There’s a motorcycle that one buys just to go to the bar and people who use them, or rather, who live with them like a companion with whom they can share many moments of their lives: from going to work to racing.
Thanks to the awesome Pompone Club (Paderno del Grappa, Italy), we met Dr. Enrico Cossutta from Treviso, a forty-year-old worker who, as a second job, could be a test pilot given that with his Aprilia Falco he has covered an amazing 100,000 kilometres in five years. In the saddle of his “vicious canary” as he loves to call it, and in giving it this name, with surprising insight, he has been able also to objectively express all his love for a bike unfortunately maybe not very understood but very, very appreciated by who has, or has had, the pleasure of getting to know it.
Enrico, 100,000 kilometres in five years: there’s no doubt that between you and your “canary” there was an immediate feeling. But how was your love born for the Falco?
“It was love at first sight! I have always been a motorcyclist and I rode thousands of kilometres, then there was a short period of about a half-year in which I had an Aprilia Leonardo. One day, I went to pick it up after the umpteenth tune-up, and in the window I saw the Falco, and ... it was love at first sight! I knew it was being sold used, it had six thousand kilometres, and I immediately gave back my Leonardo and bought the Falco.
Furthermore – continues Enrico - later on a collector, a project manager at Aprilia, recognised my bike and told me it was one of their prototypes; in fact, mine was made in ’99, when there were hardly any Falcos on the market.”
After 100,000 kilometres, we can’t not start by talking about trustworthiness...
“It might seem incredible but, just for starts, it has the original transmission and, most of all, I have never had a problem with the motor!”
Besides the routine tune-ups, what other work have you had to do?
“Extra work, besides the few breaks that were caused by a few slides, I’ve never had to do it.”
On a painful note: how many times have you fallen in 100,000 kilometres?
“Only three times, all three on the track: Misano, Adria and the last at Rijeka.”
But when do you use your Falco?
“In all the ways possible: from going to work, to trips anywhere from one thousand to fifteen hundred kilometres a day. I’ve never done long trips, but on the weekends it is easy to go more than one thousand kilometres on just a “little ride.” Sometimes I also use it on the track and I have to say that I defend myself, and it defends itself, well.”
Wow, a more polyvalent bike, no...
“Absolutely, and I really think it’s an extraordinary motorcycle that unfortunately, in Italy, in my opinion, hasn’t had the success it deserves. I have friends in the United States and there the Falco is sold more than the RSV.”
What’s the longest trip you’ve ever taken with her?
“I have never toured on a large scale, the longest trip I did was a trip in Sardinia, with another person.”
You beat me to the next question: can you travel in two with the Falco?
“Certainly, I confirm it. You have to travel light because there isn’t a lot of space, but in the summer, when you don’t have to take evening clothes etc., it’s easier to do. Alone I could even go to the North Pole...!”
Speaking of trips, what was the longest trip you’ve done in a day?
“1200 kilometres in two, leaving from Treviso, along the Tuscan ways – Muraglione, Giogo, the Raticosa, the Passo della Consuma – then the Apennines, then home again.”
At this point, let’s talk about mileage: have you ever counted?
“Well, it’s pretty variable, but the average is more or less 14-15 kilometres per litre. In the mountains, more like 12, while on the track, down to 8. At a constant 130 on the highway, 18.5 kilometres per litre... confirmed!”
What’s the highest speed you’ve seen on your speedometer?
“258 kilometres per hour! I have to say that I’ve done a lot of experiments with the ratios. The bike comes out with a higher ratio than the RSV, so I first tried that of the RSV, then, still not satisfied, I changed it, ending up with that, which in my opinion, is the ideal ratio for the Falco, low enough compared to the original but done to better the bike in every way. It may seem strange but lowering it and putting on a 16/44 in sixth it can handle the rpms, with the original ratios, it wasn’t able to.”
After all these kilometres with your Falco, do you have any fond memories?
“The most important regarding the motorcycle might be what happens on the track, even in the Aprilia Day. After my turn, people come to see which motorcycle it is, maybe because they don’t know it or they don’t think a Falco could do that well on the circuit. One day at Varano, I personally received compliments from Nico Cereghini.”
Let’s play devil’s advocate, and tell me something wrong with your Falco...
“Not because it’s mine or for other reasons, I really can’t think of a defect. I think about it for a while and then, still nothing, no I can’t find anything wrong with it! It has just given me a lot of satisfaction.”
Given the number of kilometres it has, though, are you thinking about changing it?
“Now it’s clear that my motorcycle has a commercial value of zero, therefore, besides economic reasons, now I’m just curious and I want to take it to the limit, I want to see how long it will last. My friends have already started placing bets, I think it will definitely make 150,000 without a problem; it still goes so well that selling it would be crazy.
Anyway, so I don’t fall behind, I just bought a RSV 1000 R Factory 2003... Aprilia forever!”
What advice would you give someone who already owns a Falco?
“The same advice I’d give any motorcyclist, that is to read less magazines and instead value a bike based on one’s needs and not to buy it just to follow a trend. What I mean is to start valuing bikes for the pleasure they could give you.”
What are the destinations that you haven’t done, and where, sooner or later, would you like to take your Falco?
“Maybe I’ll take it to Romania, as for racetracks, I’m dreaming of Nurburgring...”
The last and unavoidable question: have you spent more time with your Falco or with the girls that you’ve dated?
“Let’s say that my motorcycle has never distracted me from female company, and I have to say that all the girls I’ve dated were very happy to come with me on the bike.”
First the Falco, now the Falco and the RSV. Surely Enrico and his Aprilias will still cover a lot of asphalt, and certainly many bikes would like to have an owner like Enrico, ready to ride them around forever, at any time and anywhere, with the love that we give to those who know how to give us unforgettable moments....
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