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HowardQ

Well my old mate Dave has decided not to give up riding, but he is going to sell the Falco.
His arthritis problems and recent back and hand operations have meant he just cannot get comfortable on a bike, which many others, (like me), find more comfortable than average.
He also finds it a bit more difficult to ride as smooth as an IL4.
His previous 3 bikes were all Hondas, including a CBR600. FireBlade RRX, VFR750.
Anyway even though he hasn’t managed to ride the Falco this year since his hand operation, he went out and bought a very tidy 22K mile 1997 FireBlade this weekend, he rode it and found it more comfortable than the Falco even with standard bars and footpegs.
End result is the Falco (previously owned and built by Tweaker) is up for sale.
Dave made a few modifications to make it more comfortable for him, including moving the bars over the top yokes, and designing and making new Duralumin front footpeg hangers, to leave the pegs a little lower and a bit further forward for extra knee comfort, (see photos).
He also reversed the gear change to the “Racing Pattern”, 1 up 5 down, which he has always preferred.
The parts to do this are all still fitted and the standard footpeg hangers and linkages etc., are all included.
The bike has been well modified as follows –
Gen 1 Mille rear swingarm, with matching carbon rear hugger.
Tail tidy,
It has a Firestorm side stand fitted, so it won’t fall over.
Smaller indicators,
Original Renegade high level race cans with legal baffles fitted.
Renegade air box (or could possibly be an Evolution unit) but think it’s a Rene unit.
It has a modified ECU chip fitted (seem to remember it is a Gabro).
Wavy disks front and rear, (think they are Galfer).
Modified headlight with HID dip beam, (to burn paint off car boots in front!).
Headlight also modified so the dip beam stays on with main beam, (so brilliant for night runs!).
Ohlins rear shock absorber in excellent condition, (think it is the Falco specific unit rather than one off a Mille).
MPL clutch cylinder, for a lighter clutch action.
15 tooth front sprocket fitted and gold chain, in good condition.
Clear rear light lens, with the original NOOJ red LED light unit fitted.
Crash bobbins on the swing arm.
It has a steering damper fitted, (make unknown).
It also has a Skidmarx belly pan fitted and gold protective grill fitted to the oil cooler, (think it is from Beowulf), plus matching small grills on the seat unit vents.
In the pictures it also has OZ wheels although they will probably not be included in the sale (As I plan to buy them off him!).
Standard Falco wheels will be fitted.
The Aprilia logos and red panels on the mid fairings are decals, which have not been lacquered, so can be removed if they are not your cup of tea.
Similarly the red trim on the Skidmarx double bubble screen can also be removed, (Dave likes it, but would not be my choice!).
I think that is about everything.
It is a 12 year old bike, so yes it has a few small scratches, but you have to look for them and is generally in excellent order.
It currently also has heated grips but he is thinking of removing them, (but may end up leaving on as I think he cut the old Falco grips off).
Dave lives at Aston, (on the east side off Sheffield), and a couple of miles off the M1 junction 31.
The mods on this bike would cost a fortune to buy now, and things like the Rene cans were expensive and are now much sought after.
He is looking for around £2k, but this bike has to be worth a minimum of £1900 or more in this spec.,
If you were to build this bike now with a mixture of new and second hand parts the bits alone would probably cost you between £1500 and £2k, (excluding the wheels), so you have the rare option to buy a well sorted bike for a very good price.
It is 2000 model with just 22,225 miles showing on the clock.
Dave has not had the chance to use iy very often since he bought it as he has needed a couple of operations during this time.
He does not have internet and is not really a PC person, so PM me if you need any more details, or phone Dave direct to arrange to view.

His name is Dave Whitehead
Mobile number - 07528 420413
He is still off work since his latest operation, so can be contacted at any reasonable time.

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HowardQ

Take a ride on the Dark Side

2001 Aprilia Falco in Black
2002 Kawasaki ZX9R F1P

HowardQ · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 10:31 am Post subject:

Who bought it?
I have a guess, but not sure.
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HowardQ

Take a ride on the Dark Side

2001 Aprilia Falco in Black
2002 Kawasaki ZX9R F1P

Nooj · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 2:38 pm Post subject:

I like those rear lights

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HowardQ · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 9:03 pm Post subject:

An artist admiring his own work?

Then again, it was a good job.

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HowardQ

Take a ride on the Dark Side

2001 Aprilia Falco in Black
2002 Kawasaki ZX9R F1P

HowardQ · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 9:04 pm Post subject:

Dave's bike goes to its new home in Coventry tomorrow.
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HowardQ

Take a ride on the Dark Side

2001 Aprilia Falco in Black
2002 Kawasaki ZX9R F1P

HisNibbs · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 9:08 pm Post subject:

So D-Rider has finally decided to upgrade?
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Don't put off 'till tomorrow what you can enjoy today

D-Rider · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 9:18 pm Post subject:

Aladinsaneuk · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 9:18 pm Post subject:

lol
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Let's face it, you wouldn't go to a nurse to get good advice on a problem with a Falco - you'd choose an Engineer or a mechanic...

HowardQ · Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:55 pm Post subject:

Whoever it is I hope he has good waterproof kit, as the drought is coming down in stair rods. It has been crap all day and Coventy is a fair way to go back on streaming motorways with a visor full of spray.
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HowardQ

Take a ride on the Dark Side

2001 Aprilia Falco in Black
2002 Kawasaki ZX9R F1P

D-Rider · Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:51 pm Post subject:

MartDude · Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 3:12 pm Post subject:

D-Rider · Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 3:25 pm Post subject:

.... and what drought? seem to have had plenty of rain so far this year.
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HowardQ · Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:11 pm Post subject:

When Mark, (Musclebiker), set off back tonight the drought was absolutely diabolical, it had rained all day and was still doing it, when he set off.
There were partly flooded roads all over the place and 6 inches of standing water in places, like the bottom of Dave's estate, and he set off to ride back to Coventry.
I wouldn't even have sent Andy back to Coventry in that weather.

Hope he got home OK.
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HowardQ

Take a ride on the Dark Side

2001 Aprilia Falco in Black
2002 Kawasaki ZX9R F1P

Aladinsaneuk · Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:44 pm Post subject:

sending andy to coventry

its an old idea, but it might just work.....
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Let's face it, you wouldn't go to a nurse to get good advice on a problem with a Falco - you'd choose an Engineer or a mechanic...

musclebiker · Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:55 pm Post subject:

Yes it was me all along, I have actually got 2 black Falcos now! Going for one for each day of the week

Good to meet you this evening Howard, apart from a few brief breaks in the cloud it rained all the way. My waterproofs held out for about an hour but then they started to leak which wasn't very pleasant.

Very pleased with the bike, Dave is a top bloke! Glad he is not giving up bikes altogether.
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I heard an old old story..