I had a Portuguese-language owner's manual with a photo montage of how to change a tyre -- but no spare tyre.

On the grounds that it will incriminate me, I prefer not to tell you how far I rode before I thought to check the oil... or how long it took to work out how to check the oil... let alone change it...!

Back in London not long after the trip, I introduced myself to one of Britain's leading motorcycle journalists, a man I recognised walking up Westbourne Grove from his by-line picture in a leading Bike magazine. He was interested in my trip, and especially the Falcon, which he'd never heard of.

"How many cylinders was it?"
"Not sure," I replied. "I'm not very technical."
"Well, how many pipes were coming out of it?"
"No idea. I never thought to count."

I don't think he believed me.

But I do know that I loved that bike. It was too light for the treacherous winds of Patagonia, but not too heavy for me to pick it up after my crash. Too slow to out-run the maddest Argentine drivers but fast enough for the speed limit. It got me round South America and left me with a sore bum and lots of wonderful memories. And still I know next to nothing about it.

I rode it until I was satisfied and then just left it behind. Typical man.

I'll leave it to the website of the bikeshop in Curitiba where I bought the bike (and the inadvertantly gauche online translation service at Altavista) to give you this poetic synopsis:

The NX4 Falcon is a motorcycle of the category on-on off. It has dimensions, agility and driven by power that credenciam it for the urban use. The suspensions back Pr�-Link and advantage of long course, allow to twirl for land roads. The result is a multipurpose motorcycle. It awakes the desire of the use in day-by-day, allows to venture itself for roads in search of new ways, new places, adding values of esportividade and ousadia, but without if worrying about the conditions of the road.

If design extreme modern, bold and impactante awakes the adventure spirit, the desire to pilot with joy, freedom and emotion. For its multipurpose style, the NX4 Falcon pleases the people who find in the motorcycle a way to be distinguished in the group and to make new friends. The NX4 Falcon, for its only beauty, has marcante presence in the meeting points, parties, clubs, enhancing the prestige of its pilot.

You can't argue with that.

I also learn from that site that it's a 400cc, 5-speed bike with disc brakes, electric ignition, a 15.3 litre tank, a seat 850mm off the ground and a dry weight of just 151kg but not how many cylinders it has.

So much for the raw facts. I hope this site conveys just how fantastico this bike was for me and my little trip.