What forks?

Chat for Falco Owners.

Moderators: Aladinsaneuk, MartDude, D-Rider, Moderators

Message
Author
User avatar
zoidberg
SuperSport Racer
SuperSport Racer
Posts: 679
Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2010 7:27 am
Location: Cumbria

What forks?

#1 Post by zoidberg » Thu Jun 13, 2013 12:44 pm

Fit straight in the Falco?

I would like some radial brakes at some point.

Will the later RSVR forks drop in?

User avatar
D-Rider
Admin
Admin
Posts: 15560
Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:09 pm
Location: Coventry

#2 Post by D-Rider » Thu Jun 13, 2013 12:53 pm

Take the complete set of yokes brakes and wheel (with the forks of course) to make life easy.
“Scientists investigate that which already is. Engineers create that which has never been.”
-- Albert Einstein

User avatar
zoidberg
SuperSport Racer
SuperSport Racer
Posts: 679
Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2010 7:27 am
Location: Cumbria

#3 Post by zoidberg » Thu Jun 13, 2013 1:02 pm

Hhmmmm I can see this getting expensive. :smt005

User avatar
HowardQ
World Champion
Posts: 3921
Joined: Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:20 pm
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

#4 Post by HowardQ » Thu Jun 13, 2013 1:38 pm

Too expensive, it ain't worth the hassle.
Plus you end up with different wheels back and front.
It would probably cost more than the value of the bike and the brakes would not be that much better.
The Brembo Gold Line callipers and Showa forks are the same as the early RSV and are pretty good for road use if working well.
If you want to spend some money, (less than above), go for some Oz wheels, they look great and really do make a difference
HowardQ

Take a ride on the Dark Side :smt004 :smt096 :smt004

2001 Aprilia Falco in Black
2002 Kawasaki ZX9R F1P

User avatar
Tonyunn
SuperSport Racer
SuperSport Racer
Posts: 520
Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2011 8:47 am
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne

#5 Post by Tonyunn » Thu Jun 13, 2013 2:01 pm

Apart from cosmetics I can't see why you would change.
When I got my Falco about 18 months ago I was a bit disappointed with the front end braking it just didn't feel quite right, anyway just replaced the front pads with Brembo Sintered and it stops on a dot if required, one finger braking and with lots of feel.

I would try the pads first better to spend £70 instead of £500 looking for improvements.
Speed Blue SL 1000 Falco
Harley Davidson....the most efficient way to turn petrol into noise without the embarrassing by-product of horsepower..

User avatar
blinkey501
World Champion
Posts: 3494
Joined: Sun May 29, 2011 6:28 pm
Location: near doncaster

Re: What forks?

#6 Post by blinkey501 » Thu Jun 13, 2013 5:53 pm

zoidberg wrote:Fit straight in the Falco?

I would like some radial brakes at some point.

Will the later RSVR forks drop in?
I am not really sure what has been done to your falco. If it is standard and you want to improve the bike there is "Better" things to spend your money on.
The front end set up apart from maybe a fork service should'nt be on your list of priorities.
Sidestand is no1. You don't want your pride and joy eating the gravel.
Clutch jet is maybe no2. It helps to engage neutral a lot easier.
No 3 is a 15 tooth front sprocket. It makes the bike more manageable at slow speed.
No 4 OZ wheels. If you like to ride aggressively, and like to change direction quite quickly, like when track riding. Or you like to willy wave!!!!!
190/55/17 Rear tyre. This gives more contact with the road when leaning in.
Rear shock change. Either ohlins or with spring sach is a favourite. Although there are alternatives that are a lot better than standard.
The standard front forks are more than capable of making the riding quite pleasurable over ohlins and a lot cheaper. As I said a service maybe beneficial.
Tolerance will be our undoing.

User avatar
blinkey501
World Champion
Posts: 3494
Joined: Sun May 29, 2011 6:28 pm
Location: near doncaster

Re: What forks?

#7 Post by blinkey501 » Thu Jun 13, 2013 5:56 pm

zoidberg wrote:Fit straight in the Falco?

I would like some radial brakes at some point.

Will the later RSVR forks drop in?
I am not really sure what has been done to your falco. If it is standard and you want to improve the bike there is "Better" things to spend your money on.
The front end set up apart from maybe a fork service should'nt be on your list of priorities.
Sidestand is no1. You don't want your pride and joy eating the gravel.
Clutch jet is maybe no2. It helps to engage neutral a lot easier.
No 3 is a 15 tooth front sprocket. It makes the bike more manageable at slow speed.
No 4 OZ wheels. If you like to ride aggressively, and like to change direction quite quickly, like when track riding. Or other than that if you like to willy wave!!!!!
190/55/17 Rear tyre. This gives more contact with the road when leaning in.
Rear shock change. Either ohlins or with spring sach is a favourite. Although there are alternatives that are a lot better than standard.
Tolerance will be our undoing.

