Just being really curious now

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#16 Post by **Kwackerz** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 10:53 am

Mine is more reliable than the Honda I owned.
Saying that so were my kawasakis until they developed terminal problems.. nowt small. z440 blew its engine up on the M25, GPZ killed its starter clutch, requiring full engine stripdown.
The honda.. well.. went thru reg rectifiers like tanks of fuel. wonderful bike (NC24) and handled like a thoroughbred, went like shit off a shovel too. IAS if 138mph with an R1 alongside. Miss that bike, but not it's ability to kill itself regularly.
Mille just suffers with a racebike battery. not big enough really, but thats just part and parcel of owning a big sportsbike.. designed with racing in mind rather than silly things like longetivty of battery life... Seems strange that they do the same on the Falco though, with it's road bias you'dve thought the battery wouldve been bigger to allow for non track life.

D-Rider · #17 Post by **D-Rider** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 11:37 am

Falco battery is fine. My original one lasted 6 years - can't really complain about that.

I think most people that have problems with them don't ride regularly (and frequently - I'm not meaning once a year regularity BTW)

Aladinsaneuk · #18 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 1:07 pm

true andy

but we can get on our bikes and ride when ever we want - Tim has to wait for a leg up

blinkey501 · #19 Post by **blinkey501** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 5:43 pm

I have two falco's... No news there, both run fine.
Just had the oasis to Griffs for the valve clearences checked and a tune up, he said it was nice to tell someone that their bike was running good.
Only thing he did comment on was the back shock was past its best which i plan to change.
I think mileage or age is irrelivant, we know the common faults so we do what we can to aviod the issues...
ie keep the bike on an optimiser and the clutch jet if neutral becomes a problem etc

fatboy · #20 Post by **fatboy** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 6:05 pm

As a mate said to me Italian bikes, when they run, you are the proudest man on the planet !
my biggest problem with my falco has been DVLA suddenly deciding Im unfit to drive , 5 months after passing my HGV medical.
The rest of the problems could be attributed to being left standing for nearly 3 years
All the problems have been electrical, I think the ECU was sick when I bought the bike.
TBH most Falco probs do seem to be electrical,they are totally reliant on a healthy voltage to run the EFI/ECU which is a big ask from a silly battery.
This is just my opinion,not researched fact and NO Falco's were harmed in forming this opinion, apart from mine

cornish mafia · #21 Post by **cornish mafia** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 6:26 pm

The ony reason my falco doesn't run well is because I'VE F##KED around with it..........simple !!!

DavShill · #22 Post by **DavShill** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 7:31 pm

I'm still on the original battery - 7 years old in Feb. She lives on an Optimate and I've not had any starting problems.... don't suppose my recent experience could be down to a battery that's nearing the end of its life ...... could it?

randomsquid · #23 Post by **randomsquid** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 8:05 pm

DavShill wrote:don't suppose my recent experience could be down to a battery that's nearing the end of its life ...... could it?

A few days before my kwak battery packed in the horn stopped working. Been fine since I changed the battery.

Gio · #24 Post by **Gio** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 9:21 pm

Lovely lot of replies and I can see from the posts that its mostly niggly things that upset the cart.

Must admit I loved mine when I had it, just a shame it was a bit small for me on long trips :).

I'd like to see a Falco that'd be the size of a Blackbird, oh and as good a panel fit

fatboy · #25 Post by **fatboy** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 7:35 pm

DavShill wrote:I'm still on the original battery - 7 years old in Feb. She lives on an Optimate and I've not had any starting problems.... don't suppose my recent experience could be down to a battery that's nearing the end of its life ...... could it?

An average battery has a life span of 2 to 3 years in optimun conditions

struv · #26 Post by **struv** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 8:07 pm

fatboy wrote:
DavShill wrote:I'm still on the original battery - 7 years old in Feb. She lives on an Optimate and I've not had any starting problems.... don't suppose my recent experience could be down to a battery that's nearing the end of its life ...... could it?
An average battery has a life span of 2 to 3 years in optimun conditions

really why is that?? the battery on our vfr400 is 5 years old and is hardly used but kept on an optimate and never failed to start the bike and provide a day out yet

Gio · #27 Post by **Gio** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 8:25 pm

struv wrote:really why is that?? the battery on our vfr400 is 5 years old and is hardly used but kept on an optimate and never failed to start the bike and provide a day out yet

Therein lies the crunch, any battery thats kept on a some sort of charge should last considerably longer than one that never sees a charger, bit like electric razors imo and i have one thats on the original batteries 24 years after purchase its a Phillips 3 head, can't read the rest its worn off.

flatlander · #28 Post by **flatlander** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 8:45 pm

if you want to know the average life of any product it really is very easy peasy

just look at the warranty and add about 1 week

fatboy · #29 Post by **fatboy** » Thu Oct 25, 2012 5:33 pm

Flatlander, that sums it perfectly !

D-Rider · #30 Post by **D-Rider** » Thu Oct 25, 2012 7:04 pm

It can be less - especially for those products where the receipt fades to nothing in a matter of weeks ............