Firestorm and fuel?

[slofox]

The SV is more modern, better tech. The brakes are better, the engine is better, the suspension is better (although that's not saying much!).

If you have a hankering for a bigger twin, get the SV1000. While not perfect, it's still ahead of the VTR.
The 650 however, with the suspension done properly is great fun...

I'd prolly stick with the 650 rather than swap to the SV thou...

I've done the front suspension on the 650 - emulator kit etc - but not the back - yet. If I hold onto it much longer that will be next. Two Bros can is nice as well - it does use a little more gas with this can on it but still very economical.

Have to say I love the SVS...compact, very flickable, nice weight and inherently stable (see my thread re diesel spill earlier this week...). Totally trouble free so far...touch wood. Be hard to match. But dreams are free, hey?

[Elysium]

If you're concerened about fuel economy then don't buy the VTR. It was never really designed with fuel efficiancy in mind. Though the VTR is still better then the SV1000, the SV is just horrible from the front plus side radiators just look mint on the VTR.

If you want to compare engines then you should compare the TL1000 to the VTR1000 as the SV1000 engine lost its appeal when Suzuki played around with it.

[Devil]

I'd prolly stick with the 650 rather than swap to the SV thou...

I've done the front suspension on the 650 - emulator kit etc - but not the back - yet. If I hold onto it much longer that will be next. Two Bros can is nice as well - it does use a little more gas with this can on it but still very economical.

Have to say I love the SVS...compact, very flickable, nice weight and inherently stable (see my thread re diesel spill earlier this week...). Totally trouble free so far...touch wood. Be hard to match. But dreams are free, hey?

Used to have an sv650 road/track bike with the emulators up front and ohlins rear and it was fantastic. Drop 1t on the front sprocket and get the fuelling sorted and they're great.
You should be able to get the fuel consumption fixed by whatever dealer has a yoshi box. TripleZ dyno fullas might be able to help you there.

[slofox]

Used to have an sv650 road/track bike with the emulators up front and ohlins rear and it was fantastic. Drop 1t on the front sprocket and get the fuelling sorted and they're great.
You should be able to get the fuel consumption fixed by whatever dealer has a yoshi box. TripleZ dyno fullas might be able to help you there.

Thanks Devil...

[Stormer]

The VTR ain`t perfect, but then what bike in that price range is????
I liked mine when I had it, and who gives a shit about fuel consumption...when the fuel light goes on, fill the thing back up.
You just have to be aware of the range (or lack of on mine,a 2000 model), and plan your ride around it.
There`s some good VTR sites around with lots of good pointers.

[R-Soul]

I dont care about consumption -its a BLAST!! Very rarely have I got off my bike withot a shit eating grin...
If you can get one with aftermarket pipes. Even the half fairing provides good weather protection, and its great for commuting- point and squirt...

[geoffc]

Had the pre 2001 model & have currently 2004 VTR1000F. Get better fuel economy from 2004 (they tuned them better after 2001) and have the bigger tank, 19 L as well. Recently did a fuel check on a trip & got 260kms averaging 110 k/hr with 1 1/2 L still in the tank. Got to be happy with that. Good machine & would recommend as a one-up tourer and fun bike. Cheers

[CookMySock]

I 'm baffled why there is such a massive difference between a 1000cc vtwin and a 650cc vtwin.

The thou is about the most UNeconomical bike there is, and the 650 is totally the opposite. My 79hp 650 does around 4.4 l/100k, 23k/l, or something around 60+mpg. How can there be such a huge difference?

Steve

[R-Soul]

I 'm baffled why there is such a massive difference between a 1000cc vtwin and a 650cc vtwin.

The thou is about the most UNeconomical bike there is, and the 650 is totally the opposite. My 79hp 650 does around 4.4 l/100k, 23k/l, or something around 60+mpg. How can there be such a huge difference?

Steve

I dont think its just the engine size thats the difference.

