1000cc twins

[festus]

Not sure if a recall or advice to install steering damper in 98 ,surposely due to tank slappers ,mine had suzuki one on it took it off got into more trouble with it on , as for rotary damper I find its ok,might be due to me being a larger guy . Its the front end where i cannot get right ,bloody hard every bump feels worse than what it is .

Would reccommend running the TLS with the steering damper on dude, took mine off once to see what it was like, although nice around town, dangerous riding hard and you do not want to come down even slightly crossed up after pulling a mono.......

[Clivoris]

SV1000s on tardme can be found here. Seems cheap and might be worth a look?
Might have a bit of history by the look of it. That right exhaust can looks dodgy from the rear and I don't think that's an original paint job. Still...if it's cheap enough. You'ld definitely want to see it in the flesh though.

[festus]

Sounds like a bloody good machine...
I've cottoned on to a 2002 YZF1000R Thunderace, 23000k's mint cond.. An old favourite of mine and I had the little brother 600 Thundercat.
Due to my financial restraints I may go the four cylinder way as I'm not having any joy finding a fully faired Twin at the right price, mileage, condition etc.

May I ask why the half faired twins are no longer in favour (because of the wife?).........

[madandy]

SV1000s on tardme can be found here. Seems cheap and might be worth a look?
Might have a bit of history by the look of it. That right exhaust can looks dodgy from the rear and I don't think that's an original paint job. Still...if it's cheap enough. You'ld definitely want to see it in the flesh though.

Thanks Clivoris! Added to watch list
I'll ask a nearby KB'er to take a glance at it with me if I get serious on that one.

May I ask why the half faired twins are no longer in favour (because of the wife?).........

HAH! Yeah Nah! I meant the nakeds...I kinda threw the half faired bikes like the SVs in with the fully faired bikes ops: I'll happily take a SV1000s for the right money

Andy

[twister]

Have you test ridden a VTR yet? Suggest you do this as they're a beautifull bike to ride and plenty of power for the open road/touring, also great around town, well balanced and easy to maneuver thru traffic at slow speeds. For me this was an upgrade from a SV650S and its uncanny how close a ride it is but I'd have to rate the VTR a much easier and fun bike to ride. Sure the TL's and SV's may have a bit more grunt but depends how fast you really want to go (250+k or 265+k :P )

Only thing i don't like (but i'm getting used to) is the forward sloping seat.

[manyrevs]

Same here Twister,,

VTR is a great bike, not perfect but great... I was never a V-Twin fan (thanks to those cheater packs on WSB's) but getting back onto bikes about 8 months ago, I didn't want to get onto one of the inline 4 rocketships available so I decided on a tamer bike and I was going to get an SV1000K6 but I am so glad I got the VTR. Looking back at the SV, it doesn't have the same looks. The fairing looks more addon and now it really puts me off, although I would never say the VTR was a "better" bike. In performance I would say they are about the same on paper and its down to the rider to pick them up and make them go. The VTR needs a bit of setting up to make it far better than the off-the-floor bike you buy...
1. Slightly raise the forks (dropping the bike) by about 10mm to improve quick cornering...
2. Do the air filter mod to highly improve the low revs breathing. Man what a difference. Cut off the rib on the filter element and undo the slotted rib it slots into on the box. You will NEVER regret this mod...
3. Change the fork oil. Stops most bottoming out under quick suspension damping (Make sure you know what quick vs slow suspension is - Not always to do with bike speed as quick suspension damping can happen at very low speed, like a pothole or in my case even going over the gutter onto the driveway and having it bottom out at about 15kph). Better oil wont stop all of it, just a lot of it...
4. Make sure you set the damping/spring rate correctly in the front then the rear then match the front and rear. Don't be scared to wind up the damping and lower spring settings if you have to. Most people thing that you wind everything up to the max and that makes the bike better - WRONG...!!! Make the suspension work for you...

With those small mods, my VTR is a completely different bike from the one I bought back then. The only thing I haven't done is to really test it out on cornering ability, I have riddden right to the edge of the tyre tread and scuffed them up real good but it seems like you can lean them over confidently one hell of a lot more. I have no real need to go 'that' far...

