All You Need To Know About Falco Rear Suspension (probably)

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D-Rider
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#16 Post by D-Rider » Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:13 pm

What have you been doing Mart? In an hour and a quarter it's gone from this:
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to this:
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I guess Futura Motocross is an entertaining sport!
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#17 Post by MartDude » Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:27 pm

D-Rider wrote:
I guess Futura Motocross is an entertaining sport!


Tried it once (car park at a soggy Darley Moor); hence the paint-less patch on the LH pannier.

1st. pic lifted from an AF1 thread; 2nd. is mine :smt003
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#18 Post by mangocrazy » Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:42 pm

Nice one Mart! From your measurements the Fut shock is a fair bit longer than the Falco (325mm vs. 317mm), so that would definitely affect ride height. By a fair bit...

I don't wish to spoil your post-dinner relaxation, but I'd be very interested to see inter-bolt hole measurements for the triangles. And the dogbone, if poss, just to confirm what I already suspect/believe.

I think the only way to determine whether a Fut shock will fit on a Falco is by trying to fit it. If it fits, I think it will be very close.

I also subscribe to the view that it's clean under the grease...

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#19 Post by MartDude » Mon Jan 02, 2012 9:07 pm

Take these measurements as +/- 0.5 mm - used a tape, & the new kitten was helping



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#20 Post by D-Rider » Mon Jan 02, 2012 9:22 pm

mangocrazy wrote:Nice one Mart! From your measurements the Fut shock is a fair bit longer than the Falco (325mm vs. 317mm), so that would definitely affect ride height. By a fair bit...
From the picture, that's not the full length - it looks as though its about another 40mm longer to the pivot.
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#21 Post by MartDude » Mon Jan 02, 2012 9:24 pm

My error - marked the pic wrongly - it is 325 eye-to-eye (centres)
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#22 Post by mangocrazy » Mon Jan 02, 2012 9:26 pm

MartDude wrote:My error - marked the pic wrongly - it is 325 eye-to-eye (centres)
I guessed as much, so didn't want to push my luck (seeing as you'd been so helpful)... :smt003

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#23 Post by MartDude » Mon Jan 02, 2012 10:00 pm

Pic now corrected
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#24 Post by mangocrazy » Mon Jan 02, 2012 10:52 pm

The Fut shock has piqued my interest, I have to say. What adjustments does it have? Is it the same as the Falco shock (i.e. rebound damping) but with the added bonus of hydraulic preload adjustment? I take it there's no compression adjustment...?

It certainly doesn't need any ride height adjustment. It's almost as long as an RSV Ohlins at full ride-height extension (Futura Sachs = 325 mm, Ohlins AP8240 = 327 mm maxed out).

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#25 Post by MartDude » Tue Jan 03, 2012 1:29 am

Yes, Graham, pre-load & rebound only.

As I said earlier, I have a spare - the grubby one in the pics - if anyone wants to borrow it to experiment, you're welcome.

Within the Futura community, most owners seem to find this shock ok - but some don't rate it very highly. Most of the nay-sayers are Americans; I suspect their view may be in part due to the generally more ample proportions, & concomitant weight, of the US population. Some have found it doesn't hold up too well to extended touring, 2-up with luggage. But, as I said, most find it fine. And remember, the Futura is around 20kg. heavier than the Falco.

Maxton have this to say about it :

The rear of the Futura is too soft. The spring on the unit is sprung for a
round an 8 or 9 stone rider. This makes the bike sit down under power and
run wide out of corners. It also makes the bike hard work to move around
on tight, twist roads. The standard Futura shock absorber does not have
enough rebound or compression damping either. This means there is not
enough support with the spring, and even though the spring is soft, there is
not enough control of the spring. Because of the damping problems, it
means there is very little point in respringing the standard rear shock as it
just becomes a “harder pogostick”. The standard shock absorber is a
sealed unit and cannot be rebuilt. Even if you could find a way to strip
the shock down, you cannot buy any parts from Aprilia for the damper.
To cure the handling problems of the Aprilia Futura we recommend a new
shock absorber.


Well, you wouldn't expect them tp praise it, would you?. I showed this to Griff a while back - he said it's largely bollocks, & the standard unit is fine for most people in most situations.
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#26 Post by mangocrazy » Tue Jan 03, 2012 8:37 am

Yes I've read all sorts of stuff from Maxton over the years, and in some cases they have said a shock was too soft when it was in fact as rigid as a mineshaft prop. They're in business to sell shocks and they do that by rubbishing OE shocks and putting doubts in owners minds.

But to be honest, the absence of compression and ride height adjustment means it's only one step above the OE Falco blue spring Sachs in the desirability stakes, even though it appears a much better unit. I think it would probably work pretty well on the Falco. Shame it wasn't supplied as OE.

I'd like to say I'll experiment with it if I have some time, but I NEVER seem to have spare time these days...

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#27 Post by randomsquid » Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:58 pm

Just wanted to say thanks for the info, it's been very useful.
Where ever I lay my hat.....

rossguzzi
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Sl to Tuono shock

#28 Post by rossguzzi » Sat Jan 28, 2012 6:57 am

Hi Guys,
Great resource here !

I have a question some of you more experienced may know.

I have a 03 Falco with a Ohlins AP 840 46PRCLS

I am buying a 04 Tuono.

Will my Ohlins fit on? Do I have to swap links etc?

If I have to swap links will my ol blue Sachs work with the Tuono links?

I am planning to put on my original blue shock to sell on the bike. In Australia they were re valved and didnt perform too bad.

Cheers!

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#29 Post by nteck uk » Sat Jan 28, 2012 7:45 am

There is allot about rear suspension.
But can you lower the front by sliding the legs through the yokes.
Yes I'm short .
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was sv curvey

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#30 Post by Aladinsaneuk » Sat Jan 28, 2012 8:19 am

hi ross

using the original blue spring sachs with tuono dog bone and triangles is not a good idea unless you change spring - I THINK

with regard to the tuono - gen 1 or gen 2 - if it is gen 2 then forget it - i believe the damping etc is different , If a gen 1 then unless it is model year for model year, then swop in the dog bone and triangles

(I think that makes sense!)

and yep neck - but there are also some lowering kits available....


Let's face it, you wouldn't go to a nurse to get good advice on a problem with a Falco - you'd choose an Engineer or a mechanic...


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