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#76 Post by **mangocrazy** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:26 pm

Aladinsaneuk wrote:hide her haemorrhoid cream?

Is that the funny-tasting toothpaste that makes my mouth go numb?

Viffer · #77 Post by **Viffer** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:34 am

It will stop your lips swelling

HowardQ · #78 Post by **HowardQ** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:56 am

mangocrazy wrote:
HowardQ wrote:Back to the Technoflex question from Mango.
Ben Wilkins from Ride Magazine, (and member on this site!), has had his Falco more than 8 years, and has run a Technoflex rear shock for much of that time. He seems to rate it highly, and with his bike testing experience, he should know. So it looks like a good choice, let us know what you think.
Hi Howard, thanks very much for that. I've heard good things about Technoflex, so it's good to have it substantiated. It's probably going to be autumn before I can afford/justify the shock. I'll have to ride it for a while with the standard shock on before I can sneak that one past the accountant...

Perhaps I should deliberately mess up the ride comfort so that she encourages me to change it. I feel a plan forming here...

Most people tend to wind up the preload and sometimes the rebound damping on the old Blue Spring shock, to stiffen things up a bit. I lived with mine like that for nearly 10k miles, before I upgraded to a White Spring early Mille shock. The Blue Spring unit got upgraded in 2001 and was less prone to fade and overhearing after this date. These later ones are not as bad as some bikes I have ridden, but you obviously get what you pay for. Although it was acheaper bike, the Falco only had a few items that were not up to the full "Mille" spec and the rear shock was one of them.
I didn't find it too bad solo, but it was certainly a bit harsh for a pillion, so might help your argument with the "Accountant".
The Falco shock has just preload and rebound damping. Mille shocks have preload, rebound and compression damping plus ride height adjustment, which are all useful. Don't know the exact spec for the Technolflex unit, but should be fine.
I'm over on the east side of Sheffield by the way, at South Anston just off the A57 and tend to go out this way on the bike, as trips to Derbyshire etc., involve a long trip through the town centre each way, a bit of a pain!

#79 Post by **mangocrazy** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 2:14 pm

Hi Howard,

The shock and sidestand are the only major complaints I've heard about Falcos so that augurs well. I'm off to Scotland to pick the bike up at the weekend, so looking forward to that. I'm tempted to get stuck in and start modifying the bike straight away, but I think I'll just get on and enjoy riding it for a while - at least until Winter calls a halt.

The Technoflex has separate compression and rebound adjustments, as well as the option of ride height and hydraulic preload adjustment, so it really covers all bases for me. Since owning my first VFR I've always looked out for hydraulic preload adjustment; it turns a real chore into something simple.

From reading on this site it seems that the later bikes (i.e. the ones with black frames) have Marzocchi forks rather than Showa. Is this definitely the case, and are the Marzocchis as bad as they're made out to be?

I do understand what you mean about riding in Sheffield. We live on the South side, not too far from the city centre and I never, ever ride through Sheffield for fun!

sabestian · #80 Post by **sabestian** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 2:30 pm

mangocrazy wrote:From reading on this site it seems that the later bikes (i.e. the ones with black frames) have Marzocchi forks rather than Showa. Is this definitely the case, and are the Marzocchis as bad as they're made out to be?

Yes, they're Marzocchi but they are not worse than Showas at all. Where did you hear that from?

Firestarter · #81 Post by **Firestarter** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:07 pm

Not sure about the forks Sab, I've got a black framed bike, and my forks are different to Paddy's (who also has a black framed bike) - and that was before Paddy had his "tweaked" by Maxton - I think both types were fitted to the later bikes.

#82 Post by **mangocrazy** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:25 pm

sabestian wrote:Yes, they're Marzocchi but they are not worse than Showas at all. Where did you hear that from?

Just a general impression I gained from reading stuff on the site. It certainly shouldn't be construed as fact or even opinion! I do remember reading that the Marzocchis are harder to modify/upgrade as they are sealed in some way, but even then I'm only repeating what others have said.

I'm actually hopeful that they are good kit, as I may very well have them fitted to my bike.... Is there any obvious way to tell what kit you have fitted - are there Showa or Marzocchi stickers in obvious places, for instance?

sabestian · #83 Post by **sabestian** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:25 pm

Firestarter wrote:Not sure about the forks Sab, I've got a black framed bike, and my forks are different to Paddy's (who also has a black framed bike) - and that was before Paddy had his "tweaked" by Maxton - I think both types were fitted to the later bikes.

You're right. Not all Falcos were upgraded. There's one with black Showa leftovers. https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.php?t=3511

HowardQ · #84 Post by **HowardQ** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:10 pm

Mine's a silver framed 2001 on Showa supension, I aslo think some of the early black framed bikes had Showas, but difficult to cover years.
Don't think the Marzocchis are bad at all, if anything the Showas may be a bit better, but I only have experience of the Showa units.
Could possibly have been Aprilia trying to cut the cost slightly, when they started to cut the Falco prices, but don't know if they made the same changes on the RSV? If they did it may just have been a supplier issue, but they were in financial problems in the last few years of Falco production before Piaggio took them over.

D-Rider · #85 Post by **D-Rider** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 5:40 pm

Yeah - only the black framed Falcos got Marzocchis but Marzocchis are not fitted to all black framed Falcos.

The Marzocchis have all their preload adjustment inside the tubes - some people think that they are not actually adjusting them when they are.
The Showas adjustment can be seen above the fork legs.

Some people will also tell you the Marzocchis are gold and the Showas are black - that too is a myth. Marzocchis were supplied in both colours - I've an idea that the Showas were too but TBH I can't remember for sure.

If you search, you'll find I posted up some pics showing the differences.

Some people will also tell you the Marzocchis are rubbish - but I don't agree - seem fine to me.
I think there are few that have tried both makes (and had each properly set up for them). I haven't so I can't say if one is better than the other.

Nooj · #86 Post by **Nooj** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:34 pm

AAAAAARG! THERE'S NEW PEOPLE EVERYWHERE!

*runs around flailing arms wildly*

sabestian · #87 Post by **sabestian** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:45 am

D-Rider wrote: Some people will also tell you the Marzocchis are rubbish - but I don't agree - seem fine to me.

I don't know where did this come from. I used to do some serious mountain biking a few years ago and Marzocchi was always a benchmark for quality and performance (sort of Ohlins for motorbikes). Mid 2000 the quality went downhill (cutting corners) but still a very respectable brand.

SoulDaddy (from AF1 forum) just changed his black Showas to gold Marzocchis and does not complain. He knows his stuff BTW.

D-Rider · #88 Post by **D-Rider** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:05 am

sabestian wrote:
D-Rider wrote: Some people will also tell you the Marzocchis are rubbish - but I don't agree - seem fine to me.
I don't know where did this come from.

Seen this posted up a few times in discussions about forks - not sure if it was here or on AF1 .... quite likely on both.
Don't think that this has been voiced by people that have ridden both though - probably just Showa riders bigging up their bikes

Nooj · #89 Post by **Nooj** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 7:11 pm

I'm sure read on the AF1 site that it was the Showas that benefitted from having better internals and that Marzocchis were OK if they were set up right.

Falcopops · #90 Post by **Falcopops** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:27 pm

I thought that the Marz's had cartridge internals. Which on the down side makes them harder to upgrade, but on the upside is a better suspension system to begin with.