New Falco owner - woss all this then?

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FalcoJock · #31 Post by **FalcoJock** » Sat Dec 04, 2010 1:06 pm

I love my red Falco, but that red and black colur scheme above is beautiful. I think it's quite slimming (I'm not saying the Falco is fat) and would look fantastic if actually applied to a Falco.

Dusty · #32 Post by **Dusty** » Sat Dec 04, 2010 4:02 pm

Belated welcome greeting from me too. This is a great forum with some real anoraks, sorry, experts able and willing to answer all sorts of questions. Any combination of red and black seems to look great on these bikes. Er, yes, mine is red and black, well Flamingo Red and Anthracite.

fastasfcuk · #33 Post by **fastasfcuk** » Sat Dec 04, 2010 5:56 pm

apart from the seat,hump and wheels it's the same colours as mine.looking at that i now want a red seat and hump.

oh and the decals are different.

rick · #34 Post by **rick** » Sat Dec 04, 2010 6:56 pm

Welcome and welcome to the fold! Red owner here too :)

HowardQ · #35 Post by **HowardQ** » Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:57 pm

Sorry this is a bit late, my internet line has been playing up due to the bad weather.
Welcome to the site Alan, the bike looks really tidy, get out in the sun and enjoy it mate, we're just jealous. (I'vs still got 2 to 3 feet of snow outside).

Aprilionaire · #36 Post by **Aprilionaire** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 5:08 am

I have been riding it a lot recently, had great weather for it, sorry guys, I'm not trying to rub it in! :)
I totally love this bike! Its my first V-twin and I dont know why i didnt do this sooner!
Is the rear shock really crap? or am I thinking it is because of what I have read? mmm, its certainly launching me up out the seat a bit on the odd occasion, I'm not a super fast rider on the road, but I dont hang about, I have club raced (avatar pic) but dont push my luck on public roads, but I def think, I think, there is something amiss, the preload is wound all the way down too.
I have tried to search on here what Ohlins fits, I hear an early RSV will fit, but what is early? 2001?? which ones fit and which dont as I'm thinking this will be my next conquest!

Aladinsaneuk · #37 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:34 am

http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/show ... p?t=162440

there you go mate

Aprilionaire · #38 Post by **Aprilionaire** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:39 am

Aladinsaneuk wrote:http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/show ... p?t=162440

there you go mate

Awesome! you guys are onto it ay!

Dusty · #39 Post by **Dusty** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 3:32 pm

I have no experience of Ohlins, but I can vouch for the yellow spring Mille shock (with linkages) as great bang for your buck for road use. I got an almost new set up for less than £100 on ebay from a guy who had Ohlinsed his Mille from almost new and left the shock hanging in the garage until after he sold the bike. So much better than the OEM unit.

Aprilionaire · #40 Post by **Aprilionaire** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 4:47 am

Dusty wrote:I have no experience of Ohlins, but I can vouch for the yellow spring Mille shock (with linkages) as great bang for your buck for road use. I got an almost new set up for less than £100 on ebay from a guy who had Ohlinsed his Mille from almost new and left the shock hanging in the garage until after he sold the bike. So much better than the OEM unit.

Now that sounds like the kinda deal I'm after! What brand is the original yellow Mille shock? fully adjustable too?

Dusty · #41 Post by **Dusty** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 9:05 am

I'm pretty sure that it'a slso a Sachs but a better one! It has ride height, compression and rebound damping adjustment. I'm sure someone more expert than me will chime in soon to confirm or correct.

HowardQ · #42 Post by **HowardQ** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 1:26 pm

I lived with the standard shock for around 10K miles before I changed it, I had just upped the preload and stiffened the damping up a bit. The original one is not brilliant but it is better than most budget bikes. The front forks are the same as the standard Mille so it shows the back up a bit. I managed to get hold of an almost new early Mille White Spring shock, which fits straight on with the Falco linkages, with the later Yellow spring units you need the Mille linkages.
First difference I noted was the extra comfort as I did not need it set so hard, so didn't get bounced out of the seat so much.
All the rear shocks on the standard Mille are Sachs units and the other big advantage is 4 way adjustrment, as you can up the ride height to make it turn in easier.
Only problem with the White Spring on mine was the gas valve which had to be shaved down with a junior hacksaw a Dremel cutter and a small file before I got clearance on the frame.
They seem to vary, some claim to have fitted them straight on with no problems, most have cut the valve down a bit.
If you get an older Mille shock that needs a rebuild, get them to fit a recessed valve at the same time.
Got my White Spring unit off eBay for £45 and been very happy with it.
The early RSV-R and later RSV Factory have Ohlins units and these can be fitted, or you can splash out on a Falco specific version.

