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my falco's previous owner has changed the swing arm to a mille but has kept the blue shock, there are also a set of triangles which I'm assuming are for the original swing arm, so I'm assuming that all I need to replace is the blue shock with a mille shock, not the triangles and dogbone, what you reckon? its a 2000 falco

It's not actually the swing arm that determines the triangles/dogbone to use, it's actually the shock that determines the triangles/dogbone to use (if you understand me). The swing arms in effect couldn't care less whether they're used with a Falco shock/triangles/dogbone or an RSV shock/triangles/dogbone.

What's important is matching the triangles/dogbone to the shock in use and particularly the spring rate. If you have a Falco shock, use Falco triangles/dogbone, if you have an RSV shock, use the matching RSV triangles/dogbone, is the rule of thumb.

It isn't quite as simple as this, as early RSVs actually used the same linkage as Falcos, but the rule of thumb still holds good. If you get it wrong, the bike will either feel very over-sprung (i.e. rock hard) or very under-sprung (i.e. very soft), depending on which way you got it wrong.

Mango is spot on .... provided that we are talking about the early shape Mille/Tuono swinger - not the remodelled RSVR or later Tuono - that's a whole different pot of lobsters.


.... and Loo Pie ..... now you've got an avatar you're scaring me ......
(what's the story behind that one?)

mangocrazy wrote:It's not actually the swing arm that determines the triangles/dogbone to use, it's actually the shock that determines the triangles/dogbone to use (if you understand me). The swing arms in effect couldn't care less whether they're used with a Falco shock/triangles/dogbone or an RSV shock/triangles/dogbone.

What's important is matching the triangles/dogbone to the shock in use and particularly the spring rate. If you have a Falco shock, use Falco triangles/dogbone, if you have an RSV shock, use the matching RSV triangles/dogbone, is the rule of thumb.

It isn't quite as simple as this, as early RSVs actually used the same linkage as Falcos, but the rule of thumb still holds good. If you get it wrong, the bike will either feel very over-sprung (i.e. rock hard) or very under-sprung (i.e. very soft), depending on which way you got it wrong.

Thanks for the reply

Right so it appears that the previous owner has taken the original triangles off but kept the shock which is a no no
plus the seat height is very low, I'm 5'10" and can easily have both feet down with knees bent and the shock is at its max setting, meaning if I adjust the shock the seat will lower and the bike will become softer, I'm off the Moto GP in Le Mans soon and would like to have the tips of my boots still there when I come back!

D-Rider wrote:Mango is spot on .... provided that we are talking about the early shape Mille/Tuono swinger - not the remodelled RSVR or later Tuono - that's a whole different pot of lobsters.


.... and Loo Pie ..... now you've got an avatar you're scaring me ......
(what's the story behind that one?)

can you tell me the visible difference between the two so I confirm? I'm not really into sea-food either

lol, sam quint from Jaws, classic balls out kind a fella, gotta love him

The only way to be sure is to measure the distance between the bolt holes on the triangles and measure the length of the dogbone between centres. Once you've done that, the following post should tell you what you've got.

http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/show ... stcount=17

In fact that whole thread can be regarded as 'gospel' on Falco/RSV shock/linkage/dogbone stuff (especially the first couple of pages).

Mille Swingarm



RSVR Swingarm




The old one shares the same basic geometry as the Falco's swinger and is not difficult to fit

The newer one does not share the same geometry so shocks and things are more of an issue and there are clearance issues with the battery box.

Both conversions are possible and have been done but unless you really must do the later one then avoid it (and if you must, then avoid the batch of swingers that cracked and be aware of the triangle failures)

The how to do for the earlier swinger is here: https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.php?t=5962

I have info on the later one too but I've not posted it up yet.

Hope this helps

cheers guys, so as far as I can see my falco has a early shape mille swinger with the original falco shock, but I'm still unsure as to what the dogbone and collar are from, as the spare set he gave me look like the original faclo set as they have the arrows on them, the fitted ones dont

Is it a difficult job to replace the fitted triangles as they appear to be slightly bigger and I'm hopeful it will raise the seat height?

Thanks again for your help

That sounds odd - the Mille ones have arrows on them too

Could you post a picture - it might help.

Changing the rear suspension parts is not difficult if you have the means to support the bike from the swingarm pivot .... so not using a normal paddock stand but something like an Abba stand.

D-Rider wrote:That sounds odd - the Mille ones have arrows on them too

Could you post a picture - it might help.

Changing the rear suspension parts is not difficult if you have the means to support the bike from the swingarm pivot .... so not using a normal paddock stand but something like an Abba stand.

I'll take some pics tonight and post them tomorrow, I've just bought a set of front and rear paddock stands 2 mins ago! I'll see if there's an abba jack going cheap on ebay, wallets taken a hammering!

apologies for dragging this out but I've found a 04 mille shock on ebay and am wondering if it will be compatible with my early swinger and I assume I'll need the triangles and dogbone for this 04 shock?

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

all is clear there

looks like you need to be careful with an 04.
Could be a late 03 model then should fit but looks like the 04 model s a no no,Is that when the mille completely changed shape

If its that 04to09 by that chart it does not fit

cheers lads, I'll forget the 04 shock then, but there's another shock come up and they are saying its an original falco shock from a 2002 model, but its got a yellow spring and gold silver body which is what a thought a mille was , can anybody confirm that the falco shock changed from blue to yellow please, as this is starting to really mess with my little brain

if it is an original falco shock, it is blue - and blue only

gold and silver is a mille sachs unit - refer to earlier link - will need dogbones etc from the right mille - 2001-2003 models