Just realised how big the Falco is.

Message

#46 Post by **mangocrazy** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 8:34 pm

I'd agree with my learned fiends above... But to be honest I'd suggest you do something that will cause howls of outrage from the assembled company...

I'd set a budget.

Decide how much you want to pay, investigate the options, do the sums and (as Alad says) play the patiently waiting vulture game. Set up some saved searches on eBay so it alerts you when something tasty is in the offing.

Or if your budget stretches to it, buy yourself a Nitron. I've only ever heard good things about them (not keen on the colour of the spring, mind...) But bear in mind that you will probably be getting a lower-spec shock than what you might procure for the same money off eBay, even including a service.

I think you're on the lookout at the right time. Prices tend to slump a bit between November and February, then rise again as Spring approaches.

It's also a good idea to decide what specification you want. The higher the spec, generally the higher the price. It's probably worth deciding which of the following you want/need:

Separate rebound and compression adjustment (pretty much everything bar the blue spring Sachs has this)
Separate high and low speed compression adjustment (only available on absolute top of the line stuff)
Ride height adjustment (Sachs white/yellow spring and most Ohlins have this and available as extra-cost item on Nitron)
Hydraulic preload adjustment (only aftermarket Ohlins has this, but available as extra-cost item on Nitron)

The choice, as they say, is yours...

Aladinsaneuk · #47 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 8:43 pm

What's a budget precious?

flatlander · #48 Post by **flatlander** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 9:34 pm

I thought the budget was if you have two of something say a kidney you can spare one of them?

Tonyunn · #49 Post by **Tonyunn** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 10:00 pm

Mango you are spot on, I have set both a budget and an end result.

Whatever I buy has to be fitted by me so I need a straight forward bolt on, no adding other bits from other bikes, it has to be simple, I want a standard "good" shock that is up to the job so the Sport Nitron fits the bill at £350.

I will spend the next few months looking and listening for something that can do this and if I find one then great..

If you look in our classifieds someone (Kiwi-Red Falco) has a white shock RSV, not sure if it is still for sale but I woulld like to know if that fits the bill.

And now for a drink, cheers folks

D-Rider · #50 Post by **D-Rider** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 11:30 pm

Yep - I always work within a budget. For example when MPL were selling their clutch slaves on ebay it took more than a year for me to win one within my budget of £40.
Patience is the key

blinkey501 · #51 Post by **blinkey501** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 6:02 am

D-Rider wrote: Patience is the key

I have found falco ownership this last couple of weeks a very costly exercise.
Stuff that is rare but also will enhance the looks and performance has come up in a short space of time at a premium.
I dont regret one bit buying the bits i have got.
I will be looking for other bits for my falco but they seem to be readily available on fleecebay.
My advice to you tonyunn is at the moment is you have just bought a falco and soon you might decide to change things, more so than a shock.
Make a plan and stick to it.

flatlander · #52 Post by **flatlander** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 7:22 am

Mine s start an organ farm lol

I have to agree with Jay though have an idea of what you want to do and it will, if you apply more female logic, save you money ( meaning you'll only spend on what you really want!)

Luckily as I have the prettiest colour scheme I di not need to change thar. Unluckily I know need a donor one in an uglier colour just so I can change stuff.

Aladinsaneuk · #53 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 9:38 am

To change the shock you will need either an abba stand or similar....

White spring shock is straight bolt in solution

flatlander · #54 Post by **flatlander** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 9:51 am

Voulez vous? :)

Aladinsaneuk · #55 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 10:44 am

Ah the age old question - the blond or the brunette?

The blonde was prettier, but I reckon the brunette was naughtier....

I was too young to consider both as a kind of smorgasbord !

Tonyunn · #56 Post by **Tonyunn** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 6:17 pm

What a difference a week makes, wind died down a bit so I went out for a quick toby round the b roads.

Couple things were different, I was determined to hit the corners a lot harder and faster than last week, from comments I have had the bike is set up Ok so I took everones word for it and it was brilliant.

Main difference was I decided to ride the bike and not be a passenger, the bike has to do what I want and not the other way round, I had a great run out and the bike just gets better and better.

Also one thing I forgot to mention is the Falco is the first fixed faring bike I have ridden, the rest have had bikini fairings, I think I was expecting the screen to move in the corners with the bars, I ignored this and chucked the bike in kept the revs highish and the gear right, big big grins all round.

Thanks for all of the advice I think I am going to be fine.

Samray · #57 Post by **Samray** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 6:19 pm

#58 Post by **mangocrazy** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 8:11 pm

Good stuff, Tony. With inline 4s (especially Hondas) you can get away with being a bit limp-wristed, but V-twins (and especially Italian V-twins) do respond best to a firm hand on the tiller. They prefer to be cornered on the gas and respond by digging in and driving really well. Going round a corner in 'throttle on, throttle off' mode will destabilise any bike, but it's worse with a V-twin because of those big heavy pistons whizzing round.

The Falco responds best (I've found) to a fairly classical riding style; get the braking out of the way early, set the bike up and get on the throttle early but gently. That way you can carry good corner speed and get good drive out of the corner - which is after all the V-twin's strength.

Aladinsaneuk · #59 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:19 pm

Get the mind set right- you will not go back to a rice burner 4

Still the best all round bike I have ever had

bigearsbilly · #60 Post by **bigearsbilly** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 7:55 am

Hey Aladdin,

where did you get a Dutch Slave for 40 quid?
Crikey, that's even cheaper than my catalogue wife.

I've noticed my Falco has got 5 rings showing (oo-er)
Which must be why it steers so quick and the headlight was way too low.