New Falco Owner

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yellowasp · #1 Post by **yellowasp** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:09 pm

Picked it up yesterday and love the bike. May need to raise the bars slightly (any ideas ?) but other than that GREAT

Samray · #2 Post by **Samray** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:14 pm

Looks good.

joecrx · #3 Post by **joecrx** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:25 pm

another nice clean falco , where do you get them ,

exupmonkey · #4 Post by **exupmonkey** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:39 pm

Mmm....sexy bike, in fact it could almost be mine

except mine doesn't have the half ton lead weights on either side, you need some pipes man

. Make sure it has been de-restricted as well, they should get it done at first service but mine wasn't.

itchyhead · #5 Post by **itchyhead** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:06 pm

Nice!!! But have to agree with the monkey.... ditch the cans!

#6 Post by **mangocrazy** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:48 pm

That looks an absolute minter. Nice bellypan, as well. But them boat anchors gotta go...

D-Rider · #7 Post by **D-Rider** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:49 pm

I like the riding position but I know a few old crocks on here prefer a more upright position.

Assuming you're not going down the Falcuono route (ie making it a bit like a 2-oh-no - conventional handlebars and fairing reductions), your options are Helibars and I think Gilles make some too. Think you do have to be a bit careful with clearance to the fairing though.

The other option is to drop the yokes over the forks (which sharpens the steering as a by-product) and fit the clipons above the yokes.
A few on here have done that and can tell you how to do that safely.

As for the "junk the cans" stuff .... only if you have already changed the sidestand (several options available - a search on here will reveal) and changed the rear shock for something other than the blue spring sachs .... again a search will bring up loads on this.

I'm guessing that nobody still has the original Metzler MEZ3 tyres - they are awful on the Falco - changing them for almost anything else is a revelation.

A good low cost mod is to change the front sprocket for a 15t item (16t is standard). This helps low speed drivability for manoeuvring round town.

#8 Post by **mangocrazy** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:52 pm

D-Rider wrote:I'm guessing that nobody still has the original Metzler MEZ3 tyres - they are awful on the Falco - changing them for almost anything else is a revelation.

Mine are being changed for Dunlop Roadsmarts as we speak. Anyone want a pair of nicely run-in, low mileage (<200 miles) Metz MEZ3s?

No - thought not...

D-Rider · #9 Post by **D-Rider** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:59 pm

aaaaaaggggggghhhhhh .... the horrors have returned.

Oh you'll love the transformed bike - It'll actually go where you want it to when you try to turn a corner instead of megga understeer.

dyzio · #10 Post by **dyzio** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 9:27 pm

mangocrazy wrote: Mine are being changed for Dunlop Roadsmarts as we speak. ...

These are getting good reviews, can you write a few words later how they perform in real life?

Aladinsaneuk · #11 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 9:54 pm

I am one of the folks who have raised the bars over the triple clamp - let me know if you want more info

as mods go, its fairly easy :)

FlyingKiwi · #12 Post by **FlyingKiwi** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:26 pm

Hasn't someone on the "other" site fitted Ducati bars.
Off a ST2 or 3 I think.

Aladinsaneuk · #13 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:39 pm

st3 - was not straightforward i believe - and required some drastic fairing surgery iirc

some helibars on evilbay atm as well

#14 Post by **mangocrazy** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 11:31 pm

dyzio wrote:
mangocrazy wrote: Mine are being changed for Dunlop Roadsmarts as we speak. ...
These are getting good reviews, can you write a few words later how they perform in real life?

Yes, I haven't heard a bad word said about them. It's probably going to be April before the bike gets its first run out this year, but will certainly let you know what I think of them. It's been 17 or 18 years since I've run Dunlops, so should be interesting...

HowardQ · #15 Post by **HowardQ** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 11:45 pm

Wecome to the site mate

You've chosen a great bike and bought a nice tidy example.
If you've not had a big V Twin before, it may feel a bit different to what you've been used to. Over a few weeks you will learn to love it.
As far as the bars go, try it first, unless you have to do quite a bit of town work, the riding position really grows on you and I personally find it really comfortable. same with seat, feels hard at first but gets better as you ride it.
You've just bought a great bike with much more character than any Jap IL4, so enjoy it.