quite simply, the wife has started to feel somewhat left out of late, as i'm out on the bike whenever possible :), and now she want's in on some fun over the weekends. I part ex'd my falco last year for a 07 zx6r, now I love the kwak to bits but neither myself or the wife fancy the idea of pillion on the 6r, the falco wouldn't have been suitable for her either, so i'm looking at getting a 2nd hand sports tourer for weekend fun and the odd touring holiday on the continent.
The bikes i have in mind are either
a) A Futura
b) Triumpth Sprint
c) Honda Blackbird
I'm currently leaning towards the futura, simply as it's a cheaper alternative and the falco gave me 7 years of hassle free use (and if i'm honest and could get away with it i'd get another falco lol ). But if anyone has any other suggestions the list is not set in stone :)
As for the futura, a lot of site's i've looked at says the futura came as standard with panniers, however a lot of them seem to be sold without them, is this the case as I tend to wonder if there's no panniers is that a sign that it may have had a mishap in the past, i know it's gonna take some hunting to find a nice fut fut but i'm thinking it's worth it.
So overall if you have or have had a fut fut do you have any regrets about ownership?, is comfy for longish journeys, and is the pillion seat more comfortable than a plank of wood with a nappy tied to it ?
tempted by a fut fut
Moderators: Aladinsaneuk, MartDude, D-Rider, Moderators
Hello, Hishy
I've had Futs for just over two years, about 6,500 miles, and I don't think they're any more problematic than any other Rotax-engined Aprilia.
It has issues with The Brown Connector, starter solenoid, fuel quick-disconnect, sometimes chafing of part of the loom on a coolant hose clip. All these are easily dealt with, ideally before they happen.
My only expensive problems have been : writing off the first Fut; replacing warped discs (can happen to any bike).
You and your wife will struggle to find a more comfortable bike - the seat's relatively wide, and very decently padded, without being too soft. Pillions generally seem to find Futuras comfier than many bikes. The riding position's great, not too low, not too high - if you're used to a Falco, you won't have a problem. I have a fairly knackered back - discs and arthritis - and find 200 miles on the Fut causes far less pain, discomfort & stiffness than 200 miles driving. The riding position also seems to actually relieve lower back pain.
I can't comment on how the Futura compares with your other possibilities, except to say that the Sprint feels a little cramped in comparison (sat on one at the NEC Show). I've also heard that Sprint headlights aren't that good.
Re panniers - quite a few owners just remove them out of personal taste - looks, width issues, etc. There are usually a few sets for sale, but the real problem is the pannier brackets - they're usually removed if the owner discards the panniers, and they're as rare as rocking-horse shit. I've seen some workable d-i-y replacements, though. I've an on-going discussion with an engineer friend going on, about fabricating replacements. It just so happens that I have a spare pair of panniers . . . .
If you've any other questions, feel free to ask on here, or PM me.
Cheers, & good hunting,
Martin
PS Have a look at Pat's Fut site - lots more info - http://www.apriliafutura.co.uk/index.shtml
I've had Futs for just over two years, about 6,500 miles, and I don't think they're any more problematic than any other Rotax-engined Aprilia.
It has issues with The Brown Connector, starter solenoid, fuel quick-disconnect, sometimes chafing of part of the loom on a coolant hose clip. All these are easily dealt with, ideally before they happen.
My only expensive problems have been : writing off the first Fut; replacing warped discs (can happen to any bike).
You and your wife will struggle to find a more comfortable bike - the seat's relatively wide, and very decently padded, without being too soft. Pillions generally seem to find Futuras comfier than many bikes. The riding position's great, not too low, not too high - if you're used to a Falco, you won't have a problem. I have a fairly knackered back - discs and arthritis - and find 200 miles on the Fut causes far less pain, discomfort & stiffness than 200 miles driving. The riding position also seems to actually relieve lower back pain.
I can't comment on how the Futura compares with your other possibilities, except to say that the Sprint feels a little cramped in comparison (sat on one at the NEC Show). I've also heard that Sprint headlights aren't that good.
Re panniers - quite a few owners just remove them out of personal taste - looks, width issues, etc. There are usually a few sets for sale, but the real problem is the pannier brackets - they're usually removed if the owner discards the panniers, and they're as rare as rocking-horse shit. I've seen some workable d-i-y replacements, though. I've an on-going discussion with an engineer friend going on, about fabricating replacements. It just so happens that I have a spare pair of panniers . . . .
If you've any other questions, feel free to ask on here, or PM me.
Cheers, & good hunting,
Martin
PS Have a look at Pat's Fut site - lots more info - http://www.apriliafutura.co.uk/index.shtml
It flies sideways through time
It's an electric line
To your zodiac sign
I've got a Black and Silver Machine!
It's an electric line
To your zodiac sign
I've got a Black and Silver Machine!
PS.
When I bought the Futura, I was upgrading from a BMW R100 RS. I seriously considered a Sprint, but when I saw a Fut close-up it was love at first sight - the uniqueness of its design, and styling details, captivated me. I'd have bought it just for it's looks. Then I had the test ride, and the comfort was the next thing to hit me - it seemed to fit like a glove. I'd be hard pressed to find another bike that suits me so well in every respect.
One other point - it's a bit heavier (15 kg ?) than the Falco.
And another - there are quite a few modding possibilities, if that's your nobble.
