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I put a deposit down on the Falco I test rode on Saturday.

It is the most engaging bike I have ever ridden. I tried a gen 1 Fazer thou afterwards and the Fazer was more practical and more comfortable in town but christ it was boring in comparison.


Looking forward to picking it up when my neighbours garage is ready for me to occupy at the end of the month.

There are 2 or 3 things I need to do to the bike though which would help for a long and happy ownership period.

I really need to sort those bars out for my wrists. Mon - Fri I will be mainly commuting across London for 90mins at an avg speed of 20mph, so those bars need raising. Suggestions please, cost and if you have pics that would be great.

Luggage - I've seen the thread about the racks, has anyone got a pic of a top box on their rack. If any of you have the falco luggage and want to sell please PM me.

Front sprocket - I hear a smaller (?) sprocket would help for town riding?

Cheers all, looking forward to a Falco rideout

Get in!

Enjoy!

cheers Samray

TwinNut - I've seen an old post by you where you mention a mod on your bars. Is this what you bought?

http://www.motorcycle-road-and-race.co. ... _id=404387

Some comments here about raised bars on Falcos :
http://forums.clubaprilia.net/forum_pos ... bar-risers

Congratulations! Im sure you wont be disappointed.

cheapest solution re bars is to move the bars above the triple clamp - few of us have done it here with good results

and grats btw

Cheers Aladinsaneuk

So if I take the Falco to my local bike shop and say move the bars above the triple clamp, they'll know what I'm on about?

No way I'm doing it, I can just about adjust the chain and even then I'm nervous

looks like I'm sorted on the luggage option after I've been fleeced of more cash.

I've had a good read of the luggage thread and that website http://www.motorbikesandparts.co.uk/ is brilliant. I'll be getting a HB top box rack, a box with back pad and to rack. Add in a tank bag and me and wife sorted for a weekend.

Good work Forum

Should have bought a Falco bloody weeks a go rather than all this cocking around, tut tut

I'm just back from a 70 mile scoot on mine. You will enjoy this bike! Congratulations on your purchase.I've fitted Givi pannier racks to mine so that I can use it for weekend camping trips. Looks awfully wide with the boxes attached but for me functionality comes before form, and I'm not a great fan of soft luggage.

Thanks Dusty

Did you have to do any mods to the fairing for the side racks?

I too am not a fan of soft luggage so would be interested in this option. I didn't think you could get givi side racks for the Falco.

Did you buy them recently? Any chance of a pic??

Hoorrrraaaaaaaayyyy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Judging from the fact you've gone into post-overdrive I can tell you are somewhat enthused.


At least you've tried all those other bikes and it'll stop you wondering whether you chose correctly.

Not sure whether a dealer is going to be keen to raise those bars above the top yoke.
There is a securing screw that passes through the clipon clamp and secures into a tapped hole in the yoke.
I know that Pete drilled this tapped hole aii the way through the yoke and tapped the top part so he could still screw the clipons in place with them mounted above.
I guess that if your clipons are clamped up tight, this bolt is a bit of a belt and braces approach, but I'd sooner have it in place (were I an old crock that actually wanted a sit-up-and-beg riding position).
It's not a difficult job to do but I bet that most official dealers wouldn't touch it.

Yes D-Rider, very enthused!

It's not a dealer. It's one of those old style repair shops. Run by a 70 year old hard as nails eastender and his 2 sons, complete with Mastiff dog who is scared of the resident cat.

They have fixed my other bikes in the past and always show you the bust parts they took out and explain the problem, they also let you watch them work if you want to, so I reckon they would be more than happy to do it for me, I can but ask.

If they don't want to do it, anyone on here want to do it for a fee?

Having said all that though, I am happy with the position when out of traffic so weekend runs are no problem, even preferable. So adjustables would be better for me no? or is it easy/quick to put them back again?

and

sfoley1 wrote: Front sprocket - I hear a smaller (?) sprocket would help for town riding?

15T sprocket helps with town riding I believe, standard is 16T

Yep - I can confirm the 15 t sprocket is a good move to lower the gearing.

I too have repositioned the clip ons to above the yoke. It is definately more comfy but as stated earlier there are one or two considerations....

1 - You lose the 'security' of the locking bolt D Rider mentioned. This is a minor worry and I keep an eye on mine for tightness before every ride. The upside is you gat a small degree of angular adjustment in return.

2 - The switchgear and reservoirs become a very tight fit in relation to the screen but they do just fit.

3 - The brake hoses aren't long enough unless you remove the fitting that clamps the hose splitter to thye lower yoke. I did this and used a loose zip tie arrangement instead so as to allow free movement of the hose up and down with the suspension.

4 - You need to raise the forks through the yokes thus altering the steering geometry and making it a little more quick steering and some might say flighty. Many do this anyway coz that's how they like the bike to feel.

Where do you live? I'd happily help out if you can get to Ipswich easily.