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Hi there!

Wanted to say hello! I'm a portuguese Falco (black one) owner for over a year now. Beautiful piece of italian engineering! I've been a member of this board for almost as long as I had my Falco, but always a passive one at it...
Curiously enough, I've moved and I'm currently living in Swansea in Wales, taking my degree in Motorcycle engineering (yeah, I'm a young'un!).
Hardest part is that I left the Falco in Lisbon...for now!

But I definitely want to bring it over! And I'm able to get a garage here. Only big doubt is the trip!

Now, I've had some trouble with it...the famous sprag clutch no-start illness so I know these bikes do fail. That said, it's the only problem I've had, and I've got more than 10k miles on it.

Still, the big Lisbon-Swansea trip is quite a distance, over 1500 miles, and getting stuck out in France or Spain would be a whole lot of trouble.
So I ask the more travelled of you, how do these bikes deal with great distance touring? What to expect and to look out for? And how to prepare the Falco for it?

I'm thinking about doing this in the summer or better yet, by easter time...
So what do you reckon?
Thanks in advance!

JQ

Lo Johny.

It'll be fine and why ride it all that way you can get the ferry from Santander to Portsmouth, which'd save you about 800 miles.

Anyway now you're over here I hope you post a bit more , especially as you've got som great roads near you.

BTW you should get a round of drinks in in the Bar

Hi Johny, Welcome to Aprilia RiderSite (and RiderSite)

I think i'd go with Gio.

No doubt the Falconeers will be along with some great tips for preparing for the Trip. I would imagine it's more preparing the Rider than the Bike! I personally would just give it a decent service, pump up the tyres and fill it with Petrol. Life's for living, not for preparing for

Wow!
Didn't even know there were ferrys all the way to spain!
I'll definitely check that out!
About the bar...sorry mate! I only drink good...err...portuguese beer!
Cheers!

Been a few accounts on here about epic rides ( which admin shoulda found a special category for ).
Check this one out. https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.ph ... light=epic



and add yours when the time comes.

welcome johny look foward to hearing about your trip.

Hi and welcome.
No probs with Touring on a Falco. I went down to the Pyrenees in June. 3000m return. Didn't miss a beat

Hi Johny

You've left Portugal to come to Swansea ???? ..... must be a very good course you're studying!

As for bringing the bike over, Gio's suggestion of the Santander ferry is a good one.

There again several people have done trips to Spain and Italy on their Falcos with no problems.
Yellowduck took his to Barcelona for the MotoGP last year - two-up with his son on the back.
Portugal might be a bit further but there's no good reason why the Falco shouldn't make it. Of course something can always go wrong - so if you do plan to ride it here, then get some good brake-down and recovery insurance. Hopefully you'll have no problems but if the worst happens you'll be able to get someone to sort things out for you.

Keep posting on the forum and hopefully we'll meet up with you at some point.

Yeah actually it is! One of the best in motorsports courses...

I've been told Wales has got some great roads. Can't wait t explore them...weather permiting that is. Quite different from sunny Portugal. And you all drive on the wrong side!

Hopefully it'll all go well, as I got some friends around the UK and Satander isn't that far from Portugal either, so I should be fine.
Later I'll tell you about the trip. In the mean time I'll just keep myself to studying...

Cheers guys!

Hi Johny_q,

If your a sailor get the ferry, if your a motorcyclist, check the bike is in good nick and then ride it to the UK. Avoiding the toll motorways of course and if you think the clutch is the weak point treat it gently and keep it down to power wheelies only.

The bike should be up for the trip but to cover Sod's law, get the travel insurance anyway. As a rider you'll need to be in shape too. You said you are young so after a day or so you should be moulded around the tank and quite comfortable, until you get off and try to walk.....nah that just us oldies?

I've not found an enjoyable route through the last hundred miles or so of Northern France so there is merrit to a Ferry that avoids that bit and gives you time for a proper kip.

Having spent a bit of time for work in Swansea I'd say it is quite a lively town with extended happy hours and lots of barely clothed, drunken young people staggering around on a Friday night. The Gower is pretty and it is not far to the beauties of Pembrookshire etc.

I've not been to Portugal so I can't compare the two but hope to rectify that some day.

Oh and Welcome.

Welcome. Finally someone younger than me among all those old farts.

Welcome Johnny - great to hear from you. Hope you get the bike over. We falcos are spread across the uk but we do get together about once a year. It will be great to see you. Load ofgreat roads to explore in Wales and the South West. Don't forget to pack your thermals though

Hello johny q and welcome.

That sounds like a great trip you have to make. In my opinion it's not so much the distance as how long you have to do it in. If you have to hurry and use all main roads it may be very dull and you'll square off a rear tyre but the Falco will eat up the miles. I found it quite comfortable for a 600 mile in one day trip on the French Autoroutes but it's much more in it's element on the smaller twisty roads and montain passes.


Of course the ferry is more relaxing but it's not quick. It will land you on the right side of UK for Swansea though.

New section created 'Tour Reports'

If you do Tour the bike back, please do let us know how it went! I know people will be very interested.

Two years ago I rode mine from Hampshire to the Algarve in four days. The bike was fine, no problems with it at all. We had a week in a villa, then rode home again in six days.

Watch out for the Police in Wales, they are very anti-bike.

I only drink good...err...portuguese beer!

Super Bock Green, lovely stuff!