test rode a firestorm today

[steveg]

Got a new rear tyre fitted today , noticed a vtr on the forecourt , did not think that they would let it out as the roads were bad & it was raining , to my surprise they did .
TBH the roads were bad , so took it easy as there was a 750 xs ....

Really enjoyed the vtr + really comfy , a lot faster than my sv650s ,felt really planted , good build , lazy engine understressed & powerfull ,cheap to buy , would sound ace with cans .

- not as agile as sv650s, did not feel as exciting to ride as I thought it would?, might became a bit bland ( thats my worry) , license bye bye as real easy to get to silly speeds ,poor mpg

cheers Steve

[Alpinestarhero]

Good review! How do the brakes fair compared to the SV? What about comfort and ease of mobility at low speeds?

They look good, I would have one as a second bike...but the MPG reports put me off...

Matt

[steveg]

Good review! How do the brakes fair compared to the SV? What about comfort and ease of mobility at low speeds?
Matt the brakes were good , alot of power but not harsh ( it had braided hoses that would help), a lot better than the sv & the front end was a lot more controlled , low speed was fine , eg feet up u-turn within a couple of miles ok .

Just the mpg puts me off , I normally get 50+ mpg on my sv and I do a lot of miles , however I am tempted for < 2k its a lot of bike .

Cheers Steve

[kwak zzr]

great bike ain't they, like you say MPG and a tiny fuel tank are not it best attributes but everything else is great:)

[Ed]

It needs the bhp to tow the bowser

[steveg]

great bike ain't they, like you say MPG and a tiny fuel tank are not it best attributes but everything else is great:smile:

how does the VTR compare with the sv1000s ?

Cheers Steve

[kwak zzr]

bigger tank on the sv1000s same as the 650s, fuel on a long run motorways etc is fine but heavy throttle usage on A and B roads will see the tank empty at 100miles.

[Dave The Rave]

the 2003 onwards VTR had bigger tanks I think. Still thirsty but some love them.

[markmoto]

i used to have a 98 firestorm as you say license loser because speed is very deceptive due to its lazy torquey motor you can be doing 3 figures and not even realise. Nice bike though luved it. Watch out for cam chain tensioners on those is very common, listen for a rattle from the engine.

[steveg]

just got insurance quote of 177 quid for a firestorm ...... arghhhh

Test rides are deadly

Cheers Steve

[MiniMatt]

They whizz past everything on the road apart from petrol stations :D

[Lozzo]

I owned a Firestorm from new back in 1998, I had it for 18 months. It wasn't a bad bike, but it wasn't a great bike either - bland is about all I can level at it as a fault. It was hard on chains and sprockets, tyres and anything else we take for granted that a bike needs, except brake pads. Fuel consumption was a joke. Mine was an early small tanked one, and I got it down to 63 miles to a tankful on one occasion. Yes - 63 miles from full to absolutely empty.

Whilst I don't regret buying it, I don't regret selling it either. My SV gives me more thrills per mile than the Firestorm ever did.

[kwak zzr]

WOW 63miles on a tank thats bad.

[phil24_7]

When you say "absolutely empty", do ya mean you ran it out of fuel?!?

[markmoto]

Mine usualy did around 100mls to a tank, i have a mate who had a firestorm at the same time and he averaged around this figure and more depending on how he rode it! 68 seems very low even when thrashed! could it maybe have had a dynojet kit fitted?

[Warthog]

£177 insurance!? How did you manage that? I am on £168 TPFT for my sv, and got a quote of near £1000 for a firestorm fully comp!

[steveg]

£177 insurance!? How did you manage that? I am on £168 TPFT for my sv, and got a quote of near £1000 for a firestorm fully comp!

insurance quote was from ebike , I'm old (37) & have 4 years NCB , to be honest I thought it was cheap for the storm , I think they quoted 130 FC for the sv650

Cheers Steve

[fat_brstd]

try a tl as well before comitting to the storm. After my sv i wanted a bigger twin and rode a couple of firestorms an sp1 and an sp2 if i remember correctly and they didnt inspire me like the tl did. Very easy to ride but it just didnt feel that special + i didnt like the styling that much.