Value me please

Chat for Falco Owners.

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sabestian
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#16 Post by sabestian » Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:14 am

hornetrider wrote:Maybe the bike just isn't for you...
It could be...

I was struggling when I bought it, my neck and wrists killing me, bars-above-the-yoke trick didn't do it for me. I was getting 90-100 miles until reserve...

I decided to stick with it, especially when I crashed it. I had a choice - either invest and get it back to original (and then probably sell it) or make it the way I want it. I did put money in it (convertibars, adjustable footrests, Fighter conversion, FP1413 chip, PC3) and only now I can say it is close to perfect for what it is.

Now it is doing 130 miles to reserve, neck and wrists are fine. Touring is perfect. Tracks - awesome. Riding through Warsaw in rush hour is fun (!). If it doesn't fit the purpose I just need an allen key to make it fit (and 2 minutes time). There is no other bike on the market that could do-it-all this way.

If I was to choose my way again? I honestly don't know. Selling and buying a Tuono perhaps? A lot of investment, Tuono's got it's issues, too.

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dyzio
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#17 Post by dyzio » Thu Sep 10, 2009 6:49 am

hornetrider wrote: Fair enough. That's not as high as heli/convertibars though. I take it the SV is not an S ie it's unfaired and has high bars?
No, I had the S with clip ons.
hornetrider wrote:I've NEVER heard of a bike tyre lasting 10k, so fair play to you. Look at that as the exception rather than the norm. Are the SV tyres made of wood?!
Get a set of PR2's or similar, never hear of anyone calling them wooden.
hornetrider wrote:Remind me how many CC's the SV has? Can it offer Falco performance???
650, having a thou isn't really essential for me. And the wee bike can shift if the rider knows how to handle it.
hornetrider wrote:Maybe the bike just isn't for you...
That's what I'm trying to say....


I'll be playing with the suspension a bit, that should help.

Another thing that contributed to this idea, was the fact that I need everything at one moment. Tyres/service/c&s.

It could also be the fact that the bike has been my only form of transport for the past 3 years, so I might need a wee brake, lock it up for winter and get a car.

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#18 Post by Syltiz » Thu Sep 10, 2009 11:04 am

Strange conincidence this thread as Im also contemplating a change of some sort. I use mine 80% for the Sunday blast - which I love, and 20% to commute - which I hate but its one of those things that I feel good about thinking back on. (I know that makes zero sense). Long tours kill my neck and back, tank range irritates me and my more frugal mates, the gf cant do more than an hour on the pillion seat and sometimes the impractical nature of certain things really gets to me (like missioning around with allen keys to get my seat off when my mate just uses his key in a seat lock??).

I'm thinking about a KTM SMT... but I will have to sell something - track bike or Falco... :smt010

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#19 Post by D-Rider » Thu Sep 10, 2009 11:21 am

Syltiz wrote:
I'm thinking about a KTM SMT... but I will have to sell something - track bike or Falco... :smt010
Track Bike .... sell the track bike !!


All the stuff on the Falco can be fixed if you ignore the fuel consumption

For the seat, get the quick release pins ..... actually, think I might have a set that I can let you have - think I probably owe you them anyway ..... so I'll send them to you (if I can find them) unless you really are about to flog it!

There are the various solutions to riding position - helibars, variobars etc or standard bars over the clamps.
Carbon helmet helped my neck no end.

Oh yeah .... pillion .... my boys have found that an hour on the back is agony-inducing .... high pillion pegs and my fat arse being sited at the culprits.
No real solution as far as I know ..... damn, my argument is undone ....

:smt012
“Scientists investigate that which already is. Engineers create that which has never been.”
-- Albert Einstein

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Syltiz
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#20 Post by Syltiz » Thu Sep 10, 2009 12:52 pm

D-Rider wrote:
Syltiz wrote:
I'm thinking about a KTM SMT... but I will have to sell something - track bike or Falco... :smt010
Track Bike .... sell the track bike !!


All the stuff on the Falco can be fixed if you ignore the fuel consumption

For the seat, get the quick release pins ..... actually, think I might have a set that I can let you have - think I probably owe you them anyway ..... so I'll send them to you (if I can find them) unless you really are about to flog it!

There are the various solutions to riding position - helibars, variobars etc or standard bars over the clamps.
Carbon helmet helped my neck no end.

Oh yeah .... pillion .... my boys have found that an hour on the back is agony-inducing .... high pillion pegs and my fat arse being sited at the culprits.
No real solution as far as I know ..... damn, my argument is undone ....

:smt012
Thanks Andy. Would you beleive that after all my modding... I cant get a set of those quick release pins to work!? Dont fear though... with the price of track days and track tyres and other surrounding costs - I think its going to be the track bike and the old Pegaso I have that will have to make room for a dedicated tourer.

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mangocrazy
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#21 Post by mangocrazy » Thu Sep 10, 2009 2:54 pm

I have to say that with a ball-ended allen key I find removing/replacing the seat allen bolts a simple job, and certainly not the expletive-inducing task it was with standard allen keys.

But I agree; that arrangement can't hold a candle to a key...

I've only had mine a year, and can't ever envisage parting with it; but then I have also lived with a Ducati 888 for nearly 18 years. I guess I have a high threshold of tolerance for Italian-ness...

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#22 Post by dyzio » Mon Sep 14, 2009 9:05 pm

A small update...

