Another Hello (longish one!) and questions

[falcofreddie]

Yet another new owner - another bronze/ black one.
I say 'new' but 'returning' is probably more accurate - I had a Falco a few years ago and sold it. Long and complicated story behind this which involved sensible plans to do some trundling round country roads with my wife - led to purchase of a Varadero (yes, I know, not really a trundling sort of machine....) - it was OK, but the trundling never really happened and I changed to a Daytona last summer. Very impressed with this - huge amounts of power, did everything better than I was able to handle, kept beautifully by former owner...... Somehow though it didn't really 'do' much for me/ give me that grin factor. I was wondering whether it was worth staying off bikes for a while, but realised my true bike love was still a falco, thought I'd give it another go and so did the deed a few weeks ago.
Had to do this through trading the Daytona for Falco and although the deal was OK, the deal still cost me more and so hurt! I guess I was in this frame of mind when I went to swap bikes - excited like a kid on Christmas morning, but wondering whether it was really worth it money - wise?
Well, I had my answer about 200 yards down the road! Big grin, Very big grin..... spreading over my face and it just continued to get better. I'd forgotten just how all those Italian bits and pieces make the machine feel soooo special - even the crap stand and iffy mirrors feel like coming back to an old friend!! Made me realise that wanting to ride comes form my heart/ soul, not from my head.
Anyway, enough philosophical wittering - a couple of questions:
I have Scorpion cans which came with the bike - left the baffles in initially, but then made the mistake of taking them out and can't bring myself to stick 'em back in - yes, I can use a spanner, but just can't stand to lose that SOUND! Question is, from anyone else running Scorpions, do I need to re - chip if I largely run them without baffles? I phoned Scorpion who said it would be fine with baffles out, but would appreciate any advice. Answer may well be dyno run, but your experience/ thoughts would be good.
Second question - rear paddock stand - money is very tight since getting the Falco (came with MEZ 4's which are just as rubbish as the 3's as far as I can tell, but can't even get rid of these till I need to!) and am looking at Biketek stand (one with some bracing on - not 'GP' One) - have seen mixed reviews - any experience here?
Right, that's it for now(thank God they say!) - all thoughts gratefully received

[Olig7475]

Hi there falcofreddie and welcome back, you describe the feeling of riding these bikes perfectly, every time I thumb that starter the grin spreads across my face! As you say these bikes aren't faultless and from time to time the Italian wiring will catch you out, but it's all made up for by that noise, no music, coming from those tail pipes. Unfortunately I can't help you much with your questions, but there are far more wise people around here that will be able to offer a few words of wisdom. For what it's worth I run Beowulf cans without the baffles and don't have any problems with fuelling, they run really sweet.

I got a universal paddock stand from a local bike shop it works fine using the swingarm bobbins with the hook attachments or using the universal plates that lift from under the swingarm, it cost about £30 if I remember, but you do have to be very careful when getting the bike up on the stand, there are a few stories on here of dropped bikes, they are heavy birds and when they start to go there's not a lot you can do from the back of the bike. If you can push the boat out, the Abba stands offer the stable and safest system, but at a premium.

Anyway good to have you around, happy riding and enjoy the beast, I know it’s early but you could get a round in over in the bar!!!!!!

Oli

[HowardQ]

Welome back to Falco Land Freddie!

Obviously we will not have to educate you on the joys of owning a Falco, you seem to have re-discovered that very quickly!
I've had mine more than 5 years and 20 odd thousand miles and the grin has never gone away.
I have never had much time for paddock stands, where you need back and front strands and adaptors for using with different bikes, so I have always used an Ultipro stand with the Falco and my other bike has something called a Centre Stand, (???).
The ultipro is a workshop stand and very solid for major jobs using a peg that fits the swingarm pivot, downside is that it ain't cheap, I think it's worth it.
As for cans, I use Beowulf Titanium cans with the baffles in. Beowulf told me that I would be OK on the standard chip if I left the baffles in but a K&N would also help, so fitted them that way and it has been fine. They also told me that I might need a new chip or a PC if I took the baffles out.
The cans are pretty loud with the baffles in so have left it as it is.
Can't offer any direct info on your cans I'm afraid.

[Falcopops]

can't help with the Q's, but anyway

[fastasfcuk]

welcome freddie,our site is growing and growing not so long back we were worried about our site fadeing away. i ran blueflames with the baffles out for ages with no problem, although i now have a pc111 which makes a vast improvement. i know what you mean about not wanting to put the baffles back in.

[FlyingKiwi]

Hello and welcome to the forum.
Nothing to add except nice choice of colour
The fastest you know
FK

[ReggieGasket]

Hi there old bean. Pleased to hear your comments about the Daytona - nearly bought one of those instead of the Falco!

Abba stands appear to be popular, as they allow work on front and rear. I'm working up to forking out the £90.

I have Scorpion cans on mine, but they are race cans and I have a PowerComander III fitted. If it runs well, it's running well! A comparison between baffles in and out should tell you something. Ahh a big V twin just blatted past my house!

[HisNibbs]

Best to get a stand that mount sot the swing arm pivot. I think mines a HKS but my memory is shot, any way its the same as D-Rider has. I bought a padock stand and then had to buy the HKS stand anyway. Rarely use the padock stand these days.

The Triple was also a contender when I bought the Falco. I had a good ride on my brother's modified daytona a while back and though very competent and quick, I don't think it had anything over the Falco. I think at the time my brother was running three highly modified bikes, Daytona, Bimota and R90s to get what the Falco delivered to the poor old me.

Welcome back.

[D-Rider]

Hello - welcome .... it's amazing how many ex falco owners eventually find their way back.


With the cans - a lot of the manufacturers say they don't need any fuelling changes so if it's running ok it probably is OK. You can always pull the plugs to get a good idea whether the fuelling is OK. Beyond that you'll need to get some sensors on the exhausts to check combustion.

I've no experience of the Biketek stand - I have an NWS Ulti-pro stand which is very similar to the Abba stand. These tend to be a bit more expensive than normal paddock stands. If you can afford an Abba it will probably pay off in the long run as there are some jobs that can be done far more easily with them (changing shocks ans swingarms is difficult without) but there again many jobs can be done with a normal paddock stand.

[falcofreddie]

Thanks for all your welcomes and responses to my questions

On the cans front, has been running fine with baffles out but will also have a look at plugs to get an idea of fuelling.

On balance, will go ahead with Biketek stand (bobbins fitment) as an interim and be veeeery careful - I (like one or two others on site by the sounds of it) have a great ability to snap/ damage/ break things mechanical - also seem to do a good line in associated damage to myself !!