2003 VTR1000 Firestorm

[SpankMe]

<center><img src="http://www.hondampe.com.au/MPE/images_library/3767.jpg"></center>

Was down at Cyclespot Honda on the weekend and saw the new 2003 model. I really like the matt black colour and for $15,000, it's a bloody good price. It's only a couple of thousand more than the 2003 SV650s.

Me is feeling very tempted. :D

[Stormer]

Go for it !!!

Ride safe,
Stormer

[Neo]

Very Nice. Love the black.
When I get back to NZ next year I'll quickly be upgrading from my current learner 250. I know I should be sensible and go for an SV650s but with only 2 grand seperating them the Firestorm is so tempting, and that 1000 Twin sound in unbeatable.

[wari]

How much i'd get on a trade in ? ... hmmm.

[Will Beard]

:bigthumb: NICE :bigthumb: :done:

[Dude]

I bought my Firestorm about 9 months ago... when the new ones were still over 20K. Paid $14 500 for my '99 and a few months after they brought the price down and now I'm stuck with a bike that's worth wayyyy less than what I paid for it... that wasnt a really nice thing to do from Honda. Worst thing is, I bought it from Cycle Spot... bike was supposed to be in excellent condition, never smashed, never beaten up... YEA RIGHT! Found out later down the track that the bike had been completelly TRASHED by the previous owner (an employee of Cycle Spot) and everything was well hidden and covered up...

The bike goes well now (after 2K of repairs done to it...)

So go and buy a new VTR if you want one because it's a really good deal but, whatever you do, don't buy it from Cyclespot...

[Stormer]

Know what you mean.Got mine for $14000 with 1300kms up, and thought I got a great deal. Five or so months later, read in the magazines the new models are going for around $14995 !!
So rather than lose heaps on trading up, I feel that with a few mods (suspension, aftermarket pipes, screen, whatever), the earlier models are just as good as the new ones. The only thing the new VTR`s have is a bigger tank. Guess I`ll have to get used to looking for a gas station every 170 - 180 kms.

Ride Safe,
Stormer

[Nukles]

i have also dealt with CycleSpot and do not recomend them.

there is a good Honda dealer now and it's AMPS. and they also have a mate black one. and they have an SP-1 for spits over 16K which is a hell-of-a-deal. having bought my SP-1 for 22 500 i can safely say the ~16K is awsome

[Dude]

Stormer, Can you really do 180k's on a tank? I can barely do 160 riding really smoothly... :confused:

[Stormer]

Yeah. 180kms is about the best I`ve got. Thats around town, with some trips out on country back roads averaging 100kph. Usually get about 170kms, a bit less if giving it heaps.
Got some Yoshimura RS-3 stainless slipons with race baffles fitted. These are a big improvement over the standard pipes with cut out baffles setup it used to have.
Maybe thats part of the secret...

[Will Beard]

i like the vtr1000 and as you see i ride a cbr1000.
My wife and i rode to wellington for the acc protest ride.I dont know exactly the fuel tank size, but it is 220km from wanganui to johnsonville. another 14km each way to the beehive. i still did not hit reserve. the trip home next day saw $12.00 go in the tank @ $1.07 per ltr, rode to upperhutt to see the brother in law,then over the haywards back home. gauge was still reading 1/4 tank left on arrival. nice ride , good company ,no kids:bigthumb:

[Dude]

Yea I used to be able to do about 250 k's on a 13$ tank with my Hornet 600... little different with the Firestorm...

Stormer, I've got a set of 2 Bro's on it but I know someone with original exhaust and he can only get about the same mileage as me on a tank... oh well... doesnt really matter... still cheaper to run than a V8 ;)

[Stormer]

.... and they sound just as awsome !!!

[festus]

Hey Will,
Good to run into you a couple of weeks back. Can now put a face to your comments.
I went on the ACC Levie ride too, and did not fuel up till on the way back to Wanganui from parliment in Johnsonville, so the TLS gets a solid 220-240ks if your figures are correct.
The TL1000S rules!.

[Gixxer]

I do not recommend Cyclespot, I think it has something to do with there prices for 2nd hand bikes being so high, and the fact that my mate has brought all of his bikes from them, and the only thing they do for a loyal customer is rip him off on his trade in and give him a free CMS helmet.

Choice one guys, thats the way to get more bikers on the road.

[Hoon]

My 97 TLS would only give me 180kms on a full tank at the most. However I looped it last month and killed it.

Now I'm on the lookout for a 98-99 CBR900 Fireblade but damn a brand new Firestorm is very tempting!!!...gotta love those V-twins!!!

[p0stal]

What are the pros/cons of a V-twin vs a straight 4?

[bluninja]

Generally inline 4's produce more power than the same capacity twin (V, parallel, or opposed). However twins generally have better spread of torque meaning your gear selection is less critical than on the same capacity inline 4. Bored yet ?

Also a twin has 2 power pulses per 720 degree cycle as opposed to 4, so your rear tyre tends to grip better on drive (slips on the pulse, has longer to recover before the next one) but is harder wearing on your tyre. Twins also tend to have better engine braking.

Add to that a narrower profile (bike not rider:D ) on a V twin than an inline 4 and top speeds and acceleration aren't as far apart as the power figures suggest.

Oh...and did I say the sound of a V twin is much sexier than an inline 4 ?

TTFN

[p0stal]

Thanks, a damn fine explanation, that clears it up heaps! :D

[wkid_one]

Spankme.,

I have the 2000 model and they rock. Not massive on power compared to the GSXR/R1/Fireblades - but a lot of fun......and a lot more useable power....who needs 140+ hp on the roads anywho.

I ride with KiwiDan, so you're welcome to take it for a long ride, just drop me a line.....before we ride next - are you going to Paeroa? as if you are - we can do a swap for the ride down.

Would recommend braided lines from the Greenlane Speed Shop - only about $120, as the VTR tends to have spongy front brakes. Other than this they stomp with good low down torque, friendly riding position etc.

Very easy to ride especially as you are already used to the Vtwin from the SV.....

Dan

[SpankMe]

Thanks for the offer wkid_one, but I didn't read your post until today :o otherwise I would have taken you up on the offer. What year is yours <img src ="/forums/images/icons/icon5.gif">

I went down to cyclespot today and they gave me a '99 model for a demo. Very nice. Not as powerful as I though it might be, but still plenty of grunt.

At this point I'm still deciding between the VTR1000 and the SV1000 which arrives at the end of the month.

[What?]

I saw the new SV1000 at Paeroa - looked nice, too. At least, until I looked closely. The bodywork looks cheap and nasty on close inspection, especially around the seat area where it is not hard to imagine breakeages occurring. :(

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[SpankMe]

Took the 2003 VTR1000f out for a demo the other day. Was not overly impressed with the bike. Not very responsive and not as much “fun” to ride as my SV. It also doesn’t sound like a V-Twin with the standard pipes.

I now looking forward to riding the SV1000s in mid April.

[SpankMe]

Has anyone done any performance mods to their VTR? I would be interested to hear the results.