Hello

[PH100]

Hello to all.

Had a falco in 2007, sold for a Mille (RSV Nera) which was a big mistake. Not had an Aprilia since then but have finally got round to buying another Falco after a long search.
I have a silver 2001 Falco with 4000 miles, one owner from new and absolutely standard. I've been riding it for 4 weeks now and it's as good as I remember.

Anyway some questions:

1. Braided hoses - worth it?
2. Belly pan/fairing lowers - any advantage other than aesthetic
3. Air box modification?
4. Tuning chip or power commander or neither
5. Exhaust system or slip-ons?
6. Luggage options, esp tank bag

I have been advised to change the air filter to a K&N and fit s/steel or Titanium exhausts and not bother altering or enhancing the ECM. Avoid carbon cans as well?
Can I fit an early Mille rear suspension as a straight swap or do I need a swingarm as well.
I'm hoping this will be a long term bike that will be comfortable over long distances and not an RSV mille wannabe, so I can probably disregard most of the above modifications?

Any advice would be appreciated and also if anyone has any of the above parts for sale. Thank you.

[mangocrazy]

My take on this is that the first thing that needs to be done is to sort out the rubbish sidestand (if it's still on the standard one). Either a US-spec one (expensive) or a Bubseywoo one (about £50 off eBay) will sort it with minimal fuss. There are other options, but require various degrees of fettling.

Then replace the naff standard Sachs shock with something better, almost inevitably sourced from the RSV parts bin (either RSV Sachs or Ohlins). Both come up quite regularly on eBay. You'll probably also need to get the matching triangles and dogbone. Trawl through this site and you'll find plenty of hits on this topic and the sidestand.

As for your list:

1. Yes, but the standard ones are better than the rubber hoses found on lesser machines...
2. Cosmetic - your choice.
3. Performance improvement, but at a cost. Renegade version is only available s/h, and Evo one is fairly costly. There are various home-brewed options available, again the search function is your friend.
4. Only needed if you go for option 3. Standard chip will cope with slip-ons.
5. Your call. Full systems are like hen's teeth, slip-ons are readily available.
6. My preference is the baglux/bagster system for tank bags. It's not cheap but it works superbly. Others may disagree. Aprilia did make custom luggage for the Falco, but again it's only available secondhand these days, although rumour has it that New Old Stock surfaces on German eBay from time to time.

[D-Rider]

Hello to all.

Had a falco in 2007, sold for a Mille (RSV Nera) which was a big mistake. Not had an Aprilia since then but have finally got round to buying another Falco after a long search.
I have a silver 2001 Falco with 4000 miles, one owner from new and absolutely standard. I've been riding it for 4 weeks now and it's as good as I remember.

Anyway some questions:

1. Braided hoses - worth it?
2. Belly pan/fairing lowers - any advantage other than aesthetic
3. Air box modification?
4. Tuning chip or power commander or neither
5. Exhaust system or slip-ons?
6. Luggage options, esp tank bag

I have been advised to change the air filter to a K&N and fit s/steel or Titanium exhausts and not bother altering or enhancing the ECM. Avoid carbon cans as well?
Can I fit an early Mille rear suspension as a straight swap or do I need a swingarm as well.
I'm hoping this will be a long term bike that will be comfortable over long distances and not an RSV mille wannabe, so I can probably disregard most of the above modifications?

Any advice would be appreciated and also if anyone has any of the above parts for sale. Thank you.

Hi and welcome

Braided hoses - dunno - not fitted them - the Freudenberg hoses fitted as standard are reinforced and much better than average. If they need replacing I'd certainly go braided. We have found a company that make Hell's hoses for them and are considerably cheaper - do a search or someone else who remembers the detail may fill you in.

Bellypan - aesthetic .... but it does look a lot better IMHO

Air Box - Allegedly makes a good improvement - I have Evo and Renegade but have never fitted either yet so cannot comment. Both designs have things in their favour but also each has things I don't like.

