New Falco Owner
Moderators: Aladinsaneuk, MartDude, D-Rider, Moderators
-
- Track Day Addict
- Posts: 174
- Joined: Sun Jun 08, 2008 7:23 pm
- Location: Edinburgh
Thanks for the welcome
I must admit I had a twin befoer so the delivery and torque I am used to howver this is a bit more of an animal
what I am strugling with is turning into corners. It seems to want to pull wheel into the corner and counter steering seems a fight. Maybe its the tyres, whcih I am changing to Road attacks or maybe its something else ?

I must admit I had a twin befoer so the delivery and torque I am used to howver this is a bit more of an animal


what I am strugling with is turning into corners. It seems to want to pull wheel into the corner and counter steering seems a fight. Maybe its the tyres, whcih I am changing to Road attacks or maybe its something else ?
- Aladinsaneuk
- Aprilia Admin
- Posts: 9503
- Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:37 pm
- Location: Webfoot territory
Have you checked the steering head bearings? Put the tyre on a smooth surface or a cloth and turn the handlebars and feel for "sticking". Or they might be adjusted too tight which might have a similar effect. If you can get the front end off the ground see that the front has no play but turns smoothly under its own weight.yellowasp wrote:Thanks for the welcome![]()
I must admit I had a twin befoer so the delivery and torque I am used to howver this is a bit more of an animal![]()
![]()
what I am strugling with is turning into corners. It seems to want to pull wheel into the corner and counter steering seems a fight. Maybe its the tyres, whcih I am changing to Road attacks or maybe its something else ?
So which tyres have you got on there?yellowasp wrote:Thanks for the welcome![]()
I must admit I had a twin befoer so the delivery and torque I am used to howver this is a bit more of an animal![]()
![]()
what I am strugling with is turning into corners. It seems to want to pull wheel into the corner and counter steering seems a fight. Maybe its the tyres, whcih I am changing to Road attacks or maybe its something else ?
Most work fine. MEZ3s (OE fit) are nasty, horrible things that mess up the steering and give no confidence whatsoever.
Another thing is check the pressures - run the things at the tyre manufacturers recommended pressures - for most this is 36PSI (2.5 bar) front, 42PSI (2.9 bar) rear - but check for the tyres you have on the tyre manufacturers website.
This really does make a big difference.
After that we're into suspension and geometry setup. The sag needs to be within limits. I guess damping is not going to have so much impact on the problem you describe so for now we'll assume that's not too far from where it needs to be.
The other thing that many of us have done is sharpen the turn-in by jacking up the rear (ie increasing ride height at the shock ... though not the stock blue springer 'cos that doesn't have height adjustment) and/or dropping the yokes down the forks by a few rings (maybe not all at one go though).
Hope this helps.
EDIT:
Those lightning repliers !
Two posted up already since I started writing my reply!
Mmmm just nipped out to look more closely at the tyres. They are BT014Aladinsaneuk wrote:What tyres and pressures atm ?
How is front suspension setup?
Front PSI is ............................ 15

Rear PSI is .............................. 30

No feckin wonder its all over the place. Didn't think to check it but I only brought it back from my mates who sold it me and fitting new tyres this week anyhow. What should they be ?? I know its not that setting !!! I am fiting Continental Road Attacks as I love the grip on them. Anyone on here fitted them ??
Can anyone tell me what the std suspension settings are for rebound , damping etc for front and rear - the factory settings so I can reset it and start from there.
Cheers guys.

