Simple pleasures

Message

slickliner6 · #16 Post by **slickliner6** » Wed May 08, 2013 6:14 pm

I don't think it's being heretic, just playing devils advocate from my own personal experiences

D-Rider · #17 Post by **D-Rider** » Wed May 08, 2013 6:19 pm

slickliner6 wrote:And,,,,,,,,, playing devils advocate,,,,,,,,,,

If the people on the fireblades and zx9r's had really wanted to play I don't think you would've come close to them(speed wise) and they probably had their baffles still in. (Although the falco with open pipes is a magnificent sound).
And in my experience with bikes(not huge experience ) the japs have always been more reliable and trustworthy than the Italian jobbies.

Like I said just playing devils advocate.

I'd agree regarding the comparative performance of the falco and modern 1litre Jap bikes (though put them up against a modern Aprilia RSV4 and the story might be very different)

I would strongly disagree regarding the reliability comparisons - at least in the case of Aprilias. Extremely reliable bikes.

slickliner6 · #18 Post by **slickliner6** » Wed May 08, 2013 6:58 pm

Yep no doubting the rsv is awesome. But if you compare the price,, rsv V blade. Spend the difference on a blade and it would be comparable.

As far as reliability goes, (like I said "in my limited experience") the falco crapped out aprox 6-7 times in the year I owned it (and 1of those for 6 weeks). Call it lucky but my japs have only ever crapped out once.

blinkey501 · #19 Post by **blinkey501** » Wed May 08, 2013 7:14 pm

slickliner6 wrote:
As far as reliability goes, (like I said "in my limited experience") the falco crapped out aprox 6-7 times in the year I owned it (and 1of those for 6 weeks).

You were unlucky

D-Rider · #20 Post by **D-Rider** » Wed May 08, 2013 7:18 pm

slickliner6 wrote:Yep no doubting the rsv is awesome. But if you compare the price,, rsv V blade. Spend the difference on a blade and it would be comparable.

OK so you'd have a couple of grand to play with which may or may not be enough to make the difference.

Then by the same logic, we go back to your original comparison of a Falco against a modern Japanese bike .... so we can spend the difference there too .... I'm guessing we have at least seven or eight grand to play with .... which'll pay for the BST wheels, fancy suspension, big-bore kit, dyno time and still leave loads to spare.
Reckon those Jap multis will be wondering where we went.

slickliner6 wrote: As far as reliability goes, (like I said "in my limited experience") the falco crapped out aprox 6-7 times in the year I owned it (and 1of those for 6 weeks). Call it lucky but my japs have only ever crapped out once.

Sample of one very uncharacteristic bike is hardly a good benchmark on which to base a general view.

slickliner6 · #21 Post by **slickliner6** » Wed May 08, 2013 7:48 pm

Nnnoooo I was comparing bikes of the same age,,falco V zx9r maybe a similar price range at time of new.
You mentioned the rsv4 (which is new now) so I compared that to a new blade (and that's where the difference in money comes into play)

slickliner6 · #22 Post by **slickliner6** » Wed May 08, 2013 7:58 pm

I think it would be interesting to find out the percentage of falco's that have had problems in the last year.
And compare that to the percentage of problems on,,,,, let's say,,,, a older blade.

(percentage by how many are still in use against problems)and yes I know that can't be done. I just think it would be interesting

slickliner6 · #23 Post by **slickliner6** » Wed May 08, 2013 8:16 pm

blinkey501 wrote:
slickliner6 wrote:
As far as reliability goes, (like I said "in my limited experience") the falco crapped out aprox 6-7 times in the year I owned it (and 1of those for 6 weeks).

You were unlucky

You only have to look on this site as to how many people have had problems.
Maybe I was unlucky,but I obviously am not the only one.

HisNibbs · #24 Post by **HisNibbs** » Wed May 08, 2013 9:45 pm

slickliner6 wrote:And,,,,,,,,, playing devils advocate,,,,,,,,,,

If the people on the fireblades and zx9r's had really wanted to play I don't think you would've come close to them(speed wise) and they probably had their baffles still in. (Although the falco with open pipes is a magnificent sound).
And in my experience with bikes(not huge experience ) the japs have always been more reliable and trustworthy than the Italian jobbies.

Like I said just playing devils advocate.