When I bought the Futura, I was upgrading from a BMW R100 RS. I seriously considered a Sprint, but when I saw a Fut close-up it was love at first sight - the uniqueness of its design, and styling details, captivated me. I'd have bought it just for it's looks. Then I had the test ride, and the comfort was the next thing to hit me - it seemed to fit like a glove. I'd be hard pressed to find another bike that suits me so well in every respect.
One other point - it's a bit heavier (15 kg ?) than the Falco.
And another - there are quite a few modding possibilities, if that's your nobble.
It flies sideways through time
It's an electric line
To your zodiac sign
I've got a Black and Silver Machine!
It's an electric line
To your zodiac sign
I've got a Black and Silver Machine!
:) cheers guys, i didn't really need my arm twisting that much :), but i think you may have just cast away any doubts i had, if i can get a set of panniers then mounting shouldnt be a problem, i work in engineering and know a couple of places that probably could knock something up, but in all likelyhood wouldn't need them until next year anyway :)
theres a few for sale in autotrader, so may go see if i can have a look at some at the w/e :)
thats for your imput, it's greatly appreciated.
theres a few for sale in autotrader, so may go see if i can have a look at some at the w/e :)
thats for your imput, it's greatly appreciated.
Try this, if it's not too late - https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.php?t=6682
It flies sideways through time
It's an electric line
To your zodiac sign
I've got a Black and Silver Machine!
It's an electric line
To your zodiac sign
I've got a Black and Silver Machine!
And my spare panniers are Stream Silver . . . . .
Well done, mate!
Welcome to the Futura Massive!
May I suggest you invest in some R & G bungs - could save a lot of grief should it be dropped - there are pics on AF1 of Futs which have crashed at over 50 mph, and the bungs have done a pretty good job of saving the plastics. Wish I'd had them when I mangled my first one.
Make sure it's got the 05 map; that's an Aprilia number, doesn't refer to the year - it'll be a lot smoother. Anyone with an Axione can upload that for you.
Then there's the exhaust - ditch the collector, get some Staintunes or Taylormades; K & N or BMC filter (smooths it out a bit in midrange) - & that's before you start messing about with airboxes; nice NWS hugger (Silver Ghost of course); Evo or MPL clutch slave; smaller front sprocket; etc etc.
Don't expect it to be as quick as a Falco - it's a few HP down (113), and it's heavier (15 kg). But it's still fun - in the right hands a Fut can thrash the arse off a Spsint or a VFR 800 - handling's much better.
Well done, mate!
Welcome to the Futura Massive!
May I suggest you invest in some R & G bungs - could save a lot of grief should it be dropped - there are pics on AF1 of Futs which have crashed at over 50 mph, and the bungs have done a pretty good job of saving the plastics. Wish I'd had them when I mangled my first one.
Make sure it's got the 05 map; that's an Aprilia number, doesn't refer to the year - it'll be a lot smoother. Anyone with an Axione can upload that for you.
Then there's the exhaust - ditch the collector, get some Staintunes or Taylormades; K & N or BMC filter (smooths it out a bit in midrange) - & that's before you start messing about with airboxes; nice NWS hugger (Silver Ghost of course); Evo or MPL clutch slave; smaller front sprocket; etc etc.
Don't expect it to be as quick as a Falco - it's a few HP down (113), and it's heavier (15 kg). But it's still fun - in the right hands a Fut can thrash the arse off a Spsint or a VFR 800 - handling's much better.
Last edited by MartDude on Fri Jun 25, 2010 8:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
It flies sideways through time
It's an electric line
To your zodiac sign
I've got a Black and Silver Machine!
It's an electric line
To your zodiac sign
I've got a Black and Silver Machine!
yummmmm mods :) getting excited already and i've not even seen it yet, crash bungs are gonna be the 1st thing i sort, sadly the 6r suffers the same issue with a poo sidestand that the falco did, fell over after a gust of wind caught it, which reminds me must get that sorted, sadly didnt fit bung until after the even, snapped footrest, clutch lever and some scraping to the plastics nothing major but damn annoying, but then i now have some sexy gilles rearsets and shortie levers which i wanted anyway :)
Hishy, where are you? I'd rather you saw the panniers first - one does have some gravel rash, which a spray-finishing friend told me is easily dealt with. If you're not reasonably close, I'll send pics
Buggering off now for a bit - the Chinese has just been delivered
PM'd you my phone number
Buggering off now for a bit - the Chinese has just been delivered
PM'd you my phone number
It flies sideways through time
It's an electric line
To your zodiac sign
I've got a Black and Silver Machine!
It's an electric line
To your zodiac sign
I've got a Black and Silver Machine!
-
Tweaker
- Clubman Racer
- Posts: 372
- Joined: Tue Jan 09, 2007 8:10 pm
- Location: Huddersfield
- Main bike: BMW R1250RS
You lucky B*#*s%"rd! I rang up about that one today and the guy told me he'd just taken a deposit to hold it for somone from Brum going to see it tomorrow. It's got to be you - too much of a coincidence otherwise. Oh well, at least it'll go to someone on the forum (assuming you buy it - and if you don't, tell me!)Hishy wrote:cheers m8, I have one being held for me which i'm gonna have a good look at tomorrow, it's silver on an 52 plate with around 8k miles
So all going well i'll hopefully have it in my grubby mitts by the end of the weekend :)
The ride is the reason ........ the destination is just the excuse.