Hey up fellas

Message

Olig7475 · #1 Post by **Olig7475** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:38 pm

I am about to pick up my first bike on Saturday and its a nice black Falco, so if anyone can offer any advice to a newbie that would be great!

I have already been in the bar and bought a round

, anyone out and about in the Notts area when the weather picks up give me a shout!

Cheers

Oli

Aladinsaneuk · #2 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:44 pm

take it easy

the falco is a lovely handling bike, but has a lot of power

check the tyre pressures - depending on what is fitted will specify what you should have - pretty much all are 36/42 bar michelin I think but check

let the bike warm up - and be warned it may feel "lumpy" around 3500 revs so in traffic you may need to slip the clutcvh a little till you get used to it

have fun but be very aware that it is a very fast bike - i believe that some uk falcos have been over 150 mph indicated - and is not hard to get to that speed either!

Syltiz · #3 Post by **Syltiz** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:51 pm

And feel out the throttle and clutch. It will become second nature to you but in the beginning its all too easy to grab too much throttle.

dyzio · #4 Post by **dyzio** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:04 pm

Hi and welcome,
As said earlier, take it easy, bike has loads of power, so be careful with the throttle.
I'm about to switch to the SL from my SV (2 weeks and 18 hours, not that I'm counting) and I'm sure I'll be plenty more power

I've noticed the lumpyness and slipping the clutch isn't a problem, however try to adjust the leaver (both clutch and brake) for best angle, so you don't have the lever either too high or too low.

Speaking of which, I moved it on my bike but it's being blocked by the light and indicator controller whichs' angle can't be adjusted, it's not too bad but I know it could be better being a bit lower.
Any ideas?

Aladinsaneuk · #5 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:06 pm

they are adjustable on the falco - trust me on this :)

(I think you will find the securing bolts are recessed and a swine to see at first.. slacken and move!)

D-Rider · #6 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:09 pm

dyzio wrote: Speaking of which, I moved it on my bike but it's being blocked by the light and indicator controller whichs' angle can't be adjusted, it's not too bad but I know it could be better being a bit lower.
Any ideas?

Nope - tried to adjust mine a while back but the adjustability is just not there (at least, not without more surgery which I've not found time for)

D-Rider · #7 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:10 pm

Aladinsaneuk wrote:they are adjustable on the falco - trust me on this :)

(I think you will find the securing bolts are recessed and a swine to see at first.. slacken and move!)

.... are we talking about the same thing here ?

Falcomille · #8 Post by **Falcomille** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:11 pm

Wow - Italian litre twin for your first bike! Not bad. The Falco is a lovely bike to own, clean and ride. Be aware though that this site forces you to spend lots and lots of money on "upgrades". If your bike is standard, then you are one of the few! First and most important job is to junk the standard cans. There are loads of aftermarket cans to have - I put some Motad Venom cans on mine, but most have a different assortment; Blue Flames, Aprilia race items etc. They all sound great though.
One thing to watch though as a new Falco user, if you get a stall, wait a few seconds before thumbing the starter otherwise the dash panel resets!
Enjoy it!

D-Rider · #9 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:14 pm

Syltiz wrote:And feel out the throttle and clutch. It will become second nature to you but in the beginning its all too easy to grab too much throttle.

Yeah - the difference is really in the low down torque compared to an I-4 .... requiring good throttle control even at low revs - particularly when the road surface is a bit crap.
Having an R6 demo bike a while back was a revelation in the liberties you could take winding the throttle on - Falco would have entered launch-mode.
Get the R6 wound up though and it goes - and the flickability of it was a dream.

D-Rider · #10 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:20 pm

Falcomille wrote: First and most important job is to junk the standard cans.

No no no no no !

First job - junk the OEM tyres (they'll be long gone though and not an issue)
Second job - junk the sidestand and fit one of the better options
Third job - junk the standard blue spring shock and fit something better .... from a Mille is usually the best value solution.

After that it doesn't really matter - do your cans if you must - or fit a 15t front sprocket (no, hang on, your first big bike .... hold that one back for a few months)

Most of all, enjoy it

(apologies - seem to have gone into a posting frenzy)

Aladinsaneuk · #11 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:50 pm

ahhh - my switchgear on the left side is different from yours andy - i have the earlier model with a light switch - and am fairly certain I adjusted the rake of both sides when i moved my bars over the triple yoke....

I could be wrong though - will undo stuff later tonight and see!

Olig7475 · #12 Post by **Olig7475** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:05 pm

Thanks for all the advice, this really is the forum to be on for the Falco. I intend to take it very easy for a good few runouts, get used to all that POWER!!!!!!

Been reading through the mods list and am really excited about spending some filthy lucra on some serious upgrading, I've already ordered a replacement sidestand, new rear shock and a set of Beowulf cans and I don't even pick the bike up till sat.

Cheers guys
Oli

dyzio · #13 Post by **dyzio** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:07 pm

Olig7475 wrote: I've already ordered a replacement sidestand, new rear shock and a set of Beowulf cans and I don't even pick the bike up till sat.

Cheers guys
Oli

You'll fit right in :)

EdinburghFalco · #14 Post by **EdinburghFalco** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:22 pm

a 1 litre Italian V twin for your first bike, does your dad own an insurance company?

Just like the guys have said take it easy, I wheeled mine the first time I opened her up to join the motorway and discovered there is a huge difference between a 600ccjap in line 4 and an Italian 1000cc Vtwin.
Any way you have come the right place for advice

Olig7475 · #15 Post by **Olig7475** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:37 pm

I did my homework with regard to insurance, £360 TPFT for the falco , (H&R Insurance) double that for a Jap equivalent, and I've got 6 points.

Oli