620 or 1000 or ?

[motion]

Originally posted by 5axis
Hey Richard, I noticed you in a few posts. There are several folks there that really know two strokes. I did a top-end over this winter and had the arrows jet-hot coated. I just finished up reassembling the bike today and may start my break-in / heat cycle regiment this weekend. I am lucky in that I have Hankster and Ytak local to me and they are willing to help a Aprilia RS newbie.

I don't see the second track weapon listed. Did you sell the TZ?


Back on topic. If you like the Aprilia, don't be afraid to give it a go.

The TZ is still in pieces from my Willow Springs Turn 2 off awhile back. I hope to have her going again later this year

Todd - The Falco is a sweet bike! I think you'd do well with one of those. And, the thing wouldn't be in the shop as often as the Duc.

[1967 R50/2]

Originally posted by Steve Carlton
Since when does Opinion=Fact?

Enough dealers in LA. Reliable bike, anyway. One can spend some time waiting for Duc parts...

Deja Vu.

Steve, we already had this conversation on the R1100S board. Remember? "Transformer" style windscreen/headlight, etc.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?threadid=241379&highlight=tuono

It is my OP...but I just can't get around it. With most bikes or cars I can find something that is to be admired in the styling, but not in the Tuono. It just seems like a half hearted effort at a naked bike. Mainly because it isn't REALLY naked. Its' got plastic bits covering up all the good stuff.

[Steve Carlton]

Yeah, I remember that thread. But the OT guys probably never saw it. Styling is subjective, that's what I'm trying to say. I'm just not fond of opinions stated as fact. I liked the picture of the orange/white/black '06 Tuono the best, but seeing it in person at the show it did look tacky. The black/silver one looked fine to me, though. Aprilia lists three colors: silver, red, and black. Can't say I've seen a picture of the third one.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally posted by nostatic
"I'm heavily jonseing for the Falco"

You're shooting down a Jap bike because they are manufactured in mass and don't stir your soul - yet to my eyes these two don't look so dissimilar.



What is it about the Aprilla than is drawing you in? Once rolling it would be hard to distinguish from the sea of Japan.

[nostatic]

Eavid, you need to ride a rotax v-twin bike. then we'll talk...

[Steve Carlton]

Completely different personality of a twin vs I4. The Aprilia (Rotax) twins are about as good as twins get without being human. The best twins I can think of from Japan are the Superhawk and the RC51, which wouldn't be too good for touring and don't offer luggage (not sure if the Falco does, though). The Falco does have plenty of Italian in its styling, though, which doesn't show up in all the pics.

[sammyg2]

No no no no.......

This is the bike you need to commute:



Kawi triple two stroke. No real torque down low, but the powerband hits like an uncontrolled sledge hammer. Wheelies are so easy that you may do one by accident.
Enough nose dive under braking to throw you over the bars and a flexible chassis that allows you to change lanes in a corner with a flick of the wrist.
They don't build em like this any more.

PS I nearly killed myself on one of these in high school every time I got on it.


__________________

[Steve Carlton]

Be careful with the rearsets on the Falco. Your knees might clear the tank better and the expense of comfort on longer rides. Probably not too many available, although I think custom-made ones can be had.

Does the Aprilia Futura repulse you?

[nostatic]

I like the Futura, but it is a bit thicker through the midsection. Plus its heavier.

I wore my Sidis today and sat on the Falco. No fit problem at all. I sat on the MTS too. Not sure I can get into the riding position...just too sit up and beg. Felt odd...I kept wanting to lean forward.

There are adapter plates to raise the rearsets on the Falco, and they can be flipped after a bit of Dremel action. But I seem to fit stock. I have two bikes in the sights right now. The '03 in the pic above, which is at 6500 miles, has warranty for another 10 months, and a bunch of extra parts, etc. $7800 asking. But it's 1000 miles away...which is good because in order to register it the mileage has to be above 7500 (thanks DMV). The other is a local bike at a shop that just had the 10K service done. Has helibars (like the other one), an Ohlins shock upgrade, adjustable levers, Puig screen, and Vince pipes which I need to swap out or find a custom pillion peg solution. Asking $8300 for that one, same color scheme.

Both are above "eBay" prices, but are pretty much known quantities and well cared for bikes. Pretty tempting...

[Steve Carlton]

I'd say the local one is a no-brainer. The Ohlins shock alone is probably worth $800, and the adjustable levers are nice. Dunno about the screen, sounds good. The pipes blocked out the passenger pegs? Must be more than slip-ons, right? You could try calling Scuderia West in SF to see if they have any suggestions.

OTOH, "sit up and beg" is great for commuting. Better, higher view of the road. I'm sure you'd get used to it quickly, and I bet it'll be more comfortable on a long ride. The demo for $10K didn't appeal?

