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Hi all, Only had my 2002 Falco for 3 weeks, and loving it! Got some questions for those in the know:

1) I've been told to fit a Yamaha starter solonoid, does anyone know why? and if so which one, and what are the benefits?

2) Will an Ohlins shock from an RSVR fit? I've fiddled with the Sach's one and set it up as best I can, but reckon it is a bit tired.

3) The brembos are superb, but would braided steel brake lines improve further or do they take away the feel?

4) Anyone recomend a decent dealer in North Yorkshire for doing the valve clearances? I can work on Jap bikes but not too confident on this at mo. it's my 1st Italian bike.

Many thanks for any help or tips that anyone can give to improve on owning this brilliant bike

welcome, and how good is your credit??

the yamaha starter solenoid is both cheaper and more powerful than the aprilia one - for a full list of interchangeable parts, i suggest you look at http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/show ... p?t=149370
(Many of the folks who post here lurk over there - sometimes with the same user names, sometimes not....)

shockwise, again:
http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/show ... p?t=162440

be aware that assorted nitron/wp/other aftermarket shocks also fit - but that thread is the exact thing you want to fit an rsv shock to a falco

re braided lines.... I fitted them to mine, and found it was an improvement - BUT i did use a seperate line for each front brake - like the mille types and not using a T link.

No idea on a dealer for services - i think that others will be along shortly with those answers
(Or a lot of folk seem to be using griff and his travelling servicing)

you coming along to the national aprilia meet next week end - if you do you will get a chance to chat with griff and others who may be able to point you in the right direction

paganman wrote:Hi all, Only had my 2002 Falco for 3 weeks, and loving it! Got some questions for those in the know:

1) I've been told to fit a Yamaha starter solonoid, does anyone know why? and if so which one, and what are the benefits?

Yes.
The Aprilia relay is not the best of relays (even though the later ones were upgraded they are still not good) and its switching contacts tend to oxidise and increase the impedance in the circuit to the starter motor. This can lead to poor starting and through poor engine turn-over can contribute to failure of the sprag clutch.
The Yamaha relay is part number 4KD-81-940-00
However a cheaper alternative is the one you can buy through Scooter Assassins on ebay - that's what I'm using (though it did come with a different connector which I had to sort out)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Starter-Motor-Rel ... 7C294%3A50

paganman wrote: 2) Will an Ohlins shock from an RSVR fit? I've fiddled with the Sach's one and set it up as best I can, but reckon it is a bit tired.

Yes - the Ohlins from a pre 2004 Mille is a good modification - makes a big difference. Just make sure you get the linkage (triangles and dog-bone) from the MilleR that goes with it.
This is the shock that I run.

paganman wrote: 3) The brembos are superb, but would braided steel brake lines improve further or do they take away the feel?

The Freudenberg lines that are fitted as standard are good - much better than many other bikes. Those that have moved to braided lines do report improvement - and it should improve feel rather than take it away.
I'm still running the Freudenbergs at present.

paganman wrote: 4) Anyone recomend a decent dealer in North Yorkshire for doing the valve clearances? I can work on Jap bikes but not too confident on this at mo. it's my 1st Italian bike.

Many thanks for any help or tips that anyone can give to improve on owning this brilliant bike

Maybe one of our northern members can advise

Hope this helps

all good advise there, so welcome and i know you'll enjoy.

If you are ok working on a Japanese bike and have reasonable tools then I'd recommend at least checking the clearences yourself. Most likely they will be ok and you and you can spend the money saved else where.........................

The tools need to be reasonable as space is tight and I couldn't get my cheap socket ratchets turn enough to click. I had to up grade.

I changed to sperate front brake lines and thought it a slight improvement but the braking didn't feel in any way poor to start with. I also have the RSVR shock and bones but it came with those so I can't compare to how it was.

aprilia yorkshire is your best bet for shims for the valves, or try adam on the apriliarider.co.uk
he should be able to help, just tell him i sent you;)

sms

Welcome Paganman - great choice of bike, you will not be disappointed

Hi,

Yes welcome to the bestest fold of guys on two wheels You need to check with equifax on your current credit rating fella, as we can spend your dosh quicker than your wife

got a tel number for adam if any 1 needs it, hes doing work from home now

just pm me

sms