Setting up a Falco for touring?

Message

Aladinsaneuk · #46 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 2:42 pm

officially they came with the bikes

some unscrupulous bastard dealers charged extra

furygan man · #47 Post by **furygan man** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 12:13 pm

Can recomend Kreiga luggage/packs

irich · #48 Post by **irich** » Fri Mar 09, 2012 6:34 pm

Aladinsaneuk wrote:officially they came with the bikes

some unscrupulous bastard dealers charged extra

Looks like I have the pillion pad.

Martin from Winding Roads recommended the Wolman Beta Mini for the Falco so thanks for pointing me that way. Way cheaper.

If I wanted to adjust the handlebars to a more sit up position, am I stuck with going with a helibar set up or are there cheaper alternatives?

dyzio · #49 Post by **dyzio** » Fri Mar 09, 2012 8:14 pm

Yes, put your clipons over the top yoke.

However, you'll either need to invest in new brake lines or retain the standard ones and unscrew the 3 way splitter from the frame (or yoke can't remember).

Aladinsaneuk · #50 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Fri Mar 09, 2012 8:52 pm

Or you have a chat with me and I may well have a set of two HEL brake lines for a falco that are long enough for the bars over the triple....

I have acquired some new brake calipers and cannot use them any more...

Say £30 plus delivery?

irich · #51 Post by **irich** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 8:42 am

If I refit the bars over the top yoke I assume I have to drop the front end a fair bit to lift the fork caps high enough? Couple of questions to the wise:

Does this mess around with the steering geometry? (I'm thinking TL tankslapper type scenario here)

Do the bars clash with the fairing?

Thanks

Aladinsaneuk · #52 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 8:49 am

ok

three rings show is enough to take the clip ons - and common practice and thought is that three rings is what the start is for setting the bike up - 4 and 5 rings showing are known but it does make the steering a lot quicker

re tangling with the fairing no so long as you remove the metal bar that holds the brake reservoir to the clip on - undo both bolts, then you can mount the reservoir straight to the clip on

some folk have reported that they have had to rotate some of the switch gear to get the angles right for comfort

i would rate it as an easy to medium mod

(OH - there are lock bolts under the clip ons...... remember to remove them before getting all butch and physical....)

flatlander · #53 Post by **flatlander** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 9:16 am

Sorry to jump in but a question about rings

I currently have none showing if I change this to 3 will it raise the front slightly? Basically my back and hips are killing me. Fused spine untreated fractured hip and arthritis so could do with a little mote comfort and looking less like rooster cogburn every time I get on

irich · #54 Post by **irich** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 9:17 am

Aladinsaneuk wrote:ok

three rings show is enough to take the clip ons - and common practice and thought is that three rings is what the start is for setting the bike up - 4 and 5 rings showing are known but it does make the steering a lot quicker

re tangling with the fairing no so long as you remove the metal bar that holds the brake reservoir to the clip on - undo both bolts, then you can mount the reservoir straight to the clip on

some folk have reported that they have had to rotate some of the switch gear to get the angles right for comfort

i would rate it as an easy to medium mod

(OH - there are lock bolts under the clip ons...... remember to remove them before getting all butch and physical....)

Thanks Dude. I know you've probably fielded these queries a million times but I'm a N00b to this Falco world and it's appreciated. I'm sure there will be more dumb questions but I'll try and keep them all in here :)

I'll let you know about the HEL lines this evening. Don't know what my brother had fitted so need to check with him first.

edit: look and you shall find

https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.ph ... 0a6d2b10ef

irich · #55 Post by **irich** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 9:19 am

flatlander wrote:Sorry to jump in but a question about rings I currently have none showing if I change this to 3 will it raise the front slightly? Basically my back and hips are killing me. Fused spine untreated fractured hip and arthritis so could do with a little mote comfort and looking less like rooster cogburn every time I get on

I think it lowers the front, you are dropping the yokes in effect. The benefit comes from relocating the clip ons above the yoke.

D-Rider · #56 Post by **D-Rider** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 10:24 am

irich wrote:
flatlander wrote:Sorry to jump in but a question about rings I currently have none showing if I change this to 3 will it raise the front slightly? Basically my back and hips are killing me. Fused spine untreated fractured hip and arthritis so could do with a little mote comfort and looking less like rooster cogburn every time I get on
I think it lowers the front, you are dropping the yokes in effect. The benefit comes from relocating the clip ons above the yoke.

And it'll stop handling like an oil tanker !!

I've never previously heard of anyone running with no lines above the yoke.

Aladinsaneuk · #57 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 10:27 am

nod

the front drops a touch

and being honest with people who have back aches and pains - look at your posture and your riding position BEFORE anything else

if you have an abba stand or similar, get some one to take a picture of your from the side while you are on the bike in your normal riding position

now take that picture and look at where your limbs are - many pains in the lower back and neck are referred pains - i.e. from how your wrist is set etc

another common cause of pain in the shoulder/neck is gripping your bars - do not ride with the bars gripped, rather rest your hands around the the bars
(Try it - it makes a lot of sense)

have bend/flex in your arms - keeping the limbs rigid aches very quickly!

look at the angle of of your feet - do you need to adjust the rear levers or invest in some rear sets?

look at your riding gear.... those straps that secure your gloves around your wrist often have fasteners in them - and they can press and compress tendons and neural pathways.... slacken them off a touch and see if that feels different

we are not all warm blooded 20 year olds - so we will get affected by the cold! and cold muscles complain.... i swear by my under suit - either the expensive heine gericke one of the cheap aldi one... and no, i am not referring to thermals!

think about your head and helmet - the photo will show how you are positioning your head - it may feel fine when you tried it on in the shop, but when you are on the bike are you having to crane your head up to see the road ahead.... and doing that puts heavy strain on your neck muscles...

also, think of the weight of your helmet - carbon fibre is not just for posers - the weight difference can affect how comfortable you feel.....

***
I hope that all makes sense - and may well save a lot of fettling :)

MartDude · #58 Post by **MartDude** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 11:17 am

look at the angle of of your feet - do you need to adjust the rear levers or invest in some rear sets?

Geoff (or anyone else for whom this is an issue) - https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.php?t=8539 (& follow the links in the first post as well)

Cheaper alternatives to rearsets. Works for me.

NB - in the pics in the linked post, I hadn't finished adjusting them - they will go a bit lower than shown there. You can also get longer brackets, to lower them still further - IIRC, these are 28 mm.

MartDude · #59 Post by **MartDude** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:08 pm

Another device for increased comfort - for the wrist - and cheap - the Crampbuster. Quite effective on longer runs

Our own dear Nooj sells them

http://www.shinybikesyndrome.co.uk/cms/ ... egory_id=1

http://www.scottoiler.com/uk/Accessorie ... e.tpl.html

dyzio · #60 Post by **dyzio** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 5:16 pm

irich wrote: Does this mess around with the steering geometry? (I'm thinking TL tankslapper type scenario here)

Do the bars clash with the fairing?

I've done around 20k with this setup and never had a problem however since re springing the bike I felt the front twitch, a wee bit of a slapper.

You can align the bars to clear the fairing (they might touch, but you should still have full steering lock), I found the the old style switch (in pic) clears the fairing better.