The most notable thing about the VTR is that it loosens up with kms. The more kms on the clock, the better the engine performs. The first 1500 kms from new, were very disappointing. It just didn't have that low end grunt that large capacity V-Twins are known to have. It was gutless. Then I hit between 1800 - 2200 kms in one ride and the next time I rode it, "hold onto your hat cowboy", as it was another bike again. This trend has continued virtually up to its present 4500 kms on the clock now. It just keeps getting gruntier, and overtaking traffic is probably the easiest its ever been on any bike I have ever owned. Just twist that throttle and hang on. I'd say that between 100 and 200kph is pure grunt. That's about as fast as I have been so far but most of my faster riding is in those hills and short straights. The open road is for other types who can try to outrun police radar - Not me...!!!

[vifferman]

Has your VTR got standard gearing, manyrevs? If so (it will be doing about 2600rpm at 100km/h), the best thing you can do to it is lower the gearing. Cheapest option is to go to 15T on the front sprocket, but a 2 or 3 tooth larger rear sprocket is a better option. Either option will make it feel like a completely different bike.

On mine I went for the 15T, and also cut two links off the chain to shorten the wheelbase. Magic!

[imdying]

The most notable thing about the VTR is that it loosens up with kms. The more kms on the clock, the better the engine performs. The first 1500 kms from new, were very disappointing. It just didn't have that low end grunt that large capacity V-Twins are known to have. It was gutless. Then I hit between 1800 - 2200 kms in one ride and the next time I rode it, "hold onto your hat cowboy", as it was another bike again. This trend has continued virtually up to its present 4500 kms on the clock now. It just keeps getting gruntier

Ditto for the SV. Now at 5000kms and it has loosened up brilliantly.

Top end is trivial, there's a lot to be said for the paint finish of the VTR compared to the crap Suzuki have (barely) used.

[manyrevs]

I nearly bought the SV1000K6. I had the bucks in my hand and needed to spend but the guys at Colem**s Suzuki all but ignored me. Perhaps he thought I was kidding when I said I wanted to buy right here and now, so I turned nose up and walked out... It was only after that I saw a VTR and went for it. I must admit once I saw the VTR its looks grabbed me. Traditionally, I was a Suzuki man, never owned a Honda before but the VTR has sure enlightened me. I still have many respects for the SV though... In the hands of a good rider, they can get up and go like snot...

As far as the gearing goes, I have heard of the sprockets ratios playing a part in the performance of the VTR and have thought about it but I am not unhappy with its present performance, but it may be worth considering...

Cheers guys...

[imdying]

I'm considering going up 2 on the back or 1 down on the front. So it'll run out of puff not long after 200, that's fine by me Only concerned is if it'll make the driveline a little snatchy on and off the gas through tight twistys. Only one way to find out though.

If I was buying another right now, I'd buy another SV... the VTR must be about due for a major revamp, which'll probably rape the value of the older ones somewhat.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

I heard Honda isn't going to revamp the VTR as far as I know it will be just cosmetics and minor adjustments and tweaks (However I could be wrong so don't blow me up cause Iam... I most likely am) the theory don't fix want aint broke.

As far as I know they going more down the VFR lane

[gixermike]

Well, I picked up a second hand 2002 SP1 just before christmas, have only had a couple of rides really (rellies staying), but am more than happy with it. drinks fuel, hard on your wrists, but handles superb and pulls great out corners. feels pretty small really, even for someone with such a hobitton stature as myself.
just need a track to enjoy it properly.

[madandy]

Have you test ridden a VTR yet? Suggest you do this as they're a beautifull bike to ride and plenty of power for the open road/touring, also great around town, well balanced and easy to maneuver thru traffic at slow speeds. For me this was an upgrade from a SV650S and its uncanny how close a ride it is but I'd have to rate the VTR a much easier and fun bike to ride. Sure the TL's and SV's may have a bit more grunt but depends how fast you really want to go (250+k or 265+k :P )

Only thing i don't like (but i'm getting used to) is the forward sloping seat.

Yep. Rode a new red one...didn't like the gearchange or suspension-too limited in its adjustment. Felt well made and plenty grunty enough, just not my cuppa, pillion seat not adequate, plus neither me or my partner like it to look at compared to the SV or most other faired multis.

Well, I picked up a second hand 2002 SP1 just before christmas, have only had a couple of rides really (rellies staying), but am more than happy with it. drinks fuel, hard on your wrists, but handles superb and pulls great out corners. feels pretty small really, even for someone with such a hobitton stature as myself.
just need a track to enjoy it properly.

Yep, nice bike mate! Bit limited in range for me plus a bit too focused.
Hope you have a ball on yours this summer as soon as the rellies vacate

Andy