Turns out I made the right choice

[Tonyunn]

You never really know how good a buy is untill you have had an item for a while.
Just over 14 months ago I took the plunge and bought a Falco, I bought it after doing a load of research and looking at a Firestorm as the bike to get, I could not find a lot wrong with it but I kept coming across the word Falco and started to edge towards the Falco as the bike to buy.
Yesterday a magazine turned up with an article on the Firestorm and it turns out that the Falco is actually a better bike, the list of items on the VTR that needed to be put right to get the bike up to spec is actually shorter on the Falco, on the VTR brakes shock and tank capacity all needed to be improved.

I smiled to myself after taking a huge risk I had bought a better bike, the magazine did mention that the Falco was a rare bike and this adds weight to Alads article about how many there are left.

My resolution this year, ride the damm thing more often.

Cheers and happy new year everyone.

[D-Rider]

There have been a lot of magazine "tests" over the years that pit the Falco against the Firestorm (and a host of other bikes). The Falco (almost) always comes out on top.

On those occasions it doesn't it's usually because the test is on an old, poorly maintained example with a clapped out rear shock or the tester harps back to the days when he used to own a Firestorm / ST4 / TL or SV1000 or whatever ... and "surprisingly" that's the one that comes out on top.

When I bought my Falco I'd been thinking about a Firestorm or an SV650 .... but having seen and sat on a Falco at a rare appearance at the NEC show, seen a few out and about, read a bit about them and then the mega price reduction by Aprilia, I had to have a Falco - a decision never regretted.

Here are a couple of articles for your reading pleasure (hosted at Martin Poll's excellent website):
http://www.martinpoll.dk/diverse/anmeldelse.pdf

http://www.martinpoll.dk/diverse/Review_%20of_falco.pdf

[struv]

well iv had a firestorm a well sorted one actualy had fireblade forks and brakes a wp rear shock rene cans and dynojet kit set up on a dyno putting out 116 bhp at the wheel it was a cracking bike that I did a track day on getting both pegs well ground out .but you see them everywhere im on my second falco now (I never even thought about buying another vtr) in my opinion a bog stock falco is a much better package than a similar vtr and my present one Maxton sorted forks and a Maxton shock scorpion cans and dr rossi chip make this a better bike than my sorted vtr. the rotax engine just has more stomp than the Honda and there a much rarer sight (and I like to be different)

[flatlander]

Well you're certainly "different"

Sometimes I forget why I like it so much more than others and other than upright performance I can tell you that they are quite robust when not quite so upright :(

[D-Rider]

I can tell you that they are quite robust when not quite so upright :(

......... if only that were true of the riders (or should we call them "sliders" in this mode?)

[Aladinsaneuk]

Geoff informs me that his hands have nearly recovered and the doctor says he can go back to wanking soon.....

[D-Rider]

Geoff informs me that his hands have nearly recovered and the doctor says he can go back to wanking soon.....

Is Wan King his special Chinese friend?

[Aladinsaneuk]

nod

he thought it was a Chinese town, until he discovered smirnoff

[randomsquid]

Is Wan King his special Chinese friend?

She flossy you long time.

I looked at firestorms but according to the internets where we get occasional electrical niggles they get occasional top end failures. I know which I'd rather deal with.

[HowardQ]

I'm sure we old told you before you made the choice Tony.

As pointed out in an earlier post, my Falco has cost me very little in the time I have had it.
I got it 8 1/2 years ago when Aprilia were looking a little dodgy.
It was 3 years old with 6k miles, in really good nick and it cost me £3K.

I reckon if I sold it now I could probably get around £2K, if I sold the bits off separately and refitted standard parts, especially the original lightweight OZ wheels and titanium cans. (Might even get a bit more than £2k all in).
But let's not be greedy, so in 8 1/2 years I will have lost a massive £1k.
Lets add on the cost of the only two items that have failed which was about £20, and it is clear it has been a complete money pit.

Just another reason why I bloody love it so much.
Yeh, there have been servicing costs, tyres etc., and I have spent a "little" money on presents for it, such as the wheels, rear shock and cans etc., etc..
Nevertheless, I think I am "quite" happy with £117.65 per year in depreciation for the best and most reliable bike I have ever owned.

How could I ever get that much pleasure each year for less than 120 quid.
Love it just as much now as when I first got it, probably more.
Yes I also looked at Firestorms, SV1000s and air cooled Ducati twins plus more seriously Faser 1000s and Blackbirds.
This was partly because Falcos were so difficult to find, I'm just so glad I did.

[Aladinsaneuk]

How could I ever get that much pleasure each year for less than 120 quid

hanna does have a sister....

[D-Rider]

How could I ever get that much pleasure each year for less than 120 quid

hanna does have a sister....

Sisters, pleural, if the film title is to be believed

[blinkey501]

I must admit i quite like falco's

[DavShill]

I love my Falco too. I sometimes forget what a superb machine it is (apart fropm the gremlins that took hold riding back from Norfolk last).

I recently bought a Tiger 1050 and have been using it a lot in order to get used to it and for riding two-up with Jules. My lad came back at Christmas and we went for a ride out - he rode the Tiger and got re-aquanited with the Falco. It was superb - felt small and very "tight" and responsive. Feel through the wheels and brakes was amazing, accelaration awesome, handling beautifully..... and that noise !!!!!

I love my falco.

Note to self - must take some pics and post a rider report on the Tiger.