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Fitted my stock Falco cans this afternoon ahead of my "importing project". Jeez, can't believe how quiet it was. Couldn't hear the engine hardly and had to keep glancing at the rev counter to see what gear I might be in.
Very tranquil... wasn't scaring the wildlife at all.

When do you go before the beak, Pete? I'm watching your progress with great interest here, as I'm intending to do the same for my VFR750 later in the year, and will probably be doing the same for the Falco in a few year's time.

Has it been much of a faff so far?

Well, dealing with French bureacrats is always a faff, especially in French! The Aprilia dealer in Toulouse has ordered my airbox restrictors (2-3 weeks, isn't everything here?) and will fill in my Certficate de Conformance. I went to the Hotel des Impots on Friday to get my VF1993 (to prove I do not owe any import duty on the bike), so next job is off to the DRIRE to get my Certificate of Type Approval, and finally I have the trip to the Prefecture to apply for my carte gris.
Joanne (the wife) was talking to a bloke on the plane back to blighty last week who has a Honda and he's been at it for nearly two years! (trying to get his carte gris that is). So, Graham, I'll keep you posted. Headlight dipping will be one issue, but as the original VFR never made 100 BHP, you should be OK (as long as the model was type approved in France originally). I'll ask at the DRIRE when I go.

Cheers! To be honest, I expect nothing less from the French. After the palaver I went through to get my roof terrace approved (application rejected first time around), I'm prepared for a long struggle.

I'm hanging on to my airbox restrictors for just such a reason (they're still fitted, as it hasn't had its first service yet). Also I'm pretty sure that my Falco has Euro-spec headlights, so that could be a blessing in disguise.

I've got hold of a French-spec headlight for the VFR and as you say, it only ever made about 100 (paper) bhp anyway. Real bhp is probably 85-87. There are plenty of VFRs in France, so that makes it a bit easier. But I'm still expecting to deal with the full force of French bureaucracy when I come to chance my arm.

I presume that once you've got your carte gris safely tucked away, the OE boat anchors will be ditched to make way for your aftermarket cans? And the restrictor will mysteriously get lost?

mangocrazy wrote:I'm hanging on to my airbox restrictors for just such a reason (they're still fitted, as it hasn't had its first service yet). Also I'm pretty sure that my Falco has Euro-spec headlights, so that could be a blessing in disguise.

You sure it's still there? I was told that mine would be de-restricted at 1st service, but when I went back I was told it had already been done at the PDI

Can't remember the exact details but a couple of people from the FJRowners site have exported their bikes to pastures French, and got them legally registered there without having to restrict them. Seem to recall it involved getting a certificate of conformance from Yamaha UK.

Ha! found it.
http://www.fjrowners.ws/phpbb2/viewtopi ... onformance

Not for an FJR though, was their pair of GTR1400s

Thanks for the link Fizzog. Read with interest... did they get registered yet?

Firestarter wrote:You sure it's still there? I was told that mine would be de-restricted at 1st service, but when I went back I was told it had already been done at the PDI

Adam at MMC who built and PDI'd the bike says he's going to remove it and snip the wire at the first service, so I'm pretty sure it still is. It feels restricted, anyway...

Sounds like the vehicular equivalent of circumcision and a vescectomy.... OUCH!

Falcomille wrote:Sounds like the vehicular equivalent of circumcision and a vescectomy.... OUCH!

I hadn't thought of it like that. I guess I'd best be gentle with the bike when it comes back from its first service...