Background:
A number of people have reported that they have found that the headlight fitted to their Falco is not the correct one for the UK market. We have at least one case of MOT failure caused by this problem.
The background is discussed in THIS THREAD
From investigation it seems that bikes should not be registered in UK without the appropriate headlight being fitted – the responsibility for this laying with whoever registered the bike – and unless you imported a bike
that had previously been registered elsewhere, that responsibility will lay with the dealer that sold it as new.
With the possibility that dealers may not accept their responsibility and fob us off when requesting the bikes be corrected (we know this has happened) we are trying to gain some evidence as to the scale of the problem so that we may act together if necessary.
I would like as many members as possible to check their headlights and let me know what they find. I’ll collate the data and let everyone know the outcome. My feeling is that this problem is more prevalent on the newer Falcos – maybe only on these bikes – but that’s just an assumption and needs to be confirmed.
This post contains:
- Information as to what is required to register a new bike and our rights as consumers (to the best of my understanding recognising that I am not an expert in this area and give no guarantees…)
A list of the information I would like you to supply
A description, with pictures, explaining how to check your headlight (2 methods)
Here are the Rules of the Vehicle Certification Agency
In summary the relevant details are that to register an imported vehicle from the EU (that has not already been registered elsewhere) it must have:
Our rights as consumers (to the best of my understanding)1) The European Certificate of Conformity.
AND
2) A written statement from the applicant confirming that the following items are fitted to the vehicle:
* That the headlamps have been permanently adjusted to be suitable for use on the left hand side of road, namely that the beam is adjusted to dip left. Please note that stickers, beam-deflectors and other non-permanent changes are not acceptable.
* ......
Our rights would be protected under the sale of goods act as the goods would clearly not be "fit for purpose".
Therefore, our local Trading Standards Offices should help us to sort this out.
The information I would like you to supply:
As some of this may be confidential, please PM this to me – I will post up the stats but not release individual data unless we need to do so to progress this with, say Aprilia and then only if I have your permission to do so. I’m asking for this info now so that it’s gathered together and ready if we need it.
Of course, if there is anything you don’t feel comfortable in telling me, just omit that piece of info.
- 1) Your bike’s year of manufacture (from label under seat)
2) The market for which your bike was produced (from label under seat)
3) Did you buy the bike new?
4) Name of original dealer (if known)?
5) Is/was dealer an Official Aprilia dealer (at time of purchase)? (current list HERE)
6) Are you certain that the headlight has never been changed since the bike was purchased new?
7) The headlight part number (from label on headlight)
8) Your name
9) Your frame number (from frame or from V5)
10) Has your bike been MOT’d yet?
11) If you have the incorrect headlight, and have had an MOT test, did you have trouble in passing the MOT (due to the headlight)?
12) The colour of bike
How to find the year and market of your Falco:
Remove the Rider’s seat and find label on subframe rail:
Note the Year of Manufacture (sorry poor phone-camera picture)
Note the Market for which it was made(sorry poor phone-camera picture)
How to discover which headlight you have fitted
The headlight part label is on the base of the headlight, This is hidden by the bottom of the upper part of the fairing.
To read the label there is no alternative but to remove the upper fairing and remove the headlight. If you really want to check the part number to remove any doubt, that is described towards the end of this post.
However there is an easier method - viewing the reflector pattern.
Easy way to check Headlamp:
The diagram below shows the headlamp dip-beam reflector pattern when viewed from in front of the bike (Note: the dip beam is the central/lower reflector of the 3 reflectors within the cluster)
The top pattern is the one you should have for the UK (Part No 8124744)
The lower one is the incorrect EU headlamp (Part No 8124393)
If it doesn't look like either of these, then maybe you have a US market lens (which, I guess, has a symmetrical pattern)
How to remove your headlamp to check part number (Checking things the hard way!) - if you want to be absolutely 100% certain
Firstly remove the 8 screws that hold the screen to the upper fairing. (Note which ones go where – there are different lengths).
Remove the screen and the plastic cover that goes over the dash.
Next remove your bellypan (if fitted) or the thing that Aprilia fits that covers the oil cooler.
Then remove the two fairing sidepanels. (see orange arrows for fixing locations)
Remove the screws shown from the upper fairing – again noting which go where.(see orange arrows for fixing locations)
Unscrew the fixing bolts either side of the mirrors.
Slide the upper fairing forward slightly, then reach inside and disconnect the wires to the 3 headlight bulbs and the sidelight bulb.
Remove the upper fairing.
Remove the 4 cross head screws that hold the light unit in place and withdraw the light unit.
Find the part label on the base of the light unit and note down the part number.
The Parts Manual shows the following options for the Falco:
UK Part No: 8124744
EU (and elsewhere): 8124393
USA Part No: 8124884
Reassembly is the reverse of disassembly …. Best of luck!
(sorry Pierre – no call for the lump hammer in this one).