Prospective owner questions.

[randomsquid]

Hello,

Hmm, last post went poof?

I'm seriously thinking of buying a bronze one. I've read the forums but have a few questions.

I'm 5'9" and very fat. Will I reach the bars and floor ok?
Do the black framed ones come with an alarm or immobiliser as standard?
If I only use it at weekends will it need charging up first?
Will the motors run to 40-50k on routine servicing?
Are parts generally available or does everything disappear into back order hell?

Thanks

[D-Rider]

Hello,

Hmm, last post went poof?

I'm seriously thinking of buying a bronze one. I've read the forums but have a few questions.

I'm 5'9" and very fat. Will I reach the bars and floor ok?

Err well you found the forum bar OK ....
.... and I'm sure we've got Falco riders here that are only 5ft9 or less ... and there is a certain "portliness" with some of us too.

Do the black framed ones come with an alarm or immobiliser as standard?

No - none of them do
I've a Meta alarm fitted to mine and am happy with it. Some are happy with their Datatool alarms ..... some aren't ..... (they do seem a bit more prone to problems)

If I only use it at weekends will it need charging up first?

Quite possibly - in the winter months
Optimate is a wise investment if you don't ride daily

Will the motors run to 40-50k on routine servicing?

Oh yes - quite a few have done over 100,000 km probably some more than 100,000 miles.
Excellent motors
.... and should the worst happen second hand motors can be picked up for £400-£500 - though the need for that would be very rare

Are parts generally available or does everything disappear into back order hell?

Thanks

There have been problems in the past but apart from the odd glitch from time to time, it's pretty good now.
The forum is pretty good at helping each other out too.

[Aladinsaneuk]

Only thing that might be a problem in the future may be the plastics - but still available now

I am the same height - no problems here - I am also covered with love handles :)

Where is the bike? If it is one we know it may help...

[randomsquid]

Thank you both for the info. I've not really got a specific bike in mind although the one on Ebay in Carlisle looks interesting.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2006-55-Aprilia-S ... 3364219f10

And the one on Mcn looks nice but a bit spendy.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikes ... GN-2050359

I prefer that colour scheme but could be persuaded to buy a different colour if it was a nice bike. I'd go to about £3000 for a good 'un. There's no rush as I've got another bike to play with and I'm looking for one to keep for the long term so I don't want to buy a lemon.

[Willopotomas]

eBay one looks nice..

Have you ridden one of these beasts yet?

[randomsquid]

eBay one looks nice..

Have you ridden one of these beasts yet?

It does look nice, might have a chat with him tomorrow.

I've not ridden one but I have ridden my old gaffer's Tuono and a mate's VTR1000, both of which I liked. I've got a soft spot for twins, don't really get on with four pots.

I'm looking at the dry weight, power output and riding position and these are ticking all my what makes a good bike for out in the sticks boxes. I've got a slightly tired ER6 that I'll keep for commuting but it's marginal in the going, stopping and bouncing round corners departments.

[Nooj]

Hello,

Hmm, last post went poof?

I'm seriously thinking of buying a bronze one. I've read the forums but have a few questions.

I'm 5'9" and very fat. Will I reach the bars and floor ok?
Do the black framed ones come with an alarm or immobiliser as standard?
If I only use it at weekends will it need charging up first?
Will the motors run to 40-50k on routine servicing?
Are parts generally available or does everything disappear into back order hell?

Thanks

I'm not 'very' fat (yet) but am shorter that you and manage mine fine.

No.

Not in the summer, at least I don't bother. Would be a good idea once it gets cold towards winter.

Easily, mine's on 30,000 and feels as tight as the first day I got it.

A lot of parts are shared with the other big 'Prillas, so no real problems there now Piaggio have settled into their new warehouse. Aprilia owners make up and excellent community to belong to as well, loads of help and advice and spares knocking around.

[randomsquid]

Thanks Nooj. Good to know the warehouse is sorted. They cancelled a back order of mine for Guzzi bits when they started buggering about. I was impressed...

[Aprilionaire]

Im 5'9" and very fat. Will I reach the bars and floor ok?

If I only use it at weekends will it need charging up first?

Are parts generally available or does everything disappear into back order hell?

Thanks

I'm 5'7" and no probs for me, tho not fat, just a little podgy around the edges

I mostly ride weekends, tho haven't rode for 3 weeks and she fired up first jab tonight, does get a little lazy on the starting and has done the dash reset a couple of times, so I'm prob goin to takes all the guru's advice and optimate it!
I'm fairly new to Falcoism and its about the best bike I've owned, love it!

Parts, hmmm, I live in New Zealand where your weekly grocery shopping goes on back order! So, I'm dreading the day I need a genuine part!

[randomsquid]

I'm 5'7" and no probs for me, tho not fat, just a little podgy around the edges

I mostly ride weekends, tho haven't rode for 3 weeks and she fired up first jab tonight, does get a little lazy on the starting and has done the dash reset a couple of times, so I'm prob goin to takes all the guru's advice and optimate it!
I'm fairly new to Falcoism and its about the best bike I've owned, love it!

Cheers for that. When I get one I'm tempted to stick a Dynavolt battery on it and see what happens. From new my er-6 was a dodgy starter in the cold with the OEM Yuasa battery. Anything below freezing and it was sluggish to turn over. The clock would reset and the FI light came on at random on steady throttle openings. Put the Dynavolt on and it's started fine after being parked outside overnight when it hit -11. Also started fine after being buried in 6 inches of snow for a week. Yesterday was -5, I had to warm the key up on the hob to turn the ignition but the battery wasn't fazed.

[Willopotomas]

Dynavolt.. Are they similar to the Hawker Odyssey batteries? If so, they're bloody good. My old mans BMW R100 was always a bad starter. Changed to electronic ignition and bought an OEM lead-acid battery.. It worked ok for a while, but was never brilliant. Within about a year the battery was fubar, so he plumped up the extra wedge and bought a Hawker. Farkinell what a difference. Was like a new bike, and not just on start up.

After 6 years of sporadic use and a loooooooong discharge, it gave up and refused to re-charge. Since then we've discovered that the brushes in the starter motor are shot, and have been for many years.. That'll explain the poor starting to begin with, but the Hawker overcame that. The bike itself has been laid up for about 3 years awaiting overhaul, but there's no doubt another Hawker (or similar) will be used.. Even with new starter motor brushes.. haha..

[randomsquid]

Dynavolt.. Are they similar to the Hawker Odyssey batteries? If so, they're bloody good.

Not sure to be honest. The one I bought was an MG series one. Opaque blue case, gel filled. Their site is here:-

http://www.dynavolt.co.uk/4gel.aspx

The one they spec as a Falco replacement is £65 delivered on ebay. I've been impressed with the kwak one. I also tested their leak proof claim by dropping the bloody thing and putting a small crack in the bottom corner of the case...