APRILIA SL 1000 Falco (2002-2003) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 2002, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer launched the Aprilia SL 1000 Falco, a sports machine in its fourth consecutive year of production. The bike remained essentially unchanged, delivering the same specifications as previous models.

The SL 1000 Falco was first released two years after the RSV Mille and packed the same engine used in the RSV range. Compared to the RSV Mille, which was a sports machine, the SL 1000 Falco was a more sports-touring-oriented motorcycle with a more relaxed riding position and a lower engine tune.

In family terms, the Sl 1000 Falco was the slightly softer cousin of the more sports-oriented RSV Mille and was Aprilia's first foray into the competitive V-twin sport-touring market.

The bike was fitted with standard features, such as a half-fairing, a single headlight unit, a windscreen, a single seat with a passenger seat cover and grab rails, a dual exhaust system with a silencer on each side, and five-spoke alloy wheels.

In the performance department, the 2002 Aprilia SL 1000 Falco had installed a 998cc four-stroke liquid-cooled V-twin engine underneath its fuel tank, boasting 118 hp at 9,250 rpm and 95 Nm (70 lb-ft) torque at 7,000 rpm.

For safety reasons, the bike relied on two 320 mm brake discs assisted by four-piston calipers on the front and a 220 mm brake disc with a dual-piston caliper on the rear.