Anyway keep enjoying it on those nice sunny New Zealand roads and you will have an idea by now how worn your standard rear shock is.
The Falco was the first V Twin I have actually owned when I got it 6 1/2 years ago. It's the best bike I have ever owned in 40 plus years and by far the most reliable, will never sell it now.

D-Rider · #43 Post by **D-Rider** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 8:51 pm

Dusty wrote:I'm pretty sure that it'a slso a Sachs but a better one! It has ride height, compression and rebound damping adjustment. I'm sure someone more expert than me will chime in soon to confirm or correct.

Yes it's also a Sachs.

My all accounts the (White spring and Yellow spring) Sachs shocks fitted to the Milles were good bits of kit - unlike the blue spring ones fitted to the Falco.

Doubt I'll ever find out for sure as I'm not trading in my ex Mille-R Ohlins - which is excellent.
That's the way to go if you can find a good deal like I did.

Aprilionaire · #44 Post by **Aprilionaire** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 4:31 am

Doubt I'll ever find out for sure as I'm not trading in my ex Mille-R Ohlins - which is excellent.
That's the way to go if you can find a good deal like I did.

Yeah was talking to a friend yesterday about shocks, he said there is Ohlins and then there is the rest!
Think I will bide my time and wait for a good deal on an Ohlins, the bike isn't by any means unrideable, so no hurry I guess.

Can someone please send or direct me to a pick of the Renegade air kit?? what price are they?? and who is the guy that makes a replica of it?? I might have a go at it myself, pulled the airbox lid off last night and all looks standard in there. [/quote]

NorvernFalco · #45 Post by **NorvernFalco** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 1:22 pm

Hello Falco-istas

I've done it as well, bought a winter bargain the other week and decided to join the forum. 04 plate in red, now sat in the garage alongside the VFR 800 (Anniversary model).

Thanks for the advice so far, I'll be getting a Bubseywoo sidestand for it as the stock one is very strange. I was flapping the bike from side to side just to get it on the stand after I picked it up and popped into the petrol station to get a tank of Mr Esso's finest , and if I start it up and twist the twisty thing it nearly jumps off the stand if I get a little excited.

First major issue was the petrol cap, I bent the key trying to get it open but have 2 on order at the local dealers (Rocket Centre, Blackburn, Lancs, UK). But sorted it out and is now tucked up for winter.

It's all standard apart from some braided hoses and straight through Aprilia carbon exhausts which sound nice but will no doubt upset the neighbours when the good weather comes.

So, here we go....always wanted a Falco and so far nothing has dissapointed me, grunt, character, comfy seat and most importantly - not Japanese. Few things I need to get sorted, the service indicator is showing but I'll get it sorted once the snow goes and invest in a dealer service (ouch !). One scratch on the pillion cover I'd like to get rid of, one of the indicators seems a bit wobbly but a nice set of mini ones from Santa might do the trick. Other than that....seems fine. Paddock stand coming tomorrow as the chain's a bit loose and I'd like to get it up vertical for a poke around, but nothing major so far.

Mrs VFR will be findng a new owner in spring as her indoors is not keen on 2 bikes. Myself I find it a excellent position, but you know how it goes. No doubt I'll be on the Forum in coming weeks/months for guidance and advice. Looking forward to drier warmer weather.

Me and my mates have the Le Mans Moto GP booked for 2011 Bring it on !!!!!! Nice big trip to La Belle France, My Falco, my mates new(ish) Mille, 3 various Triumphs and a Gixer 1000 with every mod you can buy fitted (Papier Mache wheels, Power Gofinder, Some strange £2k tuning kit, etc, etc.) - Oh happy days ........