RiderSite.com - Motorcycle Forums

So, after months of waiting, I’ve finally got my Falco. It didn’t quite go to plan.
I can’t take any credit for it just yet as the previous owner, Bigyin on here, made it into what you see here. When I saw this up for sale, I guess I kinda got carried away and committed to buy it before I’d seen it in the flesh. I’ve got to say that Bigyin was more than helpful in his communications to me regarding the history of the bike, and buying form a Forum member always helps, as you know someone’s pretty unlikely to sell you a dud. The bikes not perfect but I’m pretty pleased that I managed to get a 2001 Falco with Ohlins shock, Ohlins steering damper, Ohlins front springs, Scorpion Cans, Oz wheels, Dark screen, Bellypan, Hugger, Scotoiler and other bits & bobs for £2250. Thanks Bigyin, and sorry you had to give up your pride & joy.
Anyway, after a bit of hassle getting the thing transported from Edinburgh to Aprilia Performance, I was looking forward to riding it – until Griff phoned me with some bad news. It was booked into him for an interim service and suspension set up, just to get it spot on for my first encounter, but Griff found a few issues with it that in my ignorance I’d missed. I feel a bit of a plonker not to have noticed, but being new to the brand I didn’t have anything to compare it with, and I guess in hindsight I should have had it ridden by someone that knows them. Not that Bigyin was dishonest, far from it, just that I guess you get used to certain things in your bike and, well Griff being the expert he is really knows Aprilias and can spot something wrong a mile off. A few niggles were easily sorted, but the main issue was a relatively noisy engine. Having worked on improving it Griff feels it’s ok, just one of those loose noisy engines, but it does kinda put a slight damper on my new toy.
So, Friday I spent with Griff setting the suspension. It was an eventful day, with guys turning up throughout the day with varying issues, all attended to with humour, a friendly easy approach and complete professionalism by Griff and the team. It’s a joy to watch people who really know what their doing.
We started with a ride round his TT course, with the suspension as it was. Jesus, was that hard! The previous owner was some 5 stone heavier than me. It took quite a while to get the bike feeling good, and at one point I think both Griff & I almost lost the faith. I’m such a skinny bugger that we had to make some serious adjustments from where the suspension had been set, but the point at which it started to work was a revelation – suddenly the bike started to feel like it was mine. After a few more adjustments we’d arrived at a pretty good set up, but one that I will monitor in the coming weeks, as I get familiar with the bike.
So, what do I think of the Falco. Well, coming from years of VFR750 ownership, it obviously feels more focused and a little hard, but I’m surprised how comfy it is. Sure it’s not as all day plush as the Honda, and strangely enough NOW I understand why everyone says the VFR is such an easy bike to ride. I’m a slow learner, and it takes me time to fully adjust to a new bike, so I don’t feel I can sum up the Falco just yet, but I love the immediacy of the power delivery. Strangely, it’s not as mind blowing as I thought it might be, but probably that’s because speed on the Aprilia is somewhat deceptive. As you all know, and as I’ve read many times, when you wind it on it feels like god is tugging it by a string. And that roar………... Although it’s quite hard (compared to the VFR) I really love the fact that it feels so small – and boy is it lighter ! You really do sit on this bike don’t you. It also feels so much more an extension of you. The ride may be firm but it helps to feel what’s going on, and although at times it’s a bit disconcerting, being able to feel what the bike is doing all the time helps me to learn how to ride it properly. I’ve yet to fully exploit the handling, but what I’ve experienced so far leads me to believe I will enjoy the journey finding out just how good this bike, and potentially, my riding can be. You guys can probably do this instantly, but it takes me time to really feel comfortable with any bike. The Falco is definitely boss, but fun and so controllable too. It definitely feels more assured, even though I’m still getting used to the feedback. The faster you go the better it gets of course, and what on the VFR would have previously had me slightly nervous, the Falco just reassures me that it’s all easily within it’s capabilities. It probably always will be with me, as I’m no fast rider, but I can see I’m going to enjoy this. Almost everything about it is so much more immediate, and despite the fact that I had Maxton front & back on the VFR, the Falco feels so much more together. Its definitely like one solid lump of metal, not bits joined together – albeit a rather sophisticated lump of course.
So all in all, the first few days have been not quite what I expected, but in some ways more than I expected. I guess that’s to expected from such an underrated but special bike. Certainly all the guys at work are impressed – and some pretty jealous ☺
Finally, I hope to get to meet some of you on future rideouts – as I’m now properly equipped.
Thanks to everyone who’s lead me to this Falco place, especially to D-Rider for putting me in touch with Griff at Aprilia performance. If there’s anyone reading this who doesn’t use Griff’s services and who needs someone to fettle their Aprilia – trust me, you will not find a more accommodating, more skilled, and more value for money outfit than Griff’s. He’s a top bloke and a credit to the marque. I for one will let no-one else touch my Falco from now on.
If you got this far, apologies for the waffle – thanks for reading it all.

Rene

Having just sold a VFR800 in order to boost the Falco Fund, I can't help but get more excited after reading your post.. I just want everything sold so I get get me leg over the Falco..lol..