Chip or PCIII or both ..... Pays your money takes your choice .... PCIII more flexible and can accommodate future changes. Chip - depends which. Factory Pro, Gabro and Renegade chips change ignition mapping as well as fuelling - these are the best to use and there is further advantage in using them with a PCIII. The Dr Rossi chip is also rated but despite asking the question several times, I can't get an answer as to whether it adjusts the ignition map.

Exhaust system or slip ons - yes -it's best to fit one or other

Luggage - Aprilia did a soft luggage set for the Falco - not easy to find now - others will no doubt be along with options

Mille shock and linkage bolt on to the Falco with or without the mille swinger. The geometry is very similar. The Mille swinger looks nice but doesn't really make a physical improvement.

[Firestarter]

Welcome back to the Falco, glad it's living up to your memories.

As for your queries, all of them have merit

1) I've never had problems with the stock brakes, for feel or power. I guess it's what you're used to
2) Just aesthetics for me, unless you take the bike on track (don't you need something to contain oil or something?), but there are instances of the bellypan grinding out when cornering (especially the Pikfee one)
3) I haven't modded my airbox, but plenty have the Renegade or Evolutione kits. There is a hp gain, but it's more about the NOISE
4) No idea, my chips have salt & vinegar on them
5) Depends on what you want, you'll obviously get more performance from a full system. I don't know of many have gone for a full system, I've got slip-on Blueflames which have had a slight improvement on performance, but dropped the weight significantly (the stock cans weigh a ton!)
6) Aprilia do their own luggage package (take a look on German Ebay) comprising tank bag and panniers, my needs are simple so I've got a Baglux cover & bag which is greate

[Firestarter]

The forum loiter strikes again! Beat me to it, Andy!

[PH100]

Thanks for the quick replies.

I have already ordered the side stand from bubseywoo.

I'm going for slip-ons and a K&N and see how i feel after that. Any pointers on slip-ons?

[mangocrazy]

Hi PH100 - sorry, in my haste to reply before Andy I forgot to welcome you to the forum...

I reckon you'll get as many different recommendations as there are Falco owners. I've got Akrapovic titanium cans, and love them to bits but I did get lucky when someone on the forum wanted to sell. Others have Renegades, Blue Flames, Beowulf, Carbon Can Company... the list is endless.

My preference would be for stainless or titanium as I believe thay last longer, but I guess it all depends on the quality of the carbon fibre that's used.

[PH100]

I take it somewhere like skidmarx are best for the rear hugger and double bubble screen.

[mangocrazy]

I don't have a bellypan, but seem to recall Skidmarx being mentioned in dispatches quite often. I have an NWS hugger, and can vouch for their quality. Not sure what (if any) difference there is between Skidmarx and NWS in terms of price or quality.

[PH100]

Anyone had any experience with Fuel exhaust cans? I had them before on my other Falco and they were really nice, however I didn't keep it long enough for a decent opinion on them.

[Aladinsaneuk]

welcome back :)

just to add my threepence....

I personally would not bother too much about a K&N - it does make a little difference but not massive - either evo or hooked (A renegade clone made over on RSVR.net) are better imho. The induction roar is rather awesome :)

braided hoses - not needed as others have said but i did notice a difference :)

slip on cans - I have renegades which you are very unlikely to find now.... out of choice i would recommend blue flames - i rated mine very highly. I also rate Fuel cans - and they are quite cheap to buy new.

Belly pans - aesthetics only - skidmarx is the easiest and most available now - and yes, they do the double bubble screens. Not sure about huggers though - they are only fitted to slower falcos iirc - D-Rider

luggage - yes to baglux/bagster system for the tank bag

Hanna has a set of oxford hump back panniers and tail pack that are good - though I also rate my wolfman tail pack

now - as for chips etc..... imho, do all the work you want to do - exhausts air box etc then i would suggest the easiest solution is a Gabro chip as a full wotrk around

if you are flush with cash, I would suggest sometyhing like a renegade +1 or 2 chip wiuth a PC3 and correct map....