The VTR has the biggest (48mm) carbs Honda have ever put on a bike. 'Nuff said.
Actually the fact that they are carbs says enough.
Yours probably has fuel injection?
Remember this is pretty old technology and has not been updated much in 12 years...

My bike gets 7.5 to 8.5 litres per 100km. If I play nicely....
If I don't it can get uglier - but the play becomes HUGE fun.

[PeteJ]

OK, Ladies. My '06 VTR's fuel warning light comes on closely +/- 200km on the street. When I fill it from there, it takes 14l (19l tank). Doesn't seem to matter a lot what speed I'm averaging, though it does use a bit more around town.

At trackdays/instructing (2 of of us instructors at AMCC ART days use VTRs for that), the fuel consumption is easily twice as much.

As a comparison, I have a Varadero (same motor, injected, in a much bulkier bike). Fuel consumption is somewhat better than the VTR's, and with its 25l tank I usually hit 350km+ before the fuel light comes on.

On the topic of SV650s - my son had one for quite a while. A beautiful bike, and I understand that as a model it doesn't have anything like the warranty claims record of the SV1000s.

[Hiflyer]

On the topic of SV650s - my son had one for quite a while. A beautiful bike, and I understand that as a model it doesn't have anything like the warranty claims record of the SV1000s.

What do you mean? the SV650 has more or less warranty claims?

BTW, still keeping it on topic, (Kinda) how does the VTR thou's economy compare to an inline 4's economy? say any given thou from the big Jappa manufacturers?

[MaxB]

I dont think its just the engine size thats the difference.

The VTR has the biggest (48mm) carbs Honda have ever put on a bike. 'Nuff said.
Actually the fact that they are carbs says enough.
Yours probably has fuel injection?
Remember this is pretty old technology and has not been updated much in 12 years...

My bike gets 7.5 to 8.5 litres per 100km. If I play nicely....
If I don't it can get uglier - but the play becomes HUGE fun.

The really wierd thing is that there are models that are more economical with carbies the their injected cousins. I'm thinking of R1s and Firebleades for example. Used to ride with a ZX14 and it was always using more fuel than mine even when we swapped rides.

[banditrider]

What do you mean? the SV650 has more or less warranty claims?

BTW, still keeping it on topic, (Kinda) how does the VTR thou's economy compare to an inline 4's economy? say any given thou from the big Jappa manufacturers?

I can't really compare the VTR to a hot sports 1,000cc 4 but remember they're putting out at least 50hp more than a VTR - horsepower is never free.

Comparing the VTR to my 1352cc inline 4 - the Kwaka is far more economical. It's pulling 2,900rpm at 100k's whereas the VTR is about 3,500. The VTR's economy is usually in the 6-7L per 100km whereas the Connie sits at about 5.7L per 100km. As another poster says the Honda is a far more dated design - big carbs vs injection and V-tec. I love both of them - the Honda is a blast to thrash about on!

[BuzzardNZ]

The SV is more modern, better tech. The brakes are better, the engine is better, the suspension is better (although that's not saying much!).

If you have a hankering for a bigger twin, get the SV1000. While not perfect, it's still ahead of the VTR.
The 650 however, with the suspension done properly is great fun...

I agree, when I was looking for a 1000 V twin, I took both the SV and the Firestorm out. While the Honda felt and looked a bit dated, the SV felt more nimble. Both have horrible fuel economy. The SV is fuel injected, while the VTR has carbs. I have modded the hell out of my bike, and even in a stock state was faster than the honda.

[CookMySock]

Yours probably has fuel injection?
Remember this is pretty old technology and has not been updated much in 12 years...

No mate, mines carbed, and if I mistreat it, it doesn't get much worse.

I refilled (completely) and rode to taupo (1 hr 45min, 153 km) and did 4 (or was it 5) sessions caning the ring off of it, and the tacho touched 280km. Fuel fill after that was 16.5L

It makes no sense. Even my mrs 650 vtwin is jetted so if you squirt the throttle it'll blow a big cloud of black soot, and it STILL doesn't use much more fuel than mine. Weird.

Steve