Got myself a new Italian bird...
Moderators: Aladinsaneuk, MartDude, D-Rider, Moderators
- Aladinsaneuk
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- mangocrazy
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Yes, I got caught out like that. Aprilia seems to use 'reduced head' sizes for a lot of its bolts. Years ago Jap bikes used to use 14mm heads for M8 bolts. Then that reduced to 13mm, and now Aprilia seem to use mainly 12mm heads on M8 bolts, and 15mm on M10 (which used to be 17mm).D-Rider wrote:My old Hondas always required 10/12/14 mm spanners. The Falco seems to go for 11mm and 13mm etc .... so same thread types but different spanners get pressed into service.
I guess it's the relentless focus on cost and weight saving, as using less metal shaves a fraction of a cent of component prices and a fraction of a gram off the weight.
And you're more likely to round them off, and have to replace themmangocrazy wrote:Yes, I got caught out like that. Aprilia seems to use 'reduced head' sizes for a lot of its bolts. Years ago Jap bikes used to use 14mm heads for M8 bolts. Then that reduced to 13mm, and now Aprilia seem to use mainly 12mm heads on M8 bolts, and 15mm on M10 (which used to be 17mm).D-Rider wrote:My old Hondas always required 10/12/14 mm spanners. The Falco seems to go for 11mm and 13mm etc .... so same thread types but different spanners get pressed into service.
I guess it's the relentless focus on cost and weight saving, as using less metal shaves a fraction of a cent of component prices and a fraction of a gram off the weight.
It flies sideways through time
It's an electric line
To your zodiac sign
I've got a Black and Silver Machine!
It's an electric line
To your zodiac sign
I've got a Black and Silver Machine!
It worked didn't it !Aladinsaneuk wrote:Apparently , as well as metric spanners, the main thing most of us use for changing the side stand is a paddock stand or similar....
Andy just uses prayer....


and I wasn't removing the sidestand ... just a bracket for the bellypan that uses the same mounting bolt.
“Scientists investigate that which already is. Engineers create that which has never been.”
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-- Albert Einstein
- mangocrazy
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Hadn't thought of that - very true...MartDude wrote:And you're more likely to round them off, and have to replace themmangocrazy wrote:Yes, I got caught out like that. Aprilia seems to use 'reduced head' sizes for a lot of its bolts. Years ago Jap bikes used to use 14mm heads for M8 bolts. Then that reduced to 13mm, and now Aprilia seem to use mainly 12mm heads on M8 bolts, and 15mm on M10 (which used to be 17mm).D-Rider wrote:My old Hondas always required 10/12/14 mm spanners. The Falco seems to go for 11mm and 13mm etc .... so same thread types but different spanners get pressed into service.
I guess it's the relentless focus on cost and weight saving, as using less metal shaves a fraction of a cent off component prices and a fraction of a gram off the weight.
Picked her up on Saturday and enjoyed getting to know her a little on the ride back.
Got a CBR1000 side stand fitted thanks to Aladinsaneuk hard work. Cheers dude.
Went for my first ride two up today. The misses seems pleased. Two-up i actually found the bike was very well behaved over the bumps, solo however i did find the rear ride a bit hard.
The front end feels great, reminds me of my old ZXR750. The ZX9R front end was bit lacking.
Loving it all so far, but need to get a tank bag and so R&G heated grips.
Got a CBR1000 side stand fitted thanks to Aladinsaneuk hard work. Cheers dude.
Went for my first ride two up today. The misses seems pleased. Two-up i actually found the bike was very well behaved over the bumps, solo however i did find the rear ride a bit hard.
The front end feels great, reminds me of my old ZXR750. The ZX9R front end was bit lacking.
Loving it all so far, but need to get a tank bag and so R&G heated grips.
- blinkey501
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- Aladinsaneuk
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- mangocrazy
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It is an excellent bike for two-up travel. Pillion accommodation has actually been properly thought about and planned for; a rarity these days.wayofthedarkhand wrote:Went for my first ride two up today. The misses seems pleased. Two-up i actually found the bike was very well behaved over the bumps, solo however i did find the rear ride a bit hard.
The front end feels great, reminds me of my old ZXR750.
I asked my wife which bike she preferred going pillion on (I also have an old VFR) and she said the Falco seating is better. Grab handle arrangement was a score draw, apparently.
Agree about the front end; that's one of the bike's best features in my view. It feels very 'plugged in' and trustworthy. If you had a ZXR750 you should be used to 'firm' rear suspension... I remember PB referring to the ZXR's rear suspension as 'being gang-raped by a herd of baboons'...

What rear suspension do you have on your Falco, btw?
- mangocrazy
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OK - that would explain it. By all means persevere with the blue spring Sachs, but I'd be keeping a weather eye out on eBay for a suitable white or yellow spring Sachs or Ohlins shock as well. If you're not already aware, there's a sticky in the Aprilia Technical section on rear suspension options for the Falco.wayofthedarkhand wrote:Still got the blue shock. I think the preload is cranked up.
Feels pretty hard when riding solo but I need to put many more miles on it first.
I gave the blue spring Sachs 500 miles of my life and then called time on it...
