Honda VTR1000 Firestorm, what are they like?

[STRAMASHER]

I had a black used R reg for 36k till 2002.

Bloody loved it. Went from a 44bhp Bros to it. Commuted, hooned and toured. SV was not out then and when it did come out it was not any better. TL's were fat and fell apart, the Italians spontaneously combusted.


Check for "oval" head-bearings cos they can power wheelie like feck.

Check paint finish on subframe (flakes off) and forks (same). (Sound familiar?)

They are thirsty on fuel, eat rear tyres, and heavy on C&Sprockets depending how often you get happy on the throttle, but cheap as chips to buy.

I had the small 16litre tank , low barred, gold calipered ,non-weird clock early version.

Cop friendly as it does not sound like you are doing a million miles an hour like a il4.

On the road my mates on their 600's ate dust apart from on the longest straights. Lovely thudding big bike grunt out the corners. (They went and got 750's and a Blade, still no class! )

Needs cans, blows budget stuff to pieces (I had renegade hi-levels, mate had remus and another yoshi. Mine were always getting repaired for one thing or another, theirs were not and sounded better too.) Sounds like a sewing machine with the OE cans,(like every twin).

Huge carbs, so it spits flame and does terrific back fires. Lovely smooth throttle at any rev/opening combination, so easy to ride.

Fine for comfort two up for the odd weekend away with gear.

Started on the button everyday. Never broke down. (Mate had a problem with the camchain tightener if i remember and it dropped a valve, have a listen after its warm for a noisy topend)

Its not covered in plastic. Its not a racetrack refugee, its a road bike. Vtwin thin. Typical big Vtwin "top heavy" handling.

Lazy roll-on or sit it in the midrange and wind on to really punt out of turns (and occasionaly you out the seat if you are not being respectful enough on the throttle.Oops.)

See if you can get a test ride, out onto the open road, and wind on through third and have a look at the speedo. You are going twice as fast as you thought! Big lazy fun. Every gear is the right gear.

A lot of boom, boom for your buck.

[Mej]

Originally Posted by STRAMASHER

I had a black used R reg for 36k till 2002.

Bloody loved it. Went from a 44bhp Bros to it. Commuted, hooned and toured. SV was not out then and when it did come out it was not any better. TL's were fat and fell apart, the Italians spontaneously combusted.


Check for "oval" head-bearings cos they can power wheelie like feck.

Check paint finish on subframe (flakes off) and forks (same). (Sound familiar?)

They are thirsty on fuel, eat rear tyres, and heavy on C&Sprockets depending how often you get happy on the throttle, but cheap as chips to buy.

I had the small 16litre tank , low barred, gold calipered ,non-weird clock early version.

Cop friendly as it does not sound like you are doing a million miles an hour like a il4.

On the road my mates on their 600's ate dust apart from on the longest straights. Lovely thudding big bike grunt out the corners. (They went and got 750's and a Blade, still no class! )

Needs cans, blows budget stuff to pieces (I had renegade hi-levels, mate had remus and another yoshi. Mine were always getting repaired for one thing or another, theirs were not and sounded better too.) Sounds like a sewing machine with the OE cans,(like every twin).

Huge carbs, so it spits flame and does terrific back fires. Lovely smooth throttle at any rev/opening combination, so easy to ride.

Fine for comfort two up for the odd weekend away with gear.

Started on the button everyday. Never broke down. (Mate had a problem with the camchain tightener if i remember and it dropped a valve, have a listen after its warm for a noisy topend)

Its not covered in plastic. Its not a racetrack refugee, its a road bike. Vtwin thin. Typical big Vtwin "top heavy" handling.

Lazy roll-on or sit it in the midrange and wind on to really punt out of turns (and occasionaly you out the seat if you are not being respectful enough on the throttle.Oops.)

See if you can get a test ride, out onto the open road, and wind on through third and have a look at the speedo. You are going twice as fast as you thought! Big lazy fun. Every gear is the right gear.

A lot of boom, boom for your buck.

Cheers mate very detailed.

There is just something about twins, probably the noise!

My mother's partner, who I ride with sometimes, has one in camel colours. He's been through a fair few bikes in the past, Fazer's, CBRs etc. He seems to like it alot - only complaint he had was the front end, so he's had a fork rebuild with better spings put it. It does seem very fast to me, and he manages to do power wheelies when going along at about 40...something which I can't remotely do on the SV!

I wouldn't bother mate. You'll double the power once you lose the restriction. Think of what you could afford if you saved for an extra year, never mind the insurance!

he's totally right. You're gonna go from a gutless wheezy restricted bike to something with over double the power. You'll be grinning like a cheshire cat. SV's are great. Add some sticky tyres instead and have fun on it for a year.

[Mej]

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

I wouldn't bother mate. You'll double the power once you lose the restriction. Think of what you could afford if you saved for an extra year, never mind the insurance!

Thats very true, if i waited until Dec 11 i would be able to get insured on pretty much any bike, plus i can keep saving.

I do love my SV, the restriction annoys me though.

PATIENCE!!!!

Originally Posted by Jackie_Black

You're gonna go from a gutless wheezy restricted bike to something with over double the power

Have you rode a restricted bike?

J2UK - I can't echo the advice enough about keeping the SV for a while. The SV is a great learner bike some say. IMO with the right mods it is a great bike full stop, yes they are a little lacking in top speed, be honest, how many people often get up to 160 on the road?

However it doesn't stop me wanting bikes like the Firestorm etc.

[steveg]

I really liked the firestorm when I test rode one .
Amazed how fast I was going without trying ....

Trouble is I do a lot of commuting miles , so MPG put me off .

If I could use one as a fun bike / or had made more cash would have got one.

cheers Steve

Originally Posted by steveg

I really liked the firestorm when I test rode one .
Amazed how fast I was going without trying ....

Trouble is I do a lot of commuting miles , so MPG put me off .

If I could use one as a fun bike / or had made more cash would have got one.

cheers Steve

Steve - Comparison towards SV mate? Handling brakes etc. I assume much better on all counts?

[Mej]

Originally Posted by plowsie

Have you rode a restricted bike?

J2UK - I can't echo the advice enough about keeping the SV for a while. The SV is a great learner bike some say. IMO with the right mods it is a great bike full stop, yes they are a little lacking in top speed, be honest, how many people often get up to 160 on the road?

However it doesn't stop me wanting bikes like the Firestorm etc.

Same as me, although i know i have to keep the SV for a while i am always thinking about my next bike.

In an ideal world i probably wouldnt sell the SV, and keep that as well as another.

What do you reckon on the mod front, i have been thinkin about the forks but it seems expensive for what it is, i doubt i could do it myself.