New member and advice needed

[jasa98]

Hi,

I'm new to the forum. I've only been riding for 4.5 years but have been riding every day all year round. Have ridden CBR600Fs since I passed my big bike test and after writing off 2 (Non-fault Cat D), finally took a gamble and got myself an Aprilia. It was a stunning 06 Black/Gold RSVR Factory but sadly it lasted just 13 days before some b*stards targeted it and paid my carpark a visit and cut through the squire lock attached to my almax chain with an angle grinder.

Angry, bitter and depressed I was wondering what to replace it with. I'd love to get the same bike again or even the non-factory version but a) there's nothing to stop the thieving tw&ts that took the first one from doing exactly the same again b) I live and work in London so even if I turned my home into Fort Knox, I'd be paranoid about parking it on the street even just for an hour.

So, what to replace it with.....well after my first v-twin experience, I'm hooked. I was looking for something relatively cheap, something less attractive to thieves, as reliable or almost as reliable as my old cbr, but fun to drive and with that lovely v-twin rumble. SV1000S was my first instinct and I did a lot of reading about the upside and its shortcomings and in doing so, stumbled across the Falco and then this forum.

So, a few questions.

Would you expect me to have less trouble with theft given age and model or is its relative rarity going to cause me a problem on that front vs the fairly common SV1000?

There aren't too many up for sale at the mo, so hard for me to gauge what a good price is but if you're looking at a max budget of £2,500, preferably less, which of the ones below would you go for and why?

2005, high mileage

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2005-APRILIA-SL-1 ... 500wt_1156

2002, low mileage

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aprilia-SL1000-SL ... 945wt_1139

2002, medium mileage

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/APRILIA-FALCO-SIL ... 834wt_1139

2004, medium mileage

http://www.gumtree.com/london/10/73876110.html

Now, for insurance purposes only, nice if it has an alarm and immobiliser already as that will save me a few bob for putting one on. I like the idea of aftermarket cans making the v-twin sound even better but am too tight/practical to shell out for them after I've bought the bike. Also nice if the battery has already been uprated, sidestand mod done and not so importantly (for me anyway at the moment) uprated shock.

I'm going to be using it predominantly during the week for commuting and as the weather warms up, ferrying the missus around at weekends so I'm going to be racking up between 7k and 9k miles a year. Given the opportunity though I will take it out for a blast at weekends and I'm not likely to take it on any trackdays but who knows, the bike might change that!

Lastly, mechanically, I'm a total noob. I've owned hondas, so all I have ever done is tighten the chain, fit honda heated grips and honda replacement indicators (No wire cutting involved).

A lot of questions and info in a first post, I know, so thanks for your time and any opinions/advice welcome even though I know at least 2 of the bikes I've listed belong to people on this forum

[Falcopops]

Ot of the 4 you've listed I know which one I'd go for, no brainer really, BUT I'm uncomfortable expressing a preference as I know who htese bikes belong to (well not all of them)

I think you've pretty much answered your own question anyway with your wish list and pricing.

I'd suggest you needent worry too much about mileage, the motors and rest of the bike are bullet proof.

I used to commute into London on mine, never had any security issues parked on street, mine's got a Datatool alarm and used a button disc lock. Park off street at home if poss.

Batteries can cause problems, especially with the datatool, so an optimate or similar (therefore a power supply) is needed.

HTH and welcome

[anzacinexile]

Welllll

I have a Falco and the other 'arf has a SV1000 so I can speak from both camps.

IMO, the theft angle will effect both bikes - if a thieving bastard wants the bike, they will have it away irrespective of make and model.

The SV has more top end, a smoother motor, a more refined injection system. Downside, build quality not a patch on an Aprilia, the suspension is very sensitive, the brakes cant hold a candle to my Falco and the ride is choppy.

The Falco has far more mid range grunt, is more comfortable, built well but the best bit, she has sole and a personality which makes the Suzi seem bland and uninspiring.

Guess which gets my vote

Oh, WAFO by the way

[Aladinsaneuk]

the silver one on evilbay with the shock and renegade cans - good price i think for what you get

[jasa98]

I heard about battery problems with Aprilias or rtaher the charging circuitry. Where I am at the moment, I don't think I could get a power supply to it, but if it's being used every day will it really be that much of a problem?

