even with 'easy bolt-on stuff' it was a major re-engineering job.

[Falconihlist]

I have a credit limit for my bike, and money no object doesn't relate to it. If I haven't got a second bike before i retire in a couple of years, then I will get a second Falco and mod it differently cosmetically, but not mechanically, but not in extremis.

[D-Rider]

I considered the Futura swingarm a few years ago but too much hassle for no real advantage - as well as a lot of disadvantage (extra unsprung weight, no real choice of wheels).
The same is true for swingarms from other bikes.

When the Mille swinger drops in with only an average degree of spannering and no fabricating, it is hard to find good reason to do anything else - and then, the Mille one really only adds looks rather than any tangible benefit.

Of course if anyone wants to go through the pain of fitting something else, far be it from me to put a damper on their plans - but I couldn't be bothered with the hassle for the (lack of) benefit.

[mangocrazy]

I considered the Futura swingarm a few years ago but too much hassle for no real advantage - as well as a lot of disadvantage (extra unsprung weight, no real choice of wheels).
The same is true for swingarms from other bikes.

Exactly my feelings. I owned one of the original 'conventional' swing-arm VFR 750s from new between '89-95 and put 75k miles on it in that time. Fantastic bike. As I needed it for work I decided to replace it with a Single-sided swing arm (SSSA) model, as that was all you could get new.

I ran it for a couple of years, and it was exceptionally competent, but you could definitely feel the mass of that SSSA at the back of the bike. After that I sold it and went back to a secondhand low-mileage VFR with 'conventional' swing-arm. It had more character, was lighter and better balanced and actually had a slightly better top end.

I'm no fan of SSSAs, really.

[HowardQ]

I did consider that idea myself, with one as a Falco fighter, but in the end I thought I'd get a nice comfy Blackbird to replace the Old supersonic sofa, (alias CBR1000F) that I'd had for 7 1/2 years along with the Falco.
Then I saw the 9R and fell for it, bought it/love it, (not as much as the Falco obviously, but it's different).
I still have a slight fancy for a Falco fighter, with a Futura swinger, just to be different. High level Rene cans so you get a good view of the shiny (essential), Oz wheels on the open (good) side.
Then again, back where I started, just probably spent the cost of a nice second bike.
Would still be nice though.

P.S. Ooooops, I now assume Andy is saying you can't do the Oz wheels with the Fut swinger?
Never thought about that, Doooh.
Looks like I'm stuck with the Falco and the 9R then.

[D-Rider]

P.S. Ooooops, I now assume Andy is saying you can't do the Oz wheels with the Fut swinger?
Never thought about that, Doooh.

OZ wheels .... so "last year" ..... carbon is where it's at

But yes and no ..... you can still put one on the front but I think you have little or no choice but the standard Futura one on the back.

[MartDude]

P.S. Ooooops, I now assume Andy is saying you can't do the Oz wheels with the Fut swinger?
Never thought about that, Doooh.

I think you have little or no choice but the standard Futura one on the back.

He's right