User avatar
blinkey501
World Champion
Posts: 3494
Joined: Sun May 29, 2011 6:28 pm
Location: near doncaster

Re: What forks?

#8 Post by blinkey501 » Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:00 pm

zoidberg wrote:Fit straight in the Falco?

I would like some radial brakes at some point.

Will the later RSVR forks drop in?
I am not really sure what has been done to your falco. If it is standard and you want to improve the bike there is "Better" things to spend your money on.
The front end set up apart from maybe a fork service should'nt be on your list of priorities.
Sidestand is no1. You don't want your pride and joy eating the gravel.
Clutch jet is maybe no2. It helps to engage neutral a lot easier.
No 3 is a 15 tooth front sprocket. It makes the bike more manageable at slow speed.
No 4 OZ wheels. If you like to ride aggressively, and like to change direction quite quickly, like when track riding. Or other than that if you like to willy wave!!!!!
190/55/17 Rear tyre. This gives more contact with the road when leaning in.
Rear shock change. Either ohlins or with spring sach is a favourite. Although there are alternatives that are a lot better than standard.
These to me are on your list of priorities, although the tyre size is personal choice.
These modifications will make life more pleasurable with the falco :smt003
Tolerance will be our undoing.

User avatar
Firestarter
Twisted Firestarter
Posts: 1419
Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:28 am
Location: Northwich, Cheshire

#9 Post by Firestarter » Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:05 pm

Flipping heck blinkey, you must have felt quite strongly about all that!
Aprilia SL1000 Falco '04 in Black & Red

User avatar
Aladinsaneuk
Aprilia Admin
Posts: 9503
Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:37 pm
Location: Webfoot territory

#10 Post by Aladinsaneuk » Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:06 pm

It's his dementia


Let's face it, you wouldn't go to a nurse to get good advice on a problem with a Falco - you'd choose an Engineer or a mechanic...


fatboy
World Champion
Posts: 3774
Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2011 7:48 pm
Location: BATH

#11 Post by fatboy » Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:16 pm

Say it again Blinkey ?
Cleverly disguised as an adult !

User avatar
HowardQ
World Champion
Posts: 3921
Joined: Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:20 pm
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

#12 Post by HowardQ » Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:29 pm

Think he is on the whiskey already, see post in general chat!
HowardQ

Take a ride on the Dark Side :smt004 :smt096 :smt004

2001 Aprilia Falco in Black
2002 Kawasaki ZX9R F1P

User avatar
zoidberg
SuperSport Racer
SuperSport Racer
Posts: 679
Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2010 7:27 am
Location: Cumbria

#13 Post by zoidberg » Thu Jun 13, 2013 7:36 pm

i was just browsing eBay and wondering. I like the look of radial calipers is all.

i need to give it a good going over next weekend to see what jobs need doing before i spend money on 'bling'


15t sprocket eh, what size is std?

User avatar
D-Rider
Admin
Admin
Posts: 15560
Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:09 pm
Location: Coventry

#14 Post by D-Rider » Thu Jun 13, 2013 8:29 pm

zoidberg wrote:i was just browsing eBay and wondering. I like the look of radial calipers is all.

i need to give it a good going over next weekend to see what jobs need doing before i spend money on 'bling'
If you want better stoppers, you can go a long way by fitting 4-pad callipers from a later first gen Mille - and more feel by fitting a radial master cylinder. That's the setup I've got.
zoidberg wrote:
15t sprocket eh, what size is std?
16t
“Scientists investigate that which already is. Engineers create that which has never been.”
-- Albert Einstein

User avatar
Falcopops
GP Racer
GP Racer
Posts: 2529
Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2006 4:00 pm
Location: NOT sweating in the tropics

#15 Post by Falcopops » Thu Jun 13, 2013 10:33 pm

I got a set of non-radial ohlins from a mille years ago and if I had the chance again I wouldn't bother. They are good and better than the originals, but for much less money you can get ohlins internals (or others) put in your original shocks that will make them just about as good.

Then you can spend the money you save on an ohlins rear shock.

On the braking front I understand (but haven't done it myself) that changing to the mille 4 pad calipers improve things as does using a radial master. - Just saw that Andy has already confirmed that.

Post Reply