There's wanting to play and being able to play....The Falco's reliability has been great and it has proven a match for the best of the Japanese bikes in more ways than one. Then its had the Italian flair as a bonus.

Aladinsaneuk · #25 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Thu May 09, 2013 1:08 am

hmm reliability....

well, some of us have had gremlins from our fettling and modding - i for one!

some have had problems as they are new to their bikes and have inherited the odd issue

remember also that falco wise, this place is probably where people will come for advice etc - so there always will be more problems listed here than any where else....

****

re the comparison... well

I have always rated the blades - indeed i had one of the very early ones - and they are a very good motor bike..... but they are soulless imho - nothing worse than going to a meet and you see the line up of matching blades, r1's etc.... the big V twins always seem to just have that soul.... (I am not counting those yankee ditch pumps btw!)

would i ever own an in line 4 again - probably not - do i rate them as bikes - oh yes - just not for me

Vive la difference as johnny foreigner said

blinkey501 · #26 Post by **blinkey501** » Thu May 09, 2013 5:43 am

slickliner6 wrote:
blinkey501 wrote:
slickliner6 wrote:
As far as reliability goes, (like I said "in my limited experience") the falco crapped out aprox 6-7 times in the year I owned it (and 1of those for 6 weeks).

You were unlucky
You only have to look on this site as to how many people have had problems.
Maybe I was unlucky,but I obviously am not the only one.

Has I said the first one I bought there was a problem down to the alarm.
I am at present doing a lot of work to another falco.
The issues with this bike mechanically are due to poor battery maintenance. Ie not having anywhere to plug the optimate into.
This then caused the sprag clutch to fail.
The alarm locked out so I removed that.
I decided to change the coolant as I couldn't imagine that being done recently
Now the motor runs fine now and the bike will be going for MOT today.
I personally think there will be no issues with this bike and I will be using it for the 1000 bikes festival. I have that much faith in it.

Cathcart · #27 Post by **Cathcart** » Thu May 09, 2013 6:24 am

A forum isn't the best place to look for a feel of bike faults. Most folk only post when their bikes have a fault. I've used forums for each model of bike I've owned and its always the same. It'd be pointless to start a thread saying "yip, still all fine".

As far as reliability goes, I've yet to have a proper problem with the falco. Never had a problem with any other bike really either excluding 1 dry joint on he r6 which was a nightmare to find and an alarm locking up. So, so far, falco hasn't been any more or less reliable. But as previously said, has a much more unique feel, always a pleasure.

Tonyunn · #28 Post by **Tonyunn** » Thu May 09, 2013 7:19 am

I posted this thread just to report that I had a good time on my bike, not to denigrate others.
As much as anything to give hope to any new owners that what they read on here although entertaining does not always reflect everyone's experience of owning a Falco.

(100%) for me
Cathcart is right, a thread starting, went out, came back, bike was good wouldn't last long.

As for Alads comment I do know that I would not have a four again purely because I like the feel of a V-Twin, nothing against fours but I don't ride enough to have something that doesn't make me grin like a loon and also I like having something most people haven't got a clue what it is or can do.

slickliner6 · #29 Post by **slickliner6** » Thu May 09, 2013 10:47 am

now that ive upset the apple cart

i just wanted to say that,,, in no way shape or form was i slagging any body or bike off.(if it came across in that way,that wasnt my intention) i was just voicing my opinions based on my circumstances and experiences.

(shouldve known better than to say anything slightly damming against the falco)

(and yes thats meant to be light hearted as well).....

Dalemac · #30 Post by **Dalemac** » Thu May 09, 2013 12:22 pm

Aladinsaneuk wrote:hmm reliability....

well, some of us have had gremlins from our fettling and modding - i for one!

some have had problems as they are new to their bikes and have inherited the odd issue

remember also that falco wise, this place is probably where people will come for advice etc - so there always will be more problems listed here than any where else....

****

re the comparison... well

I have always rated the blades - indeed i had one of the very early ones - and they are a very good motor bike..... but they are soulless imho - nothing worse than going to a meet and you see the line up of matching blades, r1's etc.... the big V twins always seem to just have that soul.... (I am not counting those yankee ditch pumps btw!)

would i ever own an in line 4 again - probably not - do i rate them as bikes - oh yes - just not for me

Vive la difference as johnny foreigner said

What you are trying to say is that Aprilia is the motorbike equivalent of Alfa Romeo... :D