Dreaming

[-Ralph-]

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/roadtests/0210_00zoom+2003_aprilia_sl_1000_falco_r+front_lef t_view.jpg (http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/roadtests/aprilia_sl1000_falco_r/photo_01.html#)
I know I spend far too much time dreaming about a big twin sports tourers, but humour me here.... Found myself dreaming about one of these. Perhaps better comfort than an RSV, should do some touring and pillion work as well? Anyone got an opinion? Ridden one? Know someone thats got one? Three to five year old bikes with 10-15k miles in Autotrader from 3 to 3 1/2 grand. Could swap the 06 plate SV for one at almost no cost (except the insurance)

(its a 'Prilia SL1000 Falco)

[Duck-man]

Dude that is sweeeeettttt!!!!


:O

[dirtydog]

I think Jelster had a Falco before he got his 'blade

[Jelster]

Ralph, you have a PM......

[dirtydog]

speak of the devil and he shall appear :p :D

[STRAMASHER]

I found the Mille more comfortable, not as locked in to one position as the Falco. Been reading about a fella that has put 50,000 on one tho'................


http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/ for the good gen.

:)

[northwind]

Italianjob got one of those... Seemed pretty pleased with himself.

[kitkat]

i think amarco from pennine massive has one too

[northwind]

Thought Amarko had a TDM?

[Stu]

Thought Amarko had a TDM?Yup, that's what he was riding.

Jelster, we all dream too sometimes ... why the big secret?

[Tiger 55]

Jelster, we all dream too sometimes ... why the big secret?
Good question! What manner of Falco related mysteries can be revealed only by PM...

[-Ralph-]

No secrets :D , just a reply to my PM. I had PM'd Jelster with a link to this thread, just 'cos folk had said he had one and perhaps he wouldn't have read the thread otherwise. It's great to hear from somebody with first hand knowledge so big thanks to Jelster for taking the time to reply.:smt023

[carelesschucca]

I thought about the falco, it looks great from that angle, but my arms weren't long enough... So i left it... Now I'm IL4 and happy!!!

Sorry folks

[Jelster]

I thought about the falco, it looks great from that angle, but my arms weren't long enough... So i left it... Now I'm IL4 and happy!!!

Sorry folks


Actually, although I have short arms & legs I never found it that much of a problem.

OK, my take on the Falco, having had one.....

I called it my "very" bike. It was very fast, very loud, very comfortable and very temperamental :rolleyes:

Basically it went like it should with that Mille engine, the acceleration would pull your arms from their sockets, it would go vertical just for the fun of it, and I once, I had my sons ankles up by ears as I pinned it of the lights (that was so funny...) Very, very comfortable, probably the most comfortable bike I've owned in fact. The headlamps were like stadium flood lights too. With the lights n and the race cans making all that noise it made a great commuter

However, Falco's suffered from battery problems. This was two fold. Firstly the battery was to small for the bike, 14mAh just isn't enough, it really needs at least 16mAh, if not more. Also the starter switch gear kept failing (I wasn't aware of this at first...) but I had to regularly take it apart, spray it with WD40 and put it back together to get it to work. Not fun at 06:30 on a winter morning when it's -2.. :mad:

Also, they have a reputation for not going round corners if somebody has played with the suspension settings. Mine was like this, and I just couldn't go round corners very well.

Would I have one again ? Probably yes. It was early in my biking career, probably too early for me to appreciate the problems and know what to do about them. A well sorted one will make a great commuter (gear it down, 1st is a bit tall for London traffic) and would also be make a great European tourer too.


There you go, no secrets, I just responded to the young man's PM....

.

[-Ralph-]

Ok, various PM's and other things have suceeded in putting me off an Aprilia...

What do we think of these then? Didn't Northy used to have one?

Don't usually like the looks, but in red with the full fairing (belly pan/lowers), this one's made me think again. Has it got twin radiators like a VFR then?

I know I could ask a Honda forum, but asking folk who've got something different gives the best chance of an unbiased opinion.

http://pictures.autotrader.co.uk/ATD_web/servlet/media?id=575817960

[northwind]

What do we think of these then? Didn't Northy used to have one?

Nope, I used to have one of these:

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i264/Northwindlowlander/Virago/fromfront.jpg

Though it's easy to get the 2 confused of course ;)

[stuartyboy]

Apparently you only get 90 miles out a tank if youride it like a pussy

[STRAMASHER]

Ok, various PM's and other things have suceeded in putting me off an Aprilia...

What do we think of these then? Didn't Northy used to have one?

Don't usually like the looks, but in red with the full fairing (belly pan/lowers), this one's made me think again. Has it got twin radiators like a VFR then?

I know I could ask a Honda forum, but asking folk who've got something different gives the best chance of an unbiased opinion.

http://pictures.autotrader.co.uk/ATD_web/servlet/media?id=575817960

Had one for 3yrs and 36,000miles. Parallel import R reg (98?)Loved it. Then went for a GSX1400 as everywhere was 130+, and I needed more two-up and tank range for touring abroad. ..................oh and a big highside!#-o

Nothing went wrong or needed replaced ie suspension in those miles. Gorgeous torquey engine with MASSIVE carbs. Smooth. Sounds like a sowing machine with OE pipes. (Had Renegade hi-level "floor shakers" :smt025 )WWIII backfires.165mph on the clock. Front wheel comes up in slow-motion. Paint finish is poor on subframe and forks(whats new?;) ) Goes "ba-roomba" and shoots flames.
Proper V-twin thin. Later models had higher bars, weird clocks and 19l tank. Drinks the gas heavily if you worry about these things:rolleyes: but tank range similar to Blades and SP1/2's or most modern litre sport bikes. Proper road bike, hard work on track.

A lot of bike for feck all cash. £2500-£3500.

Andy:)

[jim@55]

good write-up andy,(ba-roomba:cool:),its a firestorm iv been thinkin about gtng next ,i was thinking about a vfr ,but i think ill not really notice a diff from my cbr(600 to a 750 hmmm)but up to a firestorm ,now we're talkin(ilike the thought of 1000cc twin )iv heard one and it was awesome ,';)floorshaker 'right enough