I guess if I go on holiday for 2 weeks or more I'll have to find somewhere to put it where I can get to a power supply.

[damci]

As long as the battery has plenty of juice you shouldn’t have a problem with starting it. I have left mine stood for 2-weeks and it started without issue.

If you’re worried about leaving it for long period of time you could always remove the battery and hook it up to a charger in your home.

[FlyingKiwi]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I'm a bit concerned to read about your Almax chain and Squire lock as I use that combo on my 'blade

[randomsquid]

Hello.

I'd buy a brown one. All the cool sophisticated kids have them...

On the theft front rarity can be a plus. We had a group of scumbags ringing bikes round here using a breakers as a front. My old GL650 was one of four recovered out of a few hundred, just because they couldn't find a crashed one or someone to unload the bits on.

If they're stealing to export then they'll take anything.

[D-Rider]

I heard about battery problems with Aprilias or rtaher the charging circuitry. Where I am at the moment, I don't think I could get a power supply to it, but if it's being used every day will it really be that much of a problem?

I guess if I go on holiday for 2 weeks or more I'll have to find somewhere to put it where I can get to a power supply.

Hi and welcome

As long as your battery isn't past it, you should really have no problem if you ride it every day.
I think most that have problems either have a battery well beyond its best or are those that don't ride regularly.

[Nooj]

Don't worry too much about the mileages they've covered, 30,000 miles isn't a lot for one of these, the engines are fairly indestructible if they're looked after and they're painted/finished very well.

[HowardQ]

Before I bought my Falco 6 1/2 years ago I had three consecutive Hondas. Never owned a CBR600F, but my son-in-law and best mate both had them so I had plenty of experience of them. The Falco was way better than any of them.
The Falco has been the most reliable bike I have ever owned, it is also the best bike I have ever owned in 40 odd years.
It has more character than any others.
Mine has done over 30K now and is still very reliable, (and other people on here have done much more), so high miles is not a problem, but if you are going to put lots of commuting miles on to it, I would probably go for one with lower miles on the clock.
SV1000 , sorry but no contest and no soul, end of.
Only possible downside is there are some people around who cannot get on with twins after a few years on Jap IL4s, most don't give it long enough, but you've been there and know how good it is!
Let you choose the bike, but silver looks good to me, unless you can find a really nice Black one.

Sorry, I almost forgot, welcome to the site

[fastasfcuk]

welcome.

[jasa98]

Well thanks guys for the numerous responses. I've definitely decided on the Falco, just not which one yet.

I'm hoping they wouldn't steal a Falco to export and evilbay is flooded with mille parts so breaking for parts surely wouldn't be that lucrative.

Flying Kiwi, I wouldn't worry too much. The chain is great, the lock too, but nothing will really stand up against an angle grinder attack. They are pretty rare as it involves a lot of noise and flying sparks so if your bike is in your own private garage or close enough to your home for you to hear the alarm or an attack on it, you should be ok.

My main problem was that the RSVR attracted too much attention even just with standard pipes. The entrance to my car park is on a busy main high street. Someone has either seen me come home a few nights in a row and called in some dodgy mates, or I've passed some dodgy people in traffic who have then followed me to see where I end up. They definitely came specifically for my bike and my best guess is (because the colour scheme was pretty rare) that it was kept whole and it has gone abroad. They left an 04 Road legal ZX10R track bike completely untouched (Not mine) also secured with Almax and Squire, so I was definitely targeted.

So, for me, I'm hoping the Falco is the perfect weapon. 90% of the fun and thrill of the RSVR, honda-like build quality and reliability BUT without the major attention grabbing and professional thief attraction. It's also better for when I want to take me wife as pillion. She coped on the RSVR but the seat was pretty uncomfy and with no grab rail or even strap it made take offs from traffic lights "interesting".

[Samray]

Welcome John.
Sounds as though you were unlucky with the last bike but have made a wise choice this time with the help of the vast experience on the forum.
I dread to think what their combined ages would total.

[jasa98]

Thanks. Freaked out for just a second as to how you could possibly know what my first name was........then I saw the Mod pit of your profile

Yes, I'm hoping that I can avoid another commuter crash or theft long enough to be able to lean on some of that experience!!!!