 SL1000 Falco with Mille swingarm and extra fairing. | |
| Manufacturer | Aprilia |
|---|---|
| Also called | Aprilia SL Mille |
| Production | 1999-2005 |
| Class | Sport bike |
| Engine | 998 cc V-twin, 4-stroke, liquid cooled |
| Related | Aprilia RSV Mille |
The Aprilia SL1000 Falco (also known as "Aprilia SL Mille"), is a sports motorcycle powered by a liquid-cooled Rotax 998 cc 60° V-twin engine, manufactured from 1999 to 2005 by Aprilia in Noale, Italy. The Falco's 118 hp (88 kW) engine was a detuned version of the 128 hp (95 kW) RSV Mille engine. The Falco's dual exhausts and remapped fuel injection reduced peak power slightly but bolstered bottom and mid-range. The Falco has a half-fairing, a twin-beam alloy frame, 53 mm USD forks from Showa (& later Marzocchi) and twin Brembo 320 mm semi-floating front brake discs. The clutch simulated a slipper clutch using a device activated by inlet manifold vacuum.
The Falco was not as radical as the "race-replica' Mille nor really a sports-tourer (such as their own Aprilia Futura) but, rather like the Yamaha TRX850, was instead a sporty half-faired roadster which competed in the market against the Honda VTR1000 and the Suzuki TL1000S. Although the Falco proved to be reliable and powerful, sales were disappointing and production ceased in 2003, with sales continuing into 2004.
A Motor Cycle News review of the Falco declared: "Less is sometimes more. By making its roadster less extreme than the RSV Mille sportster it's based on, Aprilia broadened its appeal and produced a motorcycle that's both easier and more fun to ride."
Specifications
| Dimensions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Length (including rear mudguard extension) | 2,065 mm (2,170 mm) | |
| Width | 750 mm | |
| Height (front part of the fairing included) | 1180 mm | |
| Seat height | 820 mm (32.3 inches) | |
| Wheelbase | 1,415 mm | |
| Ground clearance | 140 mm | |
| Wet weight (fuel tank full) | 222 kg | |
| Dry Weight | 190 kg | |
| Fuel tank | 19 litres (including 4.5 litres reserve) | |
| Engine Specification | ||
| Engine Type | 60° V-Twin, 4-stroke, DOHC | |
| Engine Size | 998cc | |
| Bore / Stroke | 97 mm / 67.5 mm | |
| Compression Ratio | 10.8:1 | |
| Starter | Electric | |
| Cooling | Liquid cooled | |
| Lubrication | Dry sump with remote oil tank & oil cooler | |
| Clutch | Wet multi-plate clutch, hydraulically activated
Simulated slipper-clutch using induction vacuum | |
| Gearbox | 6 speed | |
| Performance | ||
| Torque | 69 ft.-lb. @ 7,000 rpm | |
| Top speed | 162 mph, 260 km/h | |
| Corrected 1/4-mile | 11.0 seconds | |
| 0-60 mph | 3.41 seconds | |
| 0–100 km/h | 3.2 seconds |
References
- ^ "APRILIA SL1000 FALCO (1999-2005) Review". Motorcycle News. 12 December 2006. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ^ "Superbike" magazine December 2000
- "Motorrad, Issue 23/1999, page 20". Archived from the original on 2010-08-30. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
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