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Might Jump Ship onto this colum

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 11:16 pm
by Okamoto
Thinking about jumping ship and moving over to a Tuono, ....bloody shoulders giving me a lot of stick lately (old age and feckin years of hard work! )

But will miss "old Red" ...maybe i'll keep him just for that 7am sunday morning blast through the mist to skeggy! :smt007

I can't think of any other bike to replace the Falco ...there's not much out there that looks good, sounds good, and bloody does you good !!
had and been on plenty of good bikes Fazer1000 / R1 / Busa / gsxr1000 all turbine smooth, great handling...but I like a bike with a heartbeat.

Is a Tuono for me ?...will I get blown off it at 120? ...and end up with a six pack from hanging on (like I did with my old Vmax ha ha)
answers on a post card......might test ride one soon and make up my mind ...watch this space.
:smt017

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 12:11 pm
by HowardQ
Don't jump Oka !!!
You seem to have covered all the reasons yourself already, so you know it makes sense to keep it, (although if you have to jump a Tuono ain't a bad choice!).
5 or 6 years ago I had a 1991 Honda CB750F2 retro.
Classic naked retro style, and being an old fart, I thought it would be nice and comfy. Only if you drive it like a 90 year old on a Harley tractor.
Had real trouble with the artritis in my shoulder even at relatively slow speeds, above the 60 to 80mph range it got really uncomfortable.
The Falco is one of the most comfortable bikes I've ever ridden at any decent speed.
Just my view, as different riding positions suite different people, regardless of age.
On a different note the Falcos round South Yorks seem to be thinning out a bit lately, so you'd better keep it just to keep the numbers up. :smt004

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:08 pm
by Falco9
Well after jumping ship myself this year, I can confirm you will get blown about a lot at 120mph, "but" and it's a big "but" a different screen (in my case one from Ermax) works wonders and makes 100-110 mph cruising no problem at all

The latest Tuono is nothing like the Falco though, they share a V twin engine but the power delivery is completely different. Up to 6K the bike is a pussy cat, from 6-8k things liven up (a lot!!) and from 8-11k the bike goes ballistic.

The bike is a 100% sports bike though, with very firm suspension and a no compromise attitude to every road you ride on, it will bumble about town OK but on the "B" roads adjacent to the A19 (you'll know the ones) this bike is sensational. Your average supertanker will have a better steering lock thoughl, 5 point turns anyone??

Have a test ride, I think you'll love it, and although I know Howard doesn't want to loose any more Sth Yorks Falco's, but the Tuono area here is desperate for some new blood

F9 :smt006

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 2:46 pm
by Kwackerz
Another for the Tuono Chapter of ARS?

Cant be bad!

Can you not fit (showing my un-falconess here) high riser bars to the Falco so you dont have to change bike?

Im sure with a bit of modding Red could continue it's service without hurting the shoulders, etc

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 4:08 pm
by D-Rider
Kwackerz wrote:Another for the Tuono Chapter of ARS?

Cant be bad!

Can you not fit (showing my un-falconess here) high riser bars to the Falco so you dont have to change bike?

Im sure with a bit of modding Red could continue it's service without hurting the shoulders, etc
Enter Sabestian, Hansie and the rest of the Falcuono massive ......

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 8:35 pm
by Okamoto
Cheers for the replies ...Did think of fitting a top yoke conversion for high bars ...but then it would be modded screen / etc etc...
the early Tuono motor was supposed to have a bit more "unrefined poke :smt003 " than the new model so that's the one I was looking for if I decide (prefer factory model funds permitting!)

100plus crusing sounds good with an aftermarket screen...if I can do that for a good few hours with little or no shoulder pain I might be sold on one, although the majority of roads I use are A/B ones so that speed would be spot-on

My shoulders are at fault ...The Falco is comfortable (apart from the seat!! ...hard as feck and recovered in slippy stuff, that does nothing to help as my arse is numb and I'm constantly slipping forward putting weight onto my arms. (I'm gonna get it re-done with better foam and as grippy material as poss...like the later Falco's)
:smt017

Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:01 pm
by Okamoto
Had a demo on the later tuono today ...quite good :smt001 ...but I won't be putting "old red" in px to get one!

