Replacement Shocks

[Crispy]

I think it's time to face up to facts and admit that the standard shock on the Falco needs replacing by something that behaves more like a shock absorber. The question is - does anyone know of a decent make of replacement shock that will fit. I have seen Nitron race shocks advertised but they may be a bit over the top for me - I'm no racer. Hagon seem to make them but from past experience I'd put these in the "cheap & cheerful" bracket. Is there anything in the middle that people could recommend that would fit.

Fitting a mille/tuono swing arm seems like a lot of effort/cost just to replace the shock but I guess this opens up a wider choice of shocks -new and used. Is this the way to go?
I'd be tempted to buy a new shock (my experiences with e-bay are somewhat mixed) any good recommendations?

If I have to go down the swing arm route I believe, from previous posts, I need a 2003 or earlier Mille or a 2004 or earlier Tuono - correct?

[Aladinsaneuk]

no need to change swing arm

http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/show ... p?t=162440

just the shock - and sometimes the linkages

[fastasfcuk]

most of us have milli shocks some with the standered swing arm including me. but you will need the milli dog bones.

[blenks]

I recently replaced the rear shock for a 2003 mille shock (yellow spring and cannister). If you go for this option you will need to replace the triangle and dogbone too. When I did mine I also changed the bearings. The difference was instant improvement without any alteration to the settings, it was much firmer and a higher ride height. You can also go for the pre 2003 white spring mille shock although I have read a few threads that state problems with fitting. I bought the shock and triangle and dogbone from ebay for around £75, then the bearings from an Aprilia dealer for approx £25. A couple of hours to do the work. Worth every penny. The standard shock is pants.

[HowardQ]

You need to change the dogbones unless you get the early Mille White spring that fits straight on, I used one and it worked very well. They are a bit old now, so may be a bit tired, but you could be lucky. like I was and get hold of one that somebody took off when almost new, ( mine arrived off eBay looking mint in the box that the Ohlins came in).
I did get my hopes up when I first saw it.
Only problem then is the valve, but you can read up about that on here if you get one.
Nitron shocks are good as are the obvious Ohlins, has any body tried a Hagon on here?? Not sure. Seem to remember somebody did.

[AJFalco]

I have a custom made Maxton fitted to mine @ £525 not cheap but boy, what a piece of kit! Handling is improved by a factor of 10 and the bumps in the roads seemed to dissapear over night.
Highly recomended

[mangocrazy]

I have a custom made Maxton fitted to mine @ £525 not cheap but boy, what a piece of kit! Handling is improved by a factor of 10 and the bumps in the roads seemed to dissapear over night.
Highly recomended

Will that be staying on the bike when you sell it, or will you be selling separately? I'm trying to entice a mate of mine into the Falco fold...

[AJFalco]

It will be included with all the other extras - Factory Pro chip, Renagade air kit, Skorpion exhausts, radiator guards etc. If you want any more info, PM me ok

[GregD-UK]

Hi all,

I have a HyperPro shock on mine Off a mille straight swop as well.....

[Aladinsaneuk]

I have a wp shock also a straight fit

I paid around 300 for it ... Best part of 800 now I believe....

I would be happy I think with a refurbished White spring Mille.... But do rather like the WP!

[D-Rider]

I obviously took the cheap-skate route .... I'm not shelling out that sort of money.

I've a Mille-R Ohlins - came from a bike that had done about 10miles so was virtually new. Paid about £200 for it.

[Aladinsaneuk]

not all of us have your synagogue contacts andy

[mrapriliafalco]

does the triangle and dogbone have to match the year of the replacement shock or are they all the same from milles.

[D-Rider]

Yes - they have to match.

If you're going for a Mille Sachs shock it's easy - the white spring shock uses the same linkage as the Falco.
The Yellow spring (up to and including 03 Mille / 05 Tuono) need the dogbone and triangles from that bike too.
The later Mille and Tuono are less compatible - geometry differences.

If you are going for a Mille-R Ohlins, then the same year's bikes can be donors - using the same linkages as described above.

[HowardQ]

Actually it is the different dogbones that change the leverage and hence the effective spring rates, so in theory you could use the late Mille shock with the Falco dogbones, but you could not then use the standard spring on this Mille shock.
You would have to work out what spring rating you needed and then get one specially made. Somebody on here did that once!
Can't remember which ones are softer, but seem to remember if you fit a late Mille shock, (yellow spring), with the standard Falco dog bones it ends up much too soft ( )
So yes it is usually much easier to use the appropriate dogbones.