You only get 1 mod.....
You only get 1 mod.....
While out messing with my bike, now that I actually feel like a human again....lol
I came up with this question.... and figured it might be helpful to someone new to this bike.
If you had a completely stock VTR, with the exception of having the suspension set up for the correct rider weight to keep things fair as that is or should always be the first thing done to any bike.
So with this stock bike you were only allowed to do one modification, what would it be?
For me the answer would be add a fork brace. Yes a full suspension swap is better but it is more than one thing.
IMHO the weakest part of a stock VTR is the lower triple clamp. The forks actually are not that bad, but then I'm old and remember 35mm forks
Because the lower triple is made of cheese, again IMHO, this is a bike that really benefits from adding a brace and is noticeable not only in improved suspension action but also in much improved braking
So you get a lot of improvement for a small investment
I came up with this question.... and figured it might be helpful to someone new to this bike.
If you had a completely stock VTR, with the exception of having the suspension set up for the correct rider weight to keep things fair as that is or should always be the first thing done to any bike.
So with this stock bike you were only allowed to do one modification, what would it be?
For me the answer would be add a fork brace. Yes a full suspension swap is better but it is more than one thing.
IMHO the weakest part of a stock VTR is the lower triple clamp. The forks actually are not that bad, but then I'm old and remember 35mm forks
Because the lower triple is made of cheese, again IMHO, this is a bike that really benefits from adding a brace and is noticeable not only in improved suspension action but also in much improved braking
So you get a lot of improvement for a small investment
Loud pipes don't save lives, knowing how to ride your bike will save your life.
Re: You only get 1 mod.....
Manual tensioners.
Not much good if the engine is wrecked.
Not much good if the engine is wrecked.
It may be that your whole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
VTR Firestorm and other bikes t-shirts
VTR Firestorm and other bikes t-shirts
Re: You only get 1 mod.....
So after the suspension had been sorted (I agree one of the best mods you can do for the VTR, that mod transforms the bike) and the CCT's and rectifier taken care of, I'd most likely go for a set of after market cans so the engine can breath properly, and to let that great sound out
Chris.
Chris.
- alanfjones1411
- Posts: 2797
- Joined: Thu May 21, 2015 3:33 pm
- Location: watford
Re: You only get 1 mod.....
+1Wicky wrote:Manual tensioners.
Not much good if the engine is wrecked.
SO WHEN DOES THIS OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER KICK IN
Re: You only get 1 mod.....
So you're saying that on a brand new bike you would change tensioners? I guess I was unclear but this is on a brand new untouched bike.....you know just for fun.Wicky wrote:Manual tensioners.
Not much good if the engine is wrecked.
Auto CCTs can work fine if looked after, which means when you buy a used bike they need to be changed right away. Which ones you run are up to you though I did run Auto CCTs for a bit over 100K miles but that is another topic.
I do have a set of manuals now but that is because I had a set at hand not because I don't trust the auto units.
With that I'll stick with my original answer.
Loud pipes don't save lives, knowing how to ride your bike will save your life.
Re: You only get 1 mod.....
A nice set of cans so i can hear it coming outa 3rd gear corners
the older i get,the faster i was
- TheGingerBeardMan
- Posts: 977
- Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2014 8:30 pm
- Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Re: You only get 1 mod.....
First thing I'd do with a brand new storm is put decent tyres on it.
If it ain't broken...f*ck about with it until it is.
TAX: 1st March 2017
MOT: 16th March 2017
INS: 14th March 2017
TAX: 1st March 2017
MOT: 16th March 2017
INS: 14th March 2017
Re: You only get 1 mod.....
8541Hawk wrote:So you're saying that on a brand new bike you would change tensioners? I guess I was unclear but this is on a brand new untouched bike.....you know just for fun.Wicky wrote:Manual tensioners.
Not much good if the engine is wrecked.
Auto CCTs can work fine if looked after, which means when you buy a used bike they need to be changed right away.
dreaded cct after 48hr ownership :-( > http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... 23&t=33856Approx 2 hrs in I hear a noise similar to a bag of spanners. Switched bike off came to a stop. Deciding it was best to get it home . After a few hours wait it's loaded up and taken home .
thinking I'll have a look to see what the problem is. .