Glad you're enjoying it. So.. What's the first mod you're planning on doing?

Glad you've now got it set up for you, does make such a difference, Griff set mine up too and feels so so much better I can't wait to get out again on it. Enjoy!!!

Welcome to the Dark Side Rene
The bike looks great, (then again, I could be slightly biased!).
I got my 2001 Black Falco after 3 consecutive Hondas, VFR 750, CB Sevenfifty Retro and a CBR1000F, so the Falco was a bit of a culture shock.
Loved it from day one but took me a few weeks to fully acclimatise.
Even now, when I ride it after the 9R I bought at the start of the year, it feels bloody loud and vibrates when I start it up, still feels a bit funny as I drive off up the road, then within a few mins it's back to normal on the best bike I've ever owned.
The 9R is newer faster and actually a bit more comfortable, a very nice bike, but it will never match the Falco.
In all the years I have been riding, I have never had a bike that is more "me" than the Falco. I'll have had it 6 years in a few weeks and still feel the same every time I open the garage door.
Hope you enjoy yours half as much!

Did somebody mention mods, it won't need much!
Would fit a rear hugger to keep the crap off the expensive rear shock.
Oh and a smoked rear lens looks good on a black Falco.
But for the moment just enjoy!

The Falco certainly has enough of a kick on the road to be treated with respect by anybody. So take your time. After over 30 years on "lesser" bikes I've been riding mine for about 5 years and am still building confidence....

Glad it's working out nicely - despite a couple of hiccups.

Nice report too

BTW it takes me time to get used to a bike and gain confidence in it ... and that's an ongoing process

Although I'm a long way away I can instantly see a problem with the bike and you.

With you being so light, the Oz wheels are compounding the suspension problems (not enough unsprung weight see).

Being a magnanamous sort I'll give you my brembo's at no charge, hell I'll even stand the postage, it's the least I can do to help improve your riding experience.

I'll even send the cash so you can send me those Oz wheels in return. I've been deliberately shovelling down pies so that I'll redress the weight issue.

Just PM me your address and the deal's done.

Wow. GBP2250 converts to AU$4000. You got one hell of a bargain there. I paid a lot, lot, lot more for my Falco when I bought it 4 years ago.

You lucky, lucky bastard.

Now get the hell outside and ride the wheels off it!

Thanks everyone. Oh Falcopops - you're far too generous a chap - I couldn't possibly take advantage of your kind offer

HowardQ - I've got a Carbon Fibre hugger with it. The previous owner didn't like it so he took it off. Will be putting one back on asap.

Willopotomas - first mod - trying to get the back brake to work at a better angle, and getting some luggage to work with it for everyday commuting bits & pieces. Oh what a chore having to commute on this thing

Renevator wrote: - first mod - trying to get the back brake to work at a better angle,

Not sure about the better angle bit, but trying to get an Aprilia back brake to work, is enough of a problem on its own!
They are all pretty useless and get worse if they get any air in.
You are better bleeding it, and the fronts for that matter, with the caliper off the bike, (with a piece of plywood between the pads), so you can get the bleed nipple at the top. Once that's done it may improve a bit, could then try different pads, (I did), which can also give an "improvement", but the basic problem is that Falcos and RSVs just have crap rear brakes. This is made worse by being low down under the swing arm, where they collect all the road crap, so you need to clean them more often.
There was a bigger bore conversion kit around a few years ago, but have not seen it for a while. You just end up getting used to not using it much.
Was difficult with me cos when I had the old CBR1000F it was one of the late ones with linked brakes (that I actually liked!) and I used the rear all the time.
It always gets through the test OK and does give a very slight retardation effect if you really try!
You just learn to live with (out) it.

not often I do this but

I actually disagree howard - yes it is poor - the rear brake i mean, but - i followed KZmille's guide - fairly sure it is stickied in the aprilia technical section and have very good results - the key is to reverse bleed i think though....

last time i did it i did take it off the bike to get the angle right to ensure that there was no possibility of an air bubble....

Ignoring the competence of the brake itself and the best way to bleed it, I found that I couldn't adjust mine to the position I wanted.
I could lower the position of the lever but I wanted to raise it - and it was already on the stop.

It is OK now - thanks to an unplanned modification .... had come to a halt and it was one of those "loss of balance" situations where I couldn't hold it and it rolled over oh-so-slowly. Did no real damage other than kick the brake lever to have a minor twist that has raised the point of contact with my foot. Sorted!


I do have a spare lever that I could put on to make it "like new" but I won't be doing that as it's better like this.


TBH a rear brake isn't as important on a Falco as it is on many bikes as I tend to control the back end with engine braking - gear selection & use of the clutch.
Good to have it working right for when you do need it though.

D-Rider - that's exactly what I want to do - not drop the bike, I mean raise the lever by quite a few degrees. I read about how rubbish the rear brake was but I didn't realise it had as much use as an old 1970's bicycle brake !! How on earth can Aprilia design such a crap brake? I guess those rearsets that Griff sells would give me some better adjustment - but that little luxury will have to wait until next year, or the year after that, or the year after..............

Welcome Rene, Great match report. Hope to see you soon. Enjoy.