Got myself a new Italian bird...

Chat for Falco Owners.

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Aladinsaneuk
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#46 Post by Aladinsaneuk » Tue Jan 03, 2012 6:45 pm

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....


Let's face it, you wouldn't go to a nurse to get good advice on a problem with a Falco - you'd choose an Engineer or a mechanic...


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mangocrazy
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#47 Post by mangocrazy » Tue Jan 03, 2012 7:15 pm

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.
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).

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.

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#48 Post by MartDude » Tue Jan 03, 2012 7:38 pm

mangocrazy wrote:
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.
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).

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 them
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#49 Post by D-Rider » Tue Jan 03, 2012 8:31 pm

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....
It worked didn't it ! :smt003 :smt004

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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#50 Post by mangocrazy » Tue Jan 03, 2012 9:11 pm

MartDude wrote:
mangocrazy wrote:
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.
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).

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.
And you're more likely to round them off, and have to replace them
Hadn't thought of that - very true...

wayofthedarkhand

#51 Post by wayofthedarkhand » Wed Jan 04, 2012 1:16 pm

Oh dear.

Got a message from the MOT tester.

He said the battery went a little flat when starter her up for a test. He's put a new one in.

Let's hope there is no sprag damage

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#52 Post by D-Rider » Wed Jan 04, 2012 1:57 pm

unlikely on a single start - I think we all suffer from that from time to time
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#53 Post by wayofthedarkhand » Wed Jan 04, 2012 3:34 pm

D-Rider wrote:unlikely on a single start - I think we all suffer from that from time to time
Ah, got a message back. Apparently the optimate showed a weak battery, so he changed it. No starting involved. :smt003

wayofthedarkhand

#54 Post by wayofthedarkhand » Sun Jan 08, 2012 7:42 pm

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.

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#55 Post by blinkey501 » Sun Jan 08, 2012 8:08 pm

Nice one.... Enjoy :smt003
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#56 Post by Aladinsaneuk » Sun Jan 08, 2012 8:26 pm

I was a day off in my predicted modding start date

Damn


Let's face it, you wouldn't go to a nurse to get good advice on a problem with a Falco - you'd choose an Engineer or a mechanic...


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#57 Post by mangocrazy » Sun Jan 08, 2012 8:36 pm

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.
It is an excellent bike for two-up travel. Pillion accommodation has actually been properly thought about and planned for; a rarity these days.

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'... :smt003

What rear suspension do you have on your Falco, btw?

wayofthedarkhand

#58 Post by wayofthedarkhand » Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:27 pm

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.

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#59 Post by mangocrazy » Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:44 pm

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.
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.

I gave the blue spring Sachs 500 miles of my life and then called time on it... :smt003

wayofthedarkhand

#60 Post by wayofthedarkhand » Mon Jan 09, 2012 3:51 pm

Image




Bought my heated grips now.

The electrical stuff seems ok, but i've not a clue how to easily get the old grips and bar ends off.

Additionally, without lifting the tank, i'm unsure how to best route the wiring.

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