The dreaded cct let go bending all 4 valves and bending 2 valve guides aswel as killing the piston .These were changed for oem honda auto tensioners only 4 months ago prior to ownership 800 miles ago .
It may be that your whole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
VTR Firestorm and other bikes t-shirts
VTR Firestorm and other bikes t-shirts
- TheGingerBeardMan
- Posts: 977
- Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2014 8:30 pm
- Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Re: You only get 1 mod.....
Y'know....I've had another think about this. I'd STILL stick with the 1st mod being a set of tyres though.
But, I'm really hard pushed to think of anything else I'd do to the VTR (if I collected it out of the showroom with 0 miles on it). Even if I knew other owners that had Storms before I bought mine, and they hit me with different things to change 1st....
When I got the VTR at first, I knew nothing about their quirks and foibles, their achiles heals, or their tendency to self destruct. (I just saw one brand new in a bike shop 17 years ago. He fired it up, and then it was: One day, I MUST have one of these). Mine was not new though, and took me MANY years before I got one. But, having ridden not even 50 miles after getting it, the first thing I wasn't happy with was the previous owners choice of tyres - so, I changed them. Then the whole bike changed for me because of fitting better rubber.
So erm, it's still the choice of rubber for me.
But, I'm really hard pushed to think of anything else I'd do to the VTR (if I collected it out of the showroom with 0 miles on it). Even if I knew other owners that had Storms before I bought mine, and they hit me with different things to change 1st....
When I got the VTR at first, I knew nothing about their quirks and foibles, their achiles heals, or their tendency to self destruct. (I just saw one brand new in a bike shop 17 years ago. He fired it up, and then it was: One day, I MUST have one of these). Mine was not new though, and took me MANY years before I got one. But, having ridden not even 50 miles after getting it, the first thing I wasn't happy with was the previous owners choice of tyres - so, I changed them. Then the whole bike changed for me because of fitting better rubber.
So erm, it's still the choice of rubber for me.
If it ain't broken...f*ck about with it until it is.
TAX: 1st March 2017
MOT: 16th March 2017
INS: 14th March 2017
TAX: 1st March 2017
MOT: 16th March 2017
INS: 14th March 2017
Re: You only get 1 mod.....
A set of cans you can't beat that distinctive sound
I drink beer like my bike drinks petrol
- lloydie
- Posts: 20921
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:16 pm
- Location: In the garage somewhere in Coventry
Re: You only get 1 mod.....
I couldn't do just one to a Vtr !
Rsv front end /rear shock.
Stopper mod ,
Tyres ,
Race shift,
Baffelectomy,
That would do me
Rsv front end /rear shock.
Stopper mod ,
Tyres ,
Race shift,
Baffelectomy,
That would do me
Re: You only get 1 mod.....
[quote="Wicky"
dreaded cct after 48hr ownership :-( > http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... 23&t=33856[/quote]
Now was that 48hrs from new or new to them? You know the first 5-6 years these bikes were out you never heard a word about CCTs.
You guys make it sound like they were just letting go left and right from day one..... sorry but that is not the case.
If you also reread what I stated I also said they should be changed on a new to you bike.....
As for the tires the bikes came with....yeah they were iffy at best
dreaded cct after 48hr ownership :-( > http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... 23&t=33856[/quote]
Now was that 48hrs from new or new to them? You know the first 5-6 years these bikes were out you never heard a word about CCTs.
You guys make it sound like they were just letting go left and right from day one..... sorry but that is not the case.
If you also reread what I stated I also said they should be changed on a new to you bike.....
As for the tires the bikes came with....yeah they were iffy at best
Loud pipes don't save lives, knowing how to ride your bike will save your life.
- agentpineapple
- Posts: 15124
- Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2011 9:16 pm
Re: You only get 1 mod.....
of all the mods I've done to my bike, the single biggest difference made, was having the forks rogered, transforms how the bike handles...
HEY YOU GUYS!!!!!!
Re: You only get 1 mod.....
RSV shock? mmmmmm year,how easy,whats required? iv not heard that one before and hate to miss an excuse to buy shiny things lollloydie wrote:I couldn't do just one to a Vtr !
