New Owner - '02 Futura

[georgevk]

Hello!

I am new to the Futura forum and would like to introduce myself.

Last weekend I put a deposit on a new silver '02 at Scuderia West in San Francisco. Much of the information on this forum was helpful in making my decision. I did almost buy an '02 VFR at Honda Milpitas (great price $7,499).

The Futura's main use will be commuting (~15,000 miles/year) from Napa into Marin, San Francisco and around the Bay Area. Most recently I've been doing this on a '76 GT750 Suzuki (two stroke) and a '88 Kawasaki EX250. I've also got some vintage british and MX bikes. My last new bike was a '93 VFR, and I am looking forward to again riding something with serious power, handling and brakes. I'm in my early 40's, married, w/ kids.

I live not far from Sears Point, and will probably do the occassional track day on the Futura there, or at Laguna or Thunder Hill. If family/work/time permit, I'll take a ride for a few days to Yosemite, Las Vegas or up the coast. My last overnight bike trip was ten years ago, so I guess I'm overdue.

Any general or specific advice this forum may have for a new Futura owner would be appreciated. I've already spent hours reviewing various topics on this forum, and other info on the web.

I've printed the Owner's manual and am reviewing it. I've ordered the shop manual.

The shop has confirmed the bike will be delivered to me in an optimized and fast state of tune (such as can be achieved without unnecessary air restrictions). I plan to keep the stock pipe, probably with an "evoluzione" oiled air filter element.

I'm considering various Aprilia accessories: tank bag, lock, paint guard, head light guard, reflective kit, elastics (?), etc. Any advice on these items would be appreciated. I'll be doing significant commute miles, much of which will be at night. I'm also considering the Genmar handlebar risers.

Finally, I confess a deep religious commitment to electric vests, and can't recall if the Futura comes with a power outlet.

Thanks again to all who have contributed helpful information on this forum.

Take care,

George vk
Napa, CA

[buck000]

Welcome, George...

15K a year in that part of CA....sweet.

Between this forum, the <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/futuraforum/" target="top">Yahoo! Futura forum</a>, the <a href="http://www.aprilia-usa.com/forum.html" target="top">Aprilia USA owner's club forum</a>, and the <a href="http://www.rst1000.org" target="top">Futura Forum</a>, you'll find the answers to most of your questions (although the elastics and reflective stuff are fairly new).

If you're interested, you can check out the <a href="http://home.austin.rr.com/rhome/moto/#Add-ons" target="top">add-ons section</a> of my web page.

Hope this helps. The RST is a, er, rather enjoyable ride... :)

Paul
'01 Flame Red

[mnrstrider]

Welcome! Couple quick notes... The Aprilia tank bag has not gotten the highest reviews, there is supposly better out there. I think I'm going for thr bagster one myself. And no there is not a power outlet on the bike, but there is the perfect spot to install one left side front fairing. I have yet to do anything like that. You'll love your bike congrats once again.. Ohh yeah one more site for you... sport-touring.net (http://sport-touring.net)

[BossBob2]

Welcome aboard George, great taste in bikes you've got :D
seems like you have read up on any "issues" and mods that have been discussed ,its a great board for that.
I too will be going for the bagster tank bag, I have one on my GPZ and it fits, looks and works very well.
paint protection is here and @ $43 not the end of the world if you don't like it :D
www.thetankslapper.biz/cg...1040494243 (http://www.thetankslapper.biz/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/p-APRILIA_TPK.html?L+scstore+fjzt1411ffee0bee+104049 4243)
I saw some very clever adjustable hadndle bars but can't find the link just now, perhaps someone else can help.
Electric vest is also on my list, probably this one
www.gerbing.nl/style/html...rames.html (http://www.gerbing.nl/style/html/english/frames.html)
and I hope to power it from my optimate lead.Its a great little charger.
www.accumate.co.uk/it010003.html (http://www.accumate.co.uk/it010003.html)
Many happy miles ........ even if they are commuting :rolleyes:

Rab

[Ricky J]

Scuderia West's an exceptional dealer. I
say you are in good hands! As for elect-
ric vests and such, it's about time I do
the hook-up. The very thing that makes a
Futura so comfortable in hot weather can
make it a wee bit chilly at other times.
Heat management is a little too good and
the plastic tank insulates you from warm
engine parts. As delighful as that is on
hundred degree days a few watts on wint-
ry evenings would be grand! I wished I'd
brought some spent nuclear fuel on that
last cold ride...

