Somebody help me!!

[paganman]

Since buying my Falco in May of this year things have gone a little mad, it started with a few little improvements:
Yamaha starter solonoid, improved sidestand off e-bay, Scottoiler, Power Commander, airbox conversion, Beowulf warrior end cans, I then decided to sort the rear shock, so got a 2nd hand Ohlins off an RSVR and had it rebuilt and revalved to suit, with a new spring. Then I had to get an NWS hugger as I don't want that new shock getting filthy!
My girlfriend finds the pillion really comfy, so I bought a set of luggage off one of the fine gents on here, to enable us to get away a bit more.
I've just taken the bike off the road for winter and am in the process of getting the forks sent off to be revalved and resprung for my requirements/weight.
The VFR has now been dragged back into active service, and I'm sat here caressing a beautifully made set of Gilles rearsets which I just couldn't resist and have just arrived for the Falco today. I'm desperate to fit them and go for a blast despite the crappy weather, but should I just admire them until spring, and then fit them?

This bloody Falco ownership/addiction will bankrupt me, it can't be healthy, can it?

[wavey]

I just put petrol in mine

[Samray]

It's unnatural, all these Scots and Yorkies with dosh burning holes in their pockets!

[mangocrazy]

I'm sat here caressing a beautifully made set of Gilles rearsets which I just couldn't resist and have just arrived for the Falco today. I'm desperate to fit them and go for a blast despite the crappy weather, but should I just admire them until spring, and then fit them?

I'd carry on caressing them (oo-er, missus) until Spring. That way they'll stay beautiful and shiny and won't have any chance to get in contact with any nasty salt...

Winter for fettlin', summer for ridin'

[ReggieGasket]

There could be a salting event any time now; be quick!

[D-Rider]

Bikes are meant for riding ... now away with this talk of cosseting them and putting them to bed for the winter .... it's a Falco - not the Blue Peter Tortoise!

[k1w1boy]

Bikes are meant for riding ... now away with this talk of cosseting them and putting them to bed for the winter .... it's a Falco - not the Blue Peter Tortoise!

amen! Don't drop the bird and spoil her looks like I did and you'll be laughing through the worst weather. Despite earlier posts from me, a cover on the dark days will have the recalcitrant Italian mistress taking you wherever you wanna go WHENEVER you wanna lol

[HisNibbs]

There will still be some goodish ridding days before the salt gets comprehensively laid.

Ride the bike now when you can and fit the rear sets ready for spring. A concerted fettle late Jan early Feb should sort most things.

[Falco9]

You can buy a C90 for winter use (if you're that desperate to ride in the cold & wet & muck & salt & everything else thats horrible about our winters)

Your Falco and my Tuono should be (will be in my case) cosseted, loved, polished and generally caresssed through winter with the loving help of an Optimate and lots of T&C in a nice dry (hopefully warm) garage.

No Aprilia (or any other bike IMHO) has ever been made to survive a full UK winter and still look as good come the following spring. Granted you may get a few beautiful clear days during winter but chances are the salt will still be on the ground even then

Boy I'm gonna take a kicking for this

F9

[D-Rider]

You can buy a C90 for winter use (if you're that desperate to ride in the cold & wet & muck & salt & everything else thats horrible about our winters)

Your Falco and my Tuono should be (will be in my case) cosseted, loved, polished and generally caresssed through winter with the loving help of an Optimate and lots of T&C in a nice dry (hopefully warm) garage.

No Aprilia (or any other bike IMHO) has ever been made to survive a full UK winter and still look as good come the following spring. Granted you may get a few beautiful clear days during winter but chances are the salt will still be on the ground even then

Boy I'm gonna take a kicking for this

F9

Well, mine is just about to enter its 5th winter. It'll be ridden most days - just as it is the rest of the year.
I don't think it's looking too bad on it. Yes, I can see it's no longer pristine but people are forever asking me when I got my new bike. They tend to be a bit shocked when I tell them it's 4 and a half years old.

Oh - it only gets hosed down when I can find the time - I guess once a month at best.

[Dusty]

Apologies if you guys have seen this. I thought it was excellent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkIM4_O5ilA

I hate the salt but a clear, dry winter day is wonderful on the bike so I keep mine ready for when the opportunity arises and rinse the salt off after every outing. However, to be honest, the Falco is affected more by road salt than my Triumph, so it sees less winter use.

[paddyz1]

Apologies if you guys have seen this. I thought it was excellent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkIM4_O5ilA

I hate the salt but a clear, dry winter day is wonderful on the bike so I keep mine ready for when the opportunity arises and rinse the salt off after every outing. However, to be honest, the Falco is affected more by road salt than my Triumph, so it sees less winter use.

LOL. That was great. Stole it for AF1

[D-Rider]

Yeah - had seen it but it's one of those that's always good to see again!

[mangocrazy]

You can buy a C90 for winter use (if you're that desperate to ride in the cold & wet & muck & salt & everything else thats horrible about our winters)

Your Falco and my Tuono should be (will be in my case) cosseted, loved, polished and generally caresssed through winter with the loving help of an Optimate and lots of T&C in a nice dry (hopefully warm) garage.

No Aprilia (or any other bike IMHO) has ever been made to survive a full UK winter and still look as good come the following spring. Granted you may get a few beautiful clear days during winter but chances are the salt will still be on the ground even then

Boy I'm gonna take a kicking for this

F9

No kicking from me - I'm in full agreement. Once mid-November has passed the weather is normally shite - if it isn't pissing it down it's freezing cold or foggy (or both), and there is the ever-present threat of salt. I don't care how careful you are when cleaning your bike off after a run on salty roads, some will linger. And besides, who wants to hose down a bike in the freezing cold?

Granted, there are those rare, magical days in winter when the salt has been washed away by a downpour, the gritting lorries have not yet been out, the sun is shining, the weather is mild and there are no damp spots or wet leaves lurking under the trees.

They occur about once every 5 years.

I really don't 'get' this heroism in the face of winter. Up until about ten years ago I had to ride through most of winter; I lived 45 miles away from work and Birmingham stood between my house and my work. If I wanted any home life at all, using a bike was the only way to get it. Now I live 20 minutes walk away from work and I ride bikes purely for fun, not from necessity.

Long may it stay that way...

[D-Rider]

I really don't 'get' this heroism in the face of winter. Up until about ten years ago I had to ride through most of winter; I lived 45 miles away from work and Birmingham stood between my house and my work. If I wanted any home life at all, using a bike was the only way to get it. Now I live 20 minutes walk away from work and I ride bikes purely for fun, not from necessity.

Long may it stay that way...

Not heroism - just practicality - it's warmer on the bike and I don't get traffic hold ups.

The car never warms up on the journey to work and takes an age for the screen to clear before I can set off. On the bike, sling my jacket on and off I go - if it's a bit nippy the heated grips can be turned on but haven't needed them yet this winter.
Things might be different with a longer commute but the bike is a clear winner for me.