Rsv front end /rear shock.
Stopper mod ,
Tyres ,
Race shift,
Baffelectomy,
That would do me
the older i get,the faster i was
Re: You only get 1 mod.....
So new auto tensioners failing after 800 miles is reasonable....8541Hawk wrote:
Now was that 48hrs from new or new to them? You know the first 5-6 years these bikes were out you never heard a word about CCTs.
You guys make it sound like they were just letting go left and right from day one..... sorry but that is not the case.
If you also reread what I stated I also said they should be changed on a new to you bike.....
As for the tires the bikes came with....yeah they were iffy at best
This forum dates from 2002 and looking backYou know the first 5-6 years these bikes were out you never heard a word about CCTs.
firestorm_al wrote: (Thu Oct 10, 2002 1:48 pm) Just want to know if any one else has had cam chain tensioner problems. If so have you had the fike fixed under warranty.
Or ... if the bike was out of warranty did you get any money out of Honda for the repairs??
Al.
So at an early stage when on the bell curve of occurances of CCT failure it was becoming very apparent there was a problem, necessitating either getting it fixted in the warranty period, or outside of warranty. Hence culminating sometime before 2003 a petition to Honda asking them to officially recognise and address CCT failure issues.
Tensioners and Mr Honda > Sept 2003 http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... ers+letter
https://web.archive.org/web/20030423083 ... letter.htmHonda of America, 1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746
Chairman and Representative Director, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Yoshihide Munekuni
President Koichi Amemiya
CFO Shinichi Sakamoto
Honda of the UK, 470 London Road Slough Berkshire SL3 8QY
Honda Motorcycle Japan
Thanks, Jim Stinnett
VTR Superhawk Internet Mailing List
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Subscribed by many VTR Owners World Wide
Dear Honda of America, Honda of the United Kingdom, Honda of Canada, Honda Motorcycle of Japan
Honda of America, 1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746
Chairman and Representative Director, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Yoshihide Munekuni
President Koichi Amemiya
CFO Shinichi Sakamoto
Honda of the UK, 470 London Road Slough Berkshire SL3 8QY
Honda Motorcycle Japan
We are an online fellowship of Honda Superhawk and Honda Firestorm ( VTR1000F) owners who have been exchanging information and ideas over the Internet since the Superhawk first became available.
Over the years the overall impression of this motorcycle is that we love it. The great reputation and superb quality of build is mostly what drew us to this fine machine. Most of us have gotten great satisfaction from our Superhawks for the duration of ownership and so it is with a great deal of respect that we ask Honda to be honest and forthright in answering a nagging and disturbing question that has come up over and over again in our discussions.
Many of us have reported various mechanical failures of the cam chain tensioner and adjacent components. In fact there have been reports of this particular problem circulating for a few years now. Evidence in the form of actual repair orders are available to verify this phenomena if there is any question as to the validity of this question.
Some owners have been lucky to still be under warranty when these failures occurred but others were not so lucky and have incurred catastrophic valve train damage as a result of these failures. There are more owners who have had cam chains, tensioners, and tensioner adjusters replaced after noticing the sounds of impending mechanical failure. These sounds are variously described as tapping, slapping, grinding and rapping noises emanating from the upper engine and valve train.
Our question to Honda is this: Since it is a known fact that many of the Superhawks, and Firestorms built between 1997 to date have had cam chain tensioner, cam chain tensioner adjuster and cam chain failures, why hasn’t Honda simply offered to replace these defective parts before someone gets injured or killed due to the failure of one of these parts.
Please reply to VTR Superhawk Internet Mailing List, C/O Jim Stinnett 1008 Cole Street, San Francisco, CA 94117 and or VTR Superhawk Internet Mailing List , Attn: "Cam Chain Tensioner" Issue Interested Parties at moto-rama@mindspring.com
Signed
....
see at link names of VTR owners worldwide
Last edited by Wicky on Sat Jan 28, 2017 10:06 am, edited 3 times in total.
It may be that your whole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
VTR Firestorm and other bikes t-shirts
VTR Firestorm and other bikes t-shirts