[westony]

George,

Welcome to Futuraville.

I got mine almost 2 years ago, and the fun of riding hasn't worn off. Quite the contrary.

Do yourself a favor and go see RKA in Healdsburg for a tankbag and other goodies. Great people there Richard and Kathy.

I've done the popular...
Staintunes
Tuneboy
Evo Airfilter
De-restricted
Metzler Sport-tec M1
Any questions you might have, let me know.

just down the road
Mike Simmons
Novato, CA

[georgevk]

Paul, Mnrstrider, Rab, Ricky, Mike: Thanks for your kind welcome and the helpful suggestions and weblinks.

I picked up the bike today. Scuderia West is a classy operation. I give Don and his folks high marks for their professionalism, knowledge and enthusiasm. I'm not surprised they are the highest volume Aprilia dealer in the US. They deserve it.

Regarding accessories, I'll be getting the paint guard, headlight guard and reflective stuff. Maybe the tank bag too.

The bike is a work of art and rides beatifully. Of course, I've still got to break it in, so I won't flog it for a while.

We left the bike in stock configuration (restricted) for the time being. Scuderia has a dyno and lots of Mille tuning experience. They felt we should do a little more research on the best way to do my bike and not rush it. Apparently it is not conclusive whether simply removing the restrictor is the best way to go, so we left it in for the time being.

One wierd connection: The design and naming of the bike was possibly inspired by the Italian Futurists of the early 20th Century.... check out paintings such as "Abstract Speed" by Giacamo Balla.

Mike: We'll have to hook-up some time, as I drive through Novato almost daily.

George

[buck000]

<blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>One wierd connection: The design and naming of the bike was possibly inspired by the Italian Futurists of the early 20th Century.... check out paintings such as "Abstract Speed" by Giacamo Balla. [/quote]

Hmmmmm:
<img src="http://www.guggenheimcollection.org/images/lists/work/11_1_md.jpg" style="border:0;"/>

I thought I read somewhere where the name was an homage to a Lancia Futura or something. I like your idea better. :D

Paul
'01 Flame Red

[hp]

Got hot grips installed and love 'em. Also got a standard cigarette lighter style plug installed on the right side of the cockpit fairing (there is a round marking where it goes). Plan on riding over to Gerbing's in a couple of weeks and getting a heated jacket.

Also just mounted BT 010's front and rear. Took 'em for a ride in the twisties and they are very very nice.

[georgevk]

HP: I noticed the location for the outlet, and will probably use it. Thanks.

Paul: Thanks for posting that painting.

I apologize to those who might find modern art irrelevant (as I often do). Still, I'd guess that many Futura owner's do find their motorcycle to be an increasingly intriguing design. Perhaps Aprilia's designers have done their job well and drawn on more inspiration than is immediately apparent.

For anyone interested, it appears there are a number of paintings Giacomo Balla did around 1913 entitled "Abstract Speed", in addition to the one that Paul has posted above. Balla also did one called "Speed of the Motorcycle". If you do some searches in Google for Giacomo Balla and Futurism you can find them.

The Futurists were sometimes politically incorrect, occassionally violent, and apparently not feminists. Here's a quote (probably an oversimplification) from one of the websites I came across:

"Futurism was an international art movement founded in Italy in 1909. It was (and is) a refreshing contrast to the weepy sentimentalism of Romanticism. The Futurists loved speed, noise, machines, pollution, and cities; they embraced the exciting new world that was then upon them rather than hypocritically enjoying the modern world’s comforts while loudly denouncing the forces that made them possible. Fearing and attacking technology has become almost second nature to many people today; the Futurist manifestos show us an alternative philosophy. Too bad they were all Fascists."

FYI, I am not an artist or art historian (I am a consultant in the elevator industry). I had one art history course when in school and remember thinking the Futurists were interesting, if for no other reason, that I too liked "speed".

I do know this: I rode my Futura home from work (~45 miles) this evening for the first time. It was great. These dead Italian guys were definitely onto something.

George vK

[BossBob2]

<blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>These dead Italian guys were definitely onto something[/quote]
Yeah ..... women! :lol:

Thats why they are all now dead :rolleyes:

Rab