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Olig7475 · #1 Post by **Olig7475** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:33 pm

So I picked up the Falco on Sat...what a lovely bike, connot get the smile of my face....so rewarding and smooth, I can see this friendship lasting along time. One issue I do have is the side stand warning light comes on when lifted up and goes off when stand is down, also doesn't cut out the engine when deployed in gear.

All help very greatfully received.... as I know nothing!!!!!

Cheers
Oli

joecrx · #2 Post by **joecrx** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:46 pm

wires round the wrong way, has the side stand mod been done ?

Olig7475 · #3 Post by **Olig7475** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 9:07 pm

I'll take some pic's tomorrow, but as it's a pretty crappy sidestand so i guess it's the original one! No idea about the wiring.

HowardQ · #4 Post by **HowardQ** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:22 pm

I think it may be the side stand switch that is knackered, I changed mine this weekend!
I am at work so no acccess to photos, but checking is quite simple.
There is a small nut right in the centre of the pivot area, take this out and then you can pull the switch away from the unit itself.
Older Falco switches had a plastic pin that located into a hole on the part that is left when you take the switch out. These early round plastic pins evidently had a tendancy to snap off very easily, although mine lasted 7 years or so. The latest switches from Aprilia (Got my new one very quickly from Aprilia Yorkshire), have a small rectangular steel pin which is much stronger and fits in the same round hole on the base part.
The switch brings the warning light on and also the circuit that causes the engine to cut out with the side stand down when you select a gear.
So if things are not working as they should it will almost certainly be the plastic pin that has broken off so the switch won't work when it should.
My guess is that you will find the tiny broken plastic pin in there when you dismantle, so it is causing the rotary switch to catch and move around some times, but not when it should. The danger is that the cut out circuit may be just not quite making a connection and could come on whilst you are riding leaving you stuck somewhere. (That was my story after I did an earlier botch repair on my switch!).
Checking it only takes 5 mins, so do it as soon as you can.
My new one was around £30 including VAT and (very quick) delivery costs.
Did find one at a breakers on Fleabay but couldn't be sure if it was one of the new metal types or the old crappy plastic unit and it would have cost about £15 delivered so went for a new one.
Let me know what you find if, and if you do need to change it, I can give you some more advice on fitting, as mine took me longer than expected this weekend!
You could obviously just take back to the dealers and say sort it please!
Glad to see you like it so far, it just gets better as you ride it more!

HowardQ · #5 Post by **HowardQ** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:30 pm

P.S.
You cannot easily put the connection on the wrong way round with the standard switch as there is a small "male" tab on the bike bit that fits through a loop on the end of the cconnector from the switch.
Finding this joint is not dead obvious, it is clipped behind the top frame spar about 2/3s of the way down from the headstock on the nearside of the bike with some other cables, the route between here and the switch was the fun bit for me!
Just check the switch end first, as that bit is dead easy to get to, (unless you have a belly pan) and you don't have to remove the sidestand itself so no hassle.

Aladinsaneuk · #6 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:39 pm

take back to dealer and get them to sort it

and for later, please note that I am still selling a falco friendly stand with switch from a Firestorm :)

(Only 15 quid including postage!)

Aladinsaneuk · #7 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 5:46 pm

ah

side stand sold - sorry!

Olig7475 · #8 Post by **Olig7475** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:41 pm

Excellant post Howard thanks very much, I was going to take it back to the dealer, but because of his locaation it would mean giving her up for a day or so.....I was thincking about having a go at the repair myself. Aprilia Yorkshire, you say, I've already got the Falco parts page saved in my fave's...you don't happen to know the part number do you?

Aladinsaneuk, if you come accross another side stand, I'll have it off you!....too late again, story of my life.

Cheers guys
Oli

dyzio · #9 Post by **dyzio** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:23 pm

I have this gsxr1000 k5/6 stand, maybe I was doing something wrong but didn't like it fitted. Will be going for bubsey's stand or US one.

Anyway, people on AF1 say it fits:

http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/show ... 320&page=2
http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/show ... and&page=2

so if you want it drop me a PM.

Dyzio

HowardQ · #10 Post by **HowardQ** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:26 pm

Aprilia Yorkshire site is still called that although they are now called Ultimate Parts Ltd., and you might be interested to know that they are based at
10, Distillery Street, Ruddington, Nottingham, NG11 6HL.
Tel. 0115 921 6668
New web site is www.ultimateparts.net.

The URL link to the Aprilia Yorkshire page is
https://www.apriliayorkshire.co.uk/cata ... al%20stand

The Part number AP8124977.
It cost me £30.45 incl. VAT and delivery, but the unit is only £20.48 + VAT if you pick it up from them!

If it is the switch that's shot, ring the place you got the bike from and tell them the switch has failed and can bring the engine cut out in at any time, so you can't risk taking it back, as you may get stranded. Tell that rather then them coming to pick up the bike, you will source and fit yourself and then bring in the old damaged part and the receipt for the new switch and ask them to refund it. That way they save on labour and collection of the bike etc., saving them a fortune!
Let me know if you do end up changing the switch and I'll tell you the problems I had changing main, will save you a bit of head scratching.