The Aprilia SL1000 Falco, also known as the Aprilia SL Mille, is a sports motorcycle powered by a liquid-cooled Rotax 998 cc 60-degree V-twin, made from 1999 to 2005 by Aprilia in Noale, Italy.
Aprilia SL1000 Falco at a glance
| Production | 1999–2005, presented at EICMA in Milan in 1999 |
|---|---|
| Engine | Rotax 998 cc 60-degree V-twin, liquid-cooled |
| Power | 118 hp (88 kW), a detuned version of the 128 hp (95 kW) RSV Mille engine |
| Frame | twin-beam alloy frame, half-fairing |
| Front suspension | 53 mm USD forks from Showa, later Marzocchi |
| Front brakes | twin Brembo 320 mm semi-floating discs |
| Rivals | Honda VTR1000 and Suzuki TL1000S |
English and Italian Wikipedia agree on the figures in the table; neither page gives a weight in the part we used.
History of the Aprilia SL1000 Falco
The Falco was presented in 1999 at the Milan show. Its 118 hp engine was a detuned version of the 128 hp RSV Mille unit: the dual exhausts and remapped fuel injection reduced peak power slightly but improved low and mid-range response.
The Falco was not as radical as the race-replica Mille, nor really a sports-tourer like the Aprilia Futura. Like the Yamaha TRX850, it was a sporty half-faired roadster, placed against the Honda VTR1000 and the Suzuki TL1000S in the market.
Although it proved reliable and powerful, sales were disappointing and production stopped in 2005. A Motor Cycle News review said that by making the roadster less extreme than the RSV Mille it is based on, Aprilia broadened its appeal and produced a bike that is both easier and more fun to ride.
Design and features
- Engine: the 998 cc Rotax V-twin of the RSV Mille, detuned to 118 hp with dual exhausts and remapped injection for better low and mid-range torque.
- Chassis: a twin-beam alloy frame and a half-fairing.
- Forks: 53 mm USD forks, from Showa and later Marzocchi.
- Brakes: twin 320 mm semi-floating Brembo front discs.
Aprilia SL1000 Falco versions
- SL1000 Falco (1999–2005): the only series; also sold as Aprilia SL Mille, SL 1000 or simply Falco.
More Aprilia motorcycles are in our Aprilia collection, for example the RSV Mille, whose engine the Falco used, and the RST 1000 Futura.
Aprilia SL1000 Falco questions and answers
When was the Aprilia Falco built?
From 1999 to 2005.
How much power does the Falco make?
118 hp (88 kW), against 128 hp for the RSV Mille engine it is based on.
What did the Falco compete against?
The Honda VTR1000 and the Suzuki TL1000S.
Why did production end?
English Wikipedia says sales were disappointing, although the bike was reliable and powerful.
Video: Aprilia SL1000 Falco (2000) Review
Video by Men and Motors on YouTube.
Sources
- Aprilia SL1000 Falco, English Wikipedia: engine, chassis, market position
- Aprilia SL 1000 Falco, Italian Wikipedia: presentation, engine, market position