Found it easy to get on with, very light and chuckable into the twisties..slightly top heavy on really slow corners, a bit bouncy (with standard settings) ...but DOSEN'T PULL LIKE OLD RED!!! ...what's that all about then, expected the thing to take flight and spit me off but no.
Spoke to Mr salesperson about maps/deristricting etc and he just gimme that look :smt017 ..it only had 600 mile on the clock so I'm hoping it was still restricted ....are they the same as the older mille/falco's ...cut the wire etc etc??

Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:17 pm
by D-Rider
If it's the new shape Tuono, I believe that is basically the same as the new RSV. My understanding is that has a completely different ECU and runs a CAN multiplex wiring system.
No idea if these were restricted and, if so, what can be done to derestrict them.

Rich, Debz, Nooj, do you know?

Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 11:28 pm
by Okamoto
found this on another forum...
all Rotax engines pre 04 utilised a Bombardier Engine management system with a removeable/swappable chip - all Rotax engines post 04 utilise a Siemens Closed Loop Induction engine management system with a Lambda sensor and switchable Map (no chip) - the map is switched using aprilia's Axone Diagnostic tool which all dealers should have.
The 06+ Tuono is essentially an 04-06 RSVR (frame and engine wise)




Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:13 pm
by Falco9
The new Tuono even on Map 2 doesn't pull like the Falco in the lower revs, you ned to rev it to get the best out of it. Probably with just 600miles or so it wouldn't very free anyway.

I've fitted a K&N filter a set of Leo's and my dealer (Padgetts) switched the Axone to Map2 at the first service.

Result................ bloody amazing, I've reverted the gearing back to std to stop the wheelies she has that much power. But and it's a big but... it's all from 6k up. At around 9k and the motor really gets into it's stride and goes like stink, far far more top end power than the Falco (well that's what it feels like, I suppose only the Dyno would say for sure)

F9 :smt006

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:12 pm
by Okamoto
That's what I'd heard...all hell breaks loose above 8k! ...but as you say it was still a tight motor.
Anyway even though I like the later model decided the way to go is for an earlier model (same falco motor) then I can play with it :smt002 ...ie:airbox/cans/pc3 etc etc and there are plenty of goodies available on fleabay for them, and I get to keep old red. :smt007 ...the later one seems tamperproof if you know what I mean..
Please refer the machine to your authorised dealer for service / modification and general highway robbery!!! ££££££ :smt017.


I'll be viewing some Tuono's this weekend ...I quite like it over here.

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 7:59 am
by Okamoto
That's it ...Jumped right in it up to my neck !! :smt003

Put a deposit down on a 04 silver Tuono, 6k on the clock, with extras fitted...needs a good valet / tyres / maybe chain and some tlc (winter job :smt007 )

Has a full akrapovic twin system ££££££!! renegade airbox, pc3, touring screen, toastie heated grips, charger,paddock stand,plus all standard bits....and it pulls as good as old red :smt008


:smt003 :smt003

needs a rear seat pod thing....anyone got a spare for sale??

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 11:20 am
by Falco9
Nicely done M8,

Welome to the "T" club, you won't regret it!

F9 :smt006

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 4:50 pm
by Okamoto
That's what I like ....two aprilias in my garage :smt003
Picked up Tuono and rode back from leeds during the week ...first impressions ...bloody scary!!....tyres are well squared off in two places :smt017

Last bloke must have rode in a circle for 100 miles followed by a 100 mile straight....very strange!

Good news is it does pull like "old red" even with standard gearing (soon to be replaced :smt077 )..and upon further investigation (several cups of tea)..found out it has a chip fitted oooo!

seems that the full titanium Akra system comes with a dedicated chip, also a chain roller block thingy to divert the chain away from the pipes.

more good news is I have a set of BT014S to put on tonight, and the weather looks decent for a saturday run :smt008

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 11:58 am
by HowardQ
Looks like you lot in here could now organise a "T" party, must be at least four of you by now! In fact if it carries on at this rate you could have a Yorkshire "T "party pretty soon.
Good look with it mate, specially if you can also keep "Old Red" sounds like a double winner to me.
Keep us up to date on how you find it, and how comfortable it is, particularly the shoulders!