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Random pic of my Falco and thoughts on a couple of mods

Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2020 7:53 pm
by Three Dawg
Overlooking the Dornoch Firth last week. Gabro chip installed recently, has made the motor proper creamy. :smt045 Also loving the 15/42 gearing, even if it is a bit short for motorway work. Good job the nearest one is 125 miles away! Still can't get over the difference fitting the 40 jet has made to the gearchange. Running out of time to ride it this year though, was out to the west coast today on the much travelled GS and it was baltic coming back.

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Re: Random pic of my Falco and thoughts on a couple of mods

Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2020 10:01 pm
by Falcopops
Nice, Nice and nice again. Not so nice staring down both barrels of winter, I feel your pain

Re: Random pic of my Falco and thoughts on a couple of mods

Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2020 3:28 pm
by Ben
The Falco that Aprilia should have made?

Re: Random pic of my Falco and thoughts on a couple of mods

Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2020 4:36 pm
by Three Dawg
Maybe. If I was designing it I would definitely have given it the fancy swinging arm and the full fat motor, and maybe had two positions for the pegs and make it possible to run the bars above or below the top yoke according to buyer preference. I would have kept the look of the bike sober, no flashy graphics and made the fairing a little bigger. Heated grips would be standard. Bit like my old Laverda RGS - a gentleman's express (once properly sorted) with the best fairing ever. 'Course when it (the Falco) was made we were all a little more supple...

Laverda RGS, a Gentleman's Express once owned by a pleb.

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Re: Random pic of my Falco and thoughts on a couple of mods

Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:41 am
by mangocrazy
Very nice paint job, I like that a lot. I keep on meaning to get the 40 clutch jet mod done, as finding neutral on mine is just impossible at standstill. Does it improve the gearchange as well? Agree about the Falco being a Gentleman's Express. Understated and very capable.

Re: Random pic of my Falco and thoughts on a couple of mods

Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2020 11:31 am
by Three Dawg
Paint is kind of retro - reminds me a bit of those paddock jackets we used to wear back in the day.

I would say that bang-for-buck changing the clutch jet is one of the best mods you can do. Mine was a bugger to select neutral too, but it just snicks in now. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't tried it myself. I was quite surprised to find a 75 jet in there, must be an early bike. The gearshift also improved noticably. I also tweaked (reduced) the free play on the clutch lever very slightly which might have helped a little too. Bought a 4.0 x 100mm electrician's screwdriver from Wickes to make sure I didn't chew the jet up when I took it out.

Re: Random pic of my Falco and thoughts on a couple of mods

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2020 9:51 am
by mangocrazy
OK, you've convinced me. I'll order one from Griff tomorrow... :smt002

Re: Random pic of my Falco and thoughts on a couple of mods

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2020 10:07 am
by Falco Frank
Thats a crackin photo (and paint scheme) @Three Dawg!

I'm also in the Scottish Ducati Club and had some great weekends in the Highlands BUT, never in the N.E. - thats my loss that I need to address next year. My bird has been there too but only for a day trip...

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I also had an RGS back in the day - my only ever new bike, finance crippled me but I loved the two years of ownership.
A56 JWL is still alive - somewhere.

I too want to do the Jet mod but might treat the bike to a full 'Griff' service next year, mine now has a Gabro chip, new Colin Edwards throttle bodies and carbon velocity stacks - good improvement even if Griff poo's on bigger bodies, I wont be changing back again.

Thanks again for the ace photos! Frank.

Re: Random pic of my Falco and thoughts on a couple of mods

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2020 1:00 pm
by Three Dawg
The northeast coast up from Tain is an underrated ride, especially where it hugs the shoreline when the waves are crashing mightily on the rocks. And if you go inland towards Thurso through the Caithness 'flow country' you'll be very resentful of the speed limits. :smt096

Re: Random pic of my Falco and thoughts on a couple of mods

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2020 5:04 pm
by mangocrazy
Falco Frank wrote:
Sun Oct 18, 2020 10:07 am
I too want to do the Jet mod but might treat the bike to a full 'Griff' service next year, mine now has a Gabro chip, new Colin Edwards throttle bodies and carbon velocity stacks - good improvement even if Griff poo's on bigger bodies, I wont be changing back again.
Yes, Griff's position on larger TBs for Falcos has caused some 'debate' shall we say. The CE TBs are 57mm,aren't they? That's quite a jump from standard. Which part(s) of the rev range do you most see the benefit/improvement?

Re: Random pic of my Falco and thoughts on a couple of mods

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 7:45 am
by Falco Frank
1) I've always enjoyed riding next to water - must be the Pisces in me LoL.

2) a bit of new pic sharing - 57mm TB's indeed - launch and midrange seem improved to me, not massive just a cleaner and stronger response.

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I'm weak - could not resist these as well:
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Re: Random pic of my Falco and thoughts on a couple of mods

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 8:46 am
by mangocrazy
That's interesting - I'd have thought that top end would have benefitted the most. Certainly with larger bore carbs it tends to benefit the top end, some times at the expense of bottom end and midrange. But I'm sure the Gabro chip has optimised all that. Those carbon velocity stacks are pure porn - such a shame they're hidden away...

I do have a set of 54mm TBs squirrelled away somewhere, but I'd need to get a chip baked to suit before I fit them. I've never tried them so have no idea how well the butterflies fit to the TBs. Maybe I should think about fitting them as a winter project...

Re: Random pic of my Falco and thoughts on a couple of mods

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 12:03 pm
by fatboy
I feel just a little jealous reading this thread, nice sorted bikes !

Re: Random pic of my Falco and thoughts on a couple of mods

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 2:13 pm
by mangocrazy
Is your Falco poorly, Paul? I thought you'd got it working again...?

Re: Random pic of my Falco and thoughts on a couple of mods

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2020 8:25 pm
by FalcoJock
That's a great photograph of your Falco and the scene beyond.