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New Falco

Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 9:59 pm
by rick
Hi

Well I've picked her up and loved every minute of my ride home... she turns heads (had a group of bikes come over for a chat near Oxford) and I'm really happy. The engine braking is much more noticable compared to my IL4 and it pulls like a train, easily munching motorway and fast A road miles :)

I have the following jobs to do before I'm really happy:

Fit new side stand (ordered a VTR one)
Fit new clutch and brake reservoir caps (existing ones a bit corroded, anyone know a good source?)
Oil & filter change
New plugs
Give everything a bloody good clean!

Re: oil, filter and plugs... anyone recommend any good brands? I usually buy all this sort of stuff from my local Hein Gericke... what sort of oil do I use? Semi synthetic, fully synthetic? Also what about viscosity?

The only other mod I would do it a belly pan... I've seen a few falcos with them fitted and it just seems to finish everything off nicely... anyone have any site/retailed recs?

Cheers,


T

Re: New Falco

Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 10:18 pm
by D-Rider
rick wrote:Hi

Well I've picked her up and loved every minute of my ride home... she turns heads (had a group of bikes come over for a chat near Oxford) and I'm really happy. The engine braking is much more noticable compared to my IL4 and it pulls like a train, easily munching motorway and fast A road miles :)

I have the following jobs to do before I'm really happy:

Fit new side stand (ordered a VTR one)
Fit new clutch and brake reservoir caps (existing ones a bit corroded, anyone know a good source?)
Oil & filter change
New plugs
Give everything a bloody good clean!

Re: oil, filter and plugs... anyone recommend any good brands? I usually buy all this sort of stuff from my local Hein Gericke... what sort of oil do I use? Semi synthetic, fully synthetic? Also what about viscosity?

The only other mod I would do it a belly pan... I've seen a few falcos with them fitted and it just seems to finish everything off nicely... anyone have any site/retailed recs?

Cheers,


T
Glad you've had the chance to start to enjoy :smt003

As yours is one of the early Falcos, maybe semi-synth is the safe option. Fully synth is good for the later bikes but some of the early ones report clutch slip with this (not all mind you). The later ones clutches were uprated so don't suffer this issue.

Are you aware that not so long ago, Aprilia upgraded the oil filter and for this new filter you need a new filter cap and bolts.
Details are here: https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.php?t=1419
You can fit an old style filter or a new one with new cap - I upgraded on my last service - couldn't find a good reason not to. Bought my filter, cap and bolts as a set on ebay.

New Plugs .... well I have to suggest DENSO Iridiums (IXU27) ... but then DENSO pay my wages so I'm not entirely unbiased on the subject.

Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 10:47 pm
by Aladinsaneuk
15/50 semi synth oil - i use motul

iridium plugs - because you can

belly pan from skidmarx - but leave black or colour match....

re fluid covers - evil bay :) - get a second hand set and paint i think :)

original oil filters are still about - but get the new one cheap when you can :)

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 12:46 am
by Nooj
Give everything a bloody good clean!
Leave that to me, I've got the proper kit :smt003

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 7:35 am
by Firestarter
Resevoir covers - Oberon Performance (got mine 2nd hand from another forum member). They do various bits and pieces like that, IIRC they also do titanium nuts & bolts

Oberon

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 9:11 am
by rick
Thanks for the link... those caps look brilliant :smt003

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 9:22 am
by mrapriliafalco
I dont think Skidmark advertise the belly pan for a Falco.

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 9:25 am
by rick
Ok just ordered some iridiums from sparkplugs.co.uk and were only £7.99 compared to £13 on eBay... eBay isn't always the cheapest!

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 9:53 am
by D-Rider
mrapriliafalco wrote:I dont think Skidmark advertise the belly pan for a Falco.
Ah ..... that old myth again ..... :smt002

http://www.skidmarx.co.uk/section/fairi ... intro.html

Hope this helps

:smt003

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 9:59 am
by mrapriliafalco
How stupid of me looking under Belly pans :smt005

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 10:04 am
by D-Rider
mrapriliafalco wrote:How stupid of me looking under Belly pans :smt005
Yeah - that one catches out loads of people .... Skidmarx seem to believe it should be called "Fairing Lowers" - though I fail to see how it really differs from their bellypan category (actually I think it's that these match up to the fairing whereas their bellypans are stand alone items).

I wonder how many more they could have sold had they listed them under bellypans?
:smt017

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 10:10 am
by dyzio
rick wrote:Ok just ordered some iridiums from sparkplugs.co.uk and were only £7.99 compared to £13 on eBay... eBay isn't always the cheapest!
£13?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1x-2316-DCPR9EIX- ... 2a05db1fce

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 10:31 am
by D-Rider
dyzio wrote:
rick wrote:Ok just ordered some iridiums from sparkplugs.co.uk and were only £7.99 compared to £13 on eBay... eBay isn't always the cheapest!
£13?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1x-2316-DCPR9EIX- ... 2a05db1fce
Yeah but those are the NGK ones .... looks as though rick found the DENSO ones at a good price.

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 10:37 am
by dyzio
D-Rider wrote: Yeah but those are the NGK ones ....
Anything wrong with them?

ps
I know you're biased :smt003

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 10:55 am
by D-Rider
dyzio wrote:
D-Rider wrote: Yeah but those are the NGK ones ....
Anything wrong with them?

ps
I know you're biased :smt003
TBH I am unable to make an objective comparison as I've not tried both - and even if I had, it wouldn't be a real back to back assessment.

The DENSO one does have a finer central electrode that should permit sparks to be generated at lower potentials (ie it should cope better with flatter batteries).
NGKs seem to be more attractively priced .... so I guess there is no absolute answer - it depends what you are looking for.

Anyway, I did find an independent comparison so make of it what you will:
http://www.spark-plugs.co.uk/pages/tech ... _plugs.htm

Here's also the bumph from DENSO's website on those plugs:
http://www.globaldenso.com/en/products/ ... tures.html