[D-Rider]

Anyone had any experience with Fuel exhaust cans? I had them before on my other Falco and they were really nice, however I didn't keep it long enough for a decent opinion on them.

Yes I have a Fuel can and have been very pleased with it

When I still had the Falco swingarm I had an NWS carbon hugger - that was nice and kept a lot of crap off the shock.

Yes the Pifkee bellypan is known to ground down when really going for it - never heard of this problem with the skidmarx one

K&N filter - yes I have one ... the real advantage is you can clean them and re-use them

[Kwackerz]

Hello to all. / Avoid carbon cans as well?

Hi mate, welcome to the site. I guarantee (as youve found) the answers are all here in some form or another.

carbon cans are fine however you must head for the better quality manufacturers with the better quality carbon sleeves.
The V's kick out a hell of a pulse and unless the cans are a. well made and b. packed correctly and maintained then you will suffer carbon degradation and ultimately them falling apart. They just need more care than s/s or titanium (repack @8 to 10k miles on average for the V-twins) but it's worth it if you like the carbon look.

If buying secondhand cans, check carefully for browning and brittleness along the can length, this will indicate either poor husbandry (maintenance) or poor packing of the cans and /or crap cans in the first place

carbon is fine, just pay for the quality and dont skimp. ultimately it'll bite you in the ass and cost more.

[HowardQ]

Welcome to the forum PH

Nice to have you back on a Falco'
As for your questions, these are my personal thoughts -

1. Braided hoses - worth it?
As others have said the Fruedenburg hoses are very good, still using them on my 2001 bike at 30K mls.

2. Belly pan/fairing lowers - any advantage other than aesthetic
Looks much better in my opinion, keeps crap off the engine and covers up the headers, where they tend to discolour., (see below).

3. Air box modification?
I fitted a K&N when I fitted Beowulf titanium cans a few years ago, the combination has worked very well for me with the standard (de-restricted) ECU. A full airbox mod will give you more power if you want it. but the K&N is a good cheap starter

4. Tuning chip or power commander or neither.
Down to you, PC111 is probably the ultimate, I run mine standard at the moment, but have a Renegade +10 chip that I will get around to fitting some time.

5. Exhaust system or slip-ons?
I just fitted the cans, the exhaust is pretty good as standard and tuned for mid range torque, I would leave it as is personally. The exhaust is stainless as standard just discolours a bit brown, will clean up with lots of effort but comes back again.

6. Luggage options, esp tank bag.
I have a Baglux tank cover and a medium size tank bag when needed, obviously can fit anything that Baglux make.

I have been advised to change the air filter to a K&N and fit s/steel or Titanium exhausts and not bother altering or enhancing the ECM. Avoid carbon cans as well?
My Beowulf Titanium cans work fine with standard ECU if baffles left in, they are still bloody loud. The firing pulses in the Falco cans can quickly destroy some lightweight carbon cans.

Can I fit an early Mille rear suspension as a straight swap or do I need a swingarm as well.
The early White Spring Mille Shock is a straight swap, The later Yellow Spring Mille shock, (up to about 03/04 ish) fits with the Mille dogbones, both on the Falco swingarm.
You only "need" a Mille swingarm for "Bling", it does not seem to perform any better, but looks good.

I'm hoping this will be a long term bike that will be comfortable over long distances and not an RSV mille wannabe, so I can probably disregard most of the above modifications?
Do them all if you want, they will only make the bike better.
I'm an old git and find the Falco comfortable as it is, can fit a gel seat, if you want and also move clipons over the top to raise the height if you want.

Two other things to do as other have probably said -

Swap the side stand, I used the eBay one and its an easy fit and works fine.
Fit a 15T front sprocket to lower the gearing, gives better acceleration and makes 6th gear more usable.

Just keep enjoying the bike!
Many of us on here have had our Falcos for years and will never get rid, me for one at 6 years.

[PH100]

How do I know if my bike is deristrcted?