- Aladinsaneuk
- Aprilia Admin
- Posts: 9503
- Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:37 pm
- Location: Webfoot territory
Yeah - done a search of Bridgestone's website and can't find any quoted pressures .... strange - all the other manufacturers seem to quote them.
If you have no more success than me in unearthing a recommendation from Bridgestone, I'd go with the user manual recommendation.
I expect you have a user manual but if not, download one from the official Aprilia website:
http://www.serviceaprilia.com/public/lum/index.asp
or from Martin Poll's website .... where you can also get the workshop manual and other good info
http://www.martinpoll.dk/div_april.htm
If you have no more success than me in unearthing a recommendation from Bridgestone, I'd go with the user manual recommendation.
I expect you have a user manual but if not, download one from the official Aprilia website:
http://www.serviceaprilia.com/public/lum/index.asp
or from Martin Poll's website .... where you can also get the workshop manual and other good info
http://www.martinpoll.dk/div_april.htm
- Aladinsaneuk
- Aprilia Admin
- Posts: 9503
- Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:37 pm
- Location: Webfoot territory
sorry andy, disagree - the manual pressures are to low - at least that was my experience with the contis - remember the debate over on AF1 about the difference between european air and american air?
Having said that, try them and then go up if that makes sense....
Having said that, try them and then go up if that makes sense....
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...
Remember it - I seem to remember starting it by telling people to run at the manufacturers recommended settings rather than their own half-a-psi will give me ultimate grip mumbo-jumbo.
From what I remember, the problem was that people were running somewhat lower pressures than the manual.
The manual states (for solo riding)
Front 2.4 bar
Rear 2.5 bar
The front is about on the money for most manufacturers recommendations (Pirelli is 2.5 bar)
The rear is a bit low compared to most (Pirelli is 2.9 bar)
As I said, if you can find the manufacturer's recommended pressures go with them. If not, the manual is a reasonable place to start - maybe adding a bit more to the rear if it still feels a bit "wrong"
From what I remember, the problem was that people were running somewhat lower pressures than the manual.
The manual states (for solo riding)
Front 2.4 bar
Rear 2.5 bar
The front is about on the money for most manufacturers recommendations (Pirelli is 2.5 bar)
The rear is a bit low compared to most (Pirelli is 2.9 bar)
As I said, if you can find the manufacturer's recommended pressures go with them. If not, the manual is a reasonable place to start - maybe adding a bit more to the rear if it still feels a bit "wrong"
- Aladinsaneuk
- Aprilia Admin
- Posts: 9503
- Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:37 pm
- Location: Webfoot territory
nod - fair point
just checked on a trumpet forum and it would seem that the BT's should be about what the falco manual recommends - well - 34 and 38 so close enough to start off with
just checked on a trumpet forum and it would seem that the BT's should be about what the falco manual recommends - well - 34 and 38 so close enough to start off with
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...
- mangocrazy
- Admin
- Posts: 3944
- Joined: Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:24 pm
- Location: Sheffield, UK
I removed the MEZ3 from my Falco rear rim last night and put the Roadsmart on and I was struck by how light the construction was on the MEZ3 compared to the Dunlops. The Dunlop was much heavier (in weight) and more rigid in construction than the MEZ3, which felt quite 'thin' and flexible in comparison.
Bear in mind that this is a pretty good like for like comparison, as the MEZ3 had less than 200 miles running in usage and would be as close to 'new' as makes no difference.
Could it be this light construction which was why they felt so crap on the Falco? Just a theory...
Bear in mind that this is a pretty good like for like comparison, as the MEZ3 had less than 200 miles running in usage and would be as close to 'new' as makes no difference.
Could it be this light construction which was why they felt so crap on the Falco? Just a theory...
- HowardQ
- World Champion
- Posts: 3921
- Joined: Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:20 pm
- Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
I've run Bridgestones at the stock setting of 36 and 42 for the road for many years. However I ran a mixed pair in the past of BT 014 front with a BT 020/021 rear, which has always worked very well for me. I had run older Hondas on BT 010 fronts and 020 rears in the past and liked this mix.
The sports tourers on the rear last a bit longer and don't really lose out on grip. They also warm up quicker for winter riding, one of the reasons why I am now running 021s front and rear.
The other reason is that the latest 021s are bloody good as far as I am concerned.
The sports tourers on the rear last a bit longer and don't really lose out on grip. They also warm up quicker for winter riding, one of the reasons why I am now running 021s front and rear.
The other reason is that the latest 021s are bloody good as far as I am concerned.
HowardQ
Take a ride on the Dark Side

2001 Aprilia Falco in Black
2002 Kawasaki ZX9R F1P
Take a ride on the Dark Side



2001 Aprilia Falco in Black
2002 Kawasaki ZX9R F1P