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Hey, new to the forums so hello

I'm looking for another road bike, my last one was a VTR Firestorm but I sold it at end of last year to put towards a new car... now I'm (almost) in a position to get another bike but I have a slight concern!

Firstly, I want a V-twin.. I love twins!! I hate Suzuki's in general so that rules out the TLR/TLS etc and I think I've settled on an Aprilia Falco. love the looks and it seems to fit the sports touring that I'm after.

Now... I seem to have issues with my lower back, despite only being 23 I get a /lot/ of pain in my lower back when riding sports bikes. I've got a borrowed 636B1h at the moment and I have to stop every 20-30 or so miles I sold the firestorm because it was a bit bland! and because of the same back problems meant I couldn't ride it very far at a time.

My intentions are some weekend use and hopefully a bit of euro-touring so obviously 30 miles at a time is no good!

What I need to know is, will I have the same issues on a Falco?? Should I just go get an upright bike and be done with it... or is there still some hope left in the Falco?

I want something that does around 120+ miles to a tank, preferably a v-twin and something I can ride for a long time without needing a break .. too much to ask? haha.

I have arthritis in my hands and neck and find the Falco surprisingly comfortable, I have no idea why looking at it, but the seat is actually very supportive and I get less numb bum than I did with my Fazer I suspect the numb bum thing is often linked to the sore back problem. All of that said I would hunt one out at a dealers and get a test ride, or at least a chance to sit on it with your leathers on. A warning though if you take it out for a test ride once you have experienced that engine you'll buy it!

i do'nt how bad your back is, but i suffer lower back pain and have no problems on the falco.the most i've done in a day is about 350 mls.
go for it you wo'nt be sorry.
oh and welcome.

Simple solution, buy a Tuono.........................you know it makes sense

Incoming..............................................

F9

A sit up riding position is often less comfortable over a distance. The Falco's position is not bad, a little hard on the wrists around town but on the open road if you keep you lower back flat you can rest your chest or paunch, on the tank relax your arms and ride the breeze.

I think the back issue on a bike may be agravated by posture. I find that by keeping some tension in the lower back, by tucking my cockix forward and flattening the small of the back rather than slouching, comfort and control are both improved.

For me the limiting factor for touring the Falco is it's range, I've always thought over 200 miles a reasonable target but the Falcos vary between 100 and 160........

I think you're right on the posture thing.. If I straightened my back out as you say then it was less painful, but found it hard to keep this positioning.

I think some of it is down to the fact I've only done about 500 or so road miles in the past 2 years! I really am looking to get back into road riding for good again (I'm not a born again.. I have been riding bikes all this time just not on the road!)

I've read about raising the handlebars too does this improve things? My wrists don't usually suffer too much although I do get numb hands

Anyone would think I'm 60 not 23! I'm relatively fit and healthy too just this back thing is a bit annoying! weight lifting has improved it vastly, doesn't really hurt in day-to-day anymore but soon as I get on a bike, 15 or so miles down the road it starts to hurt!

Don't worry, you're not alone with back issues. I've had been avoiding surgery for over a decade now. And, sadly, I found Falco unbareable. Now, modified, it is perfect but it was a long and expensive route.

If I started again, I'd go straight for Tuono gen 1 or, funds allowing, KTM 990 SM-T!

Hi Sparks and welcome. You may not know it, but most of this forum are.. lets say.. past their best-by dates! I have had back problems in the past, but now manage my back issues quite well, and since I've had my Falco have not had one problem, and mines fairly standard.
I've done some biggish miles as well, none more so that riding the beast from Manchester down to the Med where I now live.
Buy it - you won't regret it!

I find the Falco the most comfortable bike I've ever had.... but it's not perfect. For me the seat is perfect and I don't have back issues (not while riding anyway) but the loading on my wrists at lower speeds is annoying. Also my knees don't like being bent at that angle for hours at a time. I reckon most if not all bikes are a trade off - as one thing gets more comfy another gets worse.

If you want a stronger back try Core Stability exercises. This will enable you to hold good posture for longer periods of time.

try and sit on a few falcos

i popped my bars over the triple crown - after 20 years of nursing i am VERY careful with my back - that made it perfect for me

/puts professional head on .....

the pain may be in your back, but could well originate from your shoulders, and/or wrists and/or neck - or even from your bottom and that's postition in a saddle or indeed the rake of a saddle - ie many possible causes

(I accept that you may have a bad back anyway but often the above exacerbate the condition....)

sounds dead cheeky but go sit on a lot of bikes at a dealers and make notes on the best position for you....

if you can get along to the national aprilia meet then you could see a few falcos with different solutions....

I found mine unfomfortable on mr right wrist and hand, due to a past injury with a broken elbow. I did buy a AFM top yoke and put some renthal flat bars on. But then I had to chop my faring to bits and kinda spoiled it. It rode great and very comfortable but looked a mess from my efforts at cutting the faring. Maybe you'd be better with a tuono. Or try and ride tuono and falco. But as standard the falco bars are quite high, much higher than my srad 750 which I had before so it might be ok for you.

Just got back from Le Mans last Sunday, my first long distance ride on it. Overall I found the comfort not bad (but not as good as my Navigator).
The seat was suprisingly comfy with only minor arse ache. If anything, I could do with the pegs being a little bit further back.
I have long arms so didn't find wrist ache a problem.

As a package, the bike is superb. I really had some fun on it . We use the old way to Le Mans which includes some nice twisty bits and the handling was great considering it was fully laden with Ventura kit.

As already mentioned, try and get a test ride.

It really is an excelent ride.

I have permanent crush fractures in my upper back from a smash on an RG400 in 1990. It causes me aggro sometimes but after switching to Kriega backpacks, no problem. Had the Falco for 6 years, done 10k miles with trips of 500 miles (France) to 1600 mile round (Italy). Falco is the most comfortable bike I ever had, beside a CBR600, but the luggage choice was crucial last year.I was nearly doubled up in 2007 on the way back from Le Mans, but Monza 2008 (more than twice the distance) was just bearable.I wont change the bike, and I will keep the back pack! Bike seemed to be best on fuel ( versus mille,r1,gsxr,100ss,busa). Love it, no need to change this year !

"bought some Gilles Variobars (about £230-ish) and fitted those; the bike was transformed. It gave a max lift of around 1 1/2" and backwards about 1", I set them at this but they're infinitely adjustable, and this gave an ideal riding position." ..... TwinNut Did you have to do much to the fairing to fit them?