[Noah930]

heh heh
Kawi 2-strokes from the 70's. I had one as my first bike. Flexy frame, skinny tubed tires, constant plug fouling, and a literally useless rear brake. 70 mph on that thing feels scarier than triple-digit speeds do on modern sportbikes.

Styling is a personal choice--buy it if you like it. But I have to agree that the Tuono (too industrial-ugly) does nothing for my soul. And part of the reason why we buy bikes is because we WANT them, not because we necessarily NEED them. I don't WANT any 'Priller out there. Except for maybe one of those RS250's--Yowsa!

[JavaBrewer]

Thoughts on the XB12r? I sat on a new one at the local HD shop and was very impressed with fit/finish. Looks even better in person. Glowing reviews from www.motorcycle.com and even won a street fighter compare against Aprilia Tuono R and the MV Agusta Brutale S. Cons are possibly no luggage, minimal wind protection, unknown (to me) reliability, smaller bike for folks 6'0+, and finally having to negotiate the sea of HD *gangs* camped (seemingly 24/7) at the local HD.

[JavaBrewer]

Or did I just totally whack the mood with a HD entry

[nostatic]

Originally posted by Steve Carlton
I'd say the local one is a no-brainer. The Ohlins shock alone is probably worth $800, and the adjustable levers are nice. Dunno about the screen, sounds good. The pipes blocked out the passenger pegs? Must be more than slip-ons, right? You could try calling Scuderia West in SF to see if they have any suggestions.

OTOH, "sit up and beg" is great for commuting. Better, higher view of the road. I'm sure you'd get used to it quickly, and I bet it'll be more comfortable on a long ride. The demo for $10K didn't appeal?

Yeah...I keep going back and forth on that. I think you get used to whatever you ride pretty quickly. The MTS has a ton of legroom and would make a great commuting bike, although I'd want to put cycle cat clipons to get the bars down and forward a bit.

dunno though...i need to ride the Falco. I'll get to do that maybe tomorrow. If the Falco has a nice "fit" for me and is comfortable, I might jump on it at $8K. The new (28 miles) MTS would likely be about 10K. There are some used ones around ($7700, $9K with lots of carbon fiber), but I worry about about service/reliability...although there is a gread independent local mechanic that all the local guys swear by.

I actually like the Buell XB, although I would lean towards the 900. Local dealer wasn't going to carry the 900 though. But I'm really feeling like I need an Italian fix at this point...

[greglepore]

The former Bimota distributor is liquidating his inventory on ebay-he's had new-in-crate DB4's and YB11's up recently, along with a couple SB-8's

[Steve Carlton]

Originally posted by nostatic
Yeah...I keep going back and forth on that. I think you get used to whatever you ride pretty quickly. The MTS has a ton of legroom and would make a great commuting bike, although I'd want to put cycle cat clipons to get the bars down and forward a bit.

dunno though...i need to ride the Falco. I'll get to do that maybe tomorrow. If the Falco has a nice "fit" for me and is comfortable, I might jump on it at $8K. The new (28 miles) MTS would likely be about 10K. There are some used ones around ($7700, $9K with lots of carbon fiber), but I worry about about service/reliability...although there is a gread independent local mechanic that all the local guys swear by.

I actually like the Buell XB, although I would lean towards the 900. Local dealer wasn't going to carry the 900 though. But I'm really feeling like I need an Italian fix at this point...

Bikes that come with bars are easy to modify with different bars. Clip-ons on a MTS might seem weird, and you'd be surprised how changing one ergo can affect the others.

You're referring to the '05 demo I mentioned on page 1, right? Even though it's $2K more than the Falcos, that money would probably come back to you in resale. Plus, that would have a full warranty and none of the '03-04 problems.

[nostatic]

I was figuring i might be able to get a local mts for around that. maybe I'll call Rory and Munroe and see what's up...

[Steve Carlton]

I could see a brand new '05 for a similar price, but I'll bet they were all sold. Looks like about $2,500 off MSRP if you factor in freight/prep. Not sure what sort of discounts can be had on new/demo '06s.

[Steve Carlton]

Originally posted by greglepore
The former Bimota distributor is liquidating his inventory on ebay-he's had new-in-crate DB4's and YB11's up recently, along with a couple SB-8's

I'm not seeing any motorcycles there. Are there any now?

[Noah930]

I actually like the Buell XB, although I would lean towards the 900.

I rode a 900 a couple years back when they first came out. Not a bad bike, but I was disappointed by the motor (and isn't that the most important part of a bike?). Off idle, it sounded like one of those Autopia cars at Disneyland. It came onto cam around 4K, sounding like an angry HD motor (a good thing). But at 6K--just when things were getting interesting--it hit redline and that was the end of the fun. Definitely not the type of powerband you're used to, coming from a Speed Four (not a good thing).