I've fiddled with the suspension a bit, rode 300 miles this weekend... nothing... :) I've also phoned MC technics, found out that my ohlins has a spring for 150+ kg's, I'm 80kg.

The previous owner told me that he changed the chain before I bought it, that meant that it was completely knackered after ~8k miles, I also found the cause of that... he hasn't put new sprockets in...

Image

Bikey feels nice and smooth with the new c&s set.

So my love/hate affair with the Falco continues, she has pulled some nice moves to convince me...

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#23 Post by HowardQ » Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:43 pm

Mine did about 14K on the original chain and the initial replacement DID.
This is without a chain oiler and riding all year round. The DID went rusty in about 3 or 4 weeks,from new when fitted in late November, which seriously pissed me off, but kept cleaning it up with WD40 and re-greasing and it did last 14K.
Did initially use expensive Wurth white ceramic chain wax, which I have now stopped using as this tended to rub off at points where the chain links moved on each other and these were the bits that went rusty quickly.
Oilier wax or gear oil clings on in these areas much better
Andy's right, lowering the gearing by changing the front sprocket to 15T helps a lot.
As for MPG, I've never found it bad as I tend to use the mid range torque more than high revs, so usually get low 40s. If take it steadier but again not particularly slow, it will go into high 40s. Then again never used in real commuting, as only use occasionally for work, so don't know how it does in heavy traffic.
HowardQ

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Dalemac
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#24 Post by Dalemac » Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:47 pm

where can i get these quick release seat bolt things?

Dale

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Moose
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#25 Post by Moose » Tue Sep 15, 2009 7:17 pm

You have probably tried/do this, but after three 2000+ tours (and changing clutch slave, handle bars, the way I rode) I thought I would have to sell the falco :smt011 as I was getting a pain :smt010 in between my shoulder blades (base of my neck).

Gripping the tank with my knees when shutting off stopped it completely, I hadn't realised I was stopping my body going forward with my upper back.

I mention this as with the slipper clutch it doesn't seem to have a lot of engine brake compared to an SV, so you may have used your knees to grip the tank on the SV but not as much on the Falco?

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#26 Post by sfoley1 » Wed Sep 16, 2009 12:40 pm

Well I am also thinking seriously of getting rid of my Falco and I've only had it for about 3 months.

Going for rideouts in addition to commuting was a big factor in making the Falco the choice bike. I've been on one rideout and it was bloody excellent.

Commuting is another story though, it's good in some ways - nimble, narrow etc. but it's hard work at long periods of dead slow and what a waste of horsepower.

I've also very recently found out I'm going to be a Dad for the first time in about 8 months (get in!) so I want to reduce the risk and am not going to go on any rideouts so I only need a commuter.

Plus the Falco is so brilliant at accelerating that I can't help doing it and in the 3 months I've owned it I've been pulled for speeding 4 times while commuting (let off after a 'chat' each time too) and hooning around just to hear the exhausts is not the most sensible thing to be doing with fatherhood round the corner.

So I'm test riding a Honda Deauville on Saturday. I know, I know. Boring as sin but will do exactly what I need it for and won't be egging me on to ride like Rossi (I wish!). Plus it has storage, what a novelty...and no chain, thank the bloody lord

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HisNibbs
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#27 Post by HisNibbs » Wed Sep 16, 2009 3:33 pm

Congratulations on the prospect of being a dad.

A bit of advice though is don't stop doing what you enjoy for the kids sake. You might resent it in the long run and the best thing for kids is happy and contented parents.

Just make sure you don't take stupid risks which is a good idea, kids or not.

The dull ville is an alternative to the car not a Falco...... Had a look at the new Guzzi range?
Don't put off 'till tomorrow what you can enjoy today

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#28 Post by sfoley1 » Wed Sep 16, 2009 3:40 pm

Thank you HisNibbs

New is out of the question.

Although I may have a look at some early 2000s Moto Guzzis, thanks for reminding me.

I won't be curtailing everything I enjoy but I think sacrificing riding a sportsbike is probably not a bad thing on the self preservation front. I don't consider that I take stupid risks necessarily but I definitley ride too quickly on the Falco. I can't help it, it loves it and so do I!!!

I can always go on the odd track day.

Also money wise and my mechanical ineptness point me to a dull commuter with a shaft drive.

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dyzio
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#29 Post by dyzio » Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:00 pm

sfoley1 wrote: Going for rideouts in addition to commuting was a big factor in making the Falco the choice bike. I've been on one rideout and it was bloody excellent.
Commuting is another story though, it's good in some ways - nimble, narrow etc. but it's hard work at long periods of dead slow and what a waste of horsepower.
sfoley1 wrote:I can't help it, it loves it and so do I!!!
That's more or less where I'm coming form. Love it on rideouts, long distance cursing but when it comes to commuting... :(


Oh, and congrats sfoley1 :smt023

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#30 Post by Viking » Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:09 am

sfoley1 wrote: (get in!)
I think that's what caused the impending status change to 'Parental Unit'. No?? :smt003
Plus the Falco is so brilliant at accelerating that I can't help doing it and ... hooning around just to hear the exhausts is not the most sensible thing to be doing with fatherhood round the corner.
Why not? You enjoy it, the bike loves it. Why stop?

By all means, slow down and be more careful. But don't stop doing something that you enjoy.
It's the V-twin thing. There's just something about it that inline-4s don't have at all, and V-4s don't have enough of.

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