VTR Tender Loving Care

[TUG]

Hey thought i'd show a bit of progress of ownership and mods while i own this awesome bike, seriously, i love this thing!
Unfortunatly somewhere down the line it was crashed and fixed etc but has since been neglected.
I plan on keeping this bike to be honest and losts of things keep popping up on my mind to play with etc like a single sided swing arm, and a front fairing with ducati or endurance style headlight along with engine mods (bigger cc or turbo?).
Anyway, start in an open area!
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0082.jpg
NOM! NOM! NOM!
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0081.jpg
Tank up! This was to allow access to the carbs for removal and front and rear cylinder heads.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0083.jpg
Don't forget to turn your fuel tap off when removing the tank! (I didn't get chance to remove mine yet)
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0084.jpg
Remove your airbox lid to reveal your air filter.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0086.jpg
Store your screws like so, they will be safe and you will remember better where they belong.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0085.jpg
Remove your air filter, if its a K&N hold upto the light to see if its blocked or not, if its standard, it will be black-ish, you CAN blow it out with an air line, but its better to replace, trust me.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0088.jpg
Then you will have the lower portion of the airbox.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0090.jpg
You need to remove these stacks on my bike to get to the screws holding the box onto the carbs.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0091.jpg
These arrows show the correct arrangement of said stacks.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0093.jpg
Remove the 2 screws and remove the stack.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0095.jpg
Then you should have this. Air induction floor!
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0097.jpg
Slowly your screws should be building up, keep them in groups and you shouldn't get mixed up, tbh you should get a piece of paper and write where they are from.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0098.jpg
These help! ALOT!
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0099.jpg
Heres the carbs, quite compared to what i'm used to.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0100.jpg
I undid the plastic cover, someone already cut holes into it to fit a screw driver it looks like.
https://s907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/?action=view¤t=DSCF0102.jpg
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0106.jpg
Whilst out with Jay Recoil aka The Gentleman Coder, my throttle came loose, in panic we set off home due to fear of cable snapping, turns out it was this.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0108.jpg
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0111.jpg
Well due to lack of light and tools pissing me off i left the carbs loose, this will help me when i come to remove them fully, but i need to drain my coolant before i venture further.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0113.jpg
Stay tuned sports fans, to do list as follows:-
Dyno jet kit,
Valve clearances,
Timing,
Coolant bottle clean,
Replace coolant,
Spray rads black,

To save up for list:-
Braided lines all round,
Powder coat everything thats been polished,
Ducati stlye lights?

Thanks for looking!
____________________
Haz ER-5, innit!

[400bandit]

Wicked bike arn't they? A hello of a lot of bike for the money. If you want to get into tuning it have a look on the superhawk forum, theres a guy on there that has gone down a the turbo route (with FI etc). There are some very knowledgeable people on there. A while back there was a group buy of these special velocity stacks which were supposed to make a fair bit of difference. SP2 and 929/954 calipers fit and are supposed to make a big difference, that was my onl gripe about the bike, the brakes weren't great.

All the best, Joe

(p.s. the carbs are a bugger to get back on, I found it best to twist them on, you cannot push them straight on)
____________________
Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[instigator]

I've had two firestorms and they are indeed fantastic machines. G would come along and knock them for not having enough BHP, soft suspension and that an equivelant aged fireblade is a much better buy but dinnae listen to him. They're a very smooth, comfortable ride and with well enough power for most riders.

Other than the pants tank range, I have no real reason why I got rid of the firestorms that I had.

If you don't know the bike's service history and do indeed plan to keep it for a while, as a precautionary measure, I'd put the replacement of both cam chain tensioners as your first 'To-Do' as they tend to have a lifespan of 15-20k and when they go....well....goodbye engine.

[TUG]

I'm well aware of the CCT's but its always the front ones that go. To stop it you can fit a manual CCT or just put a longer bolt in as a plunger to keep it under tension.
I'm nipping out in a bit to get some feeler gauges and some black paint for my rads.
____________________
Haz ER-5, innit!

[ms51ves3]

Who owns the orange Beetle?

[TUG]

[ms51ves3]

[TUG]

Well i was correct anyway, he did take it to work would anyone want some pictures? or shall i just MSN them to chives lol.
Anyway, got some feeler gauges, satin black hammerite paint for the rads.
Its TIT SUNDAY, babes everywhere, its hard pedaling with a raging boner!
____________________
Haz ER-5, innit!

[MaybeGuy]

i bet you regret those wanky tattoos. I had some like that when i was about 6. they came from bubblegum wrappers.
____________________
Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!!
Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith

[TUG]

[TUG]

I've been doing much more work, but not enough time to write it all up, will do tommorow at some point with plenty of pics.
Front cylinder cams are out, and all the clearances measured up, i just need to measure my shims and see if i can fix that.
I've rubbed down a bracket and quarter of a rad lol.
Its pretty time consuming as i've not done it before so fingers crossed.
____________________
Haz ER-5, innit!

[TUG]

Ok, heres the 2 previous days worth of write up.
Well when i retired the bike was bearly stripped so i started to remove the tank as it was genuinly pissing me off being in the way.
I undid the centre pin/hinge and removed the fuel pipes etc, as i'd previously turned the fuel off all was fine no spills.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0114.jpg
I just thought i'd show the beetle for anyone who's into them, not mine though.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0115.jpg
Now to Remove all the front fairing, its simple to do, remove the mirrors, then remove the 4 fairing screws and then under the Rads there will be 2 plastic clips, remove them too.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0116.jpg
Then remove, the headlight assy will come with it, be careful not to flex it too much or you'll snap it, but trust me, theres 2 screws under the front section you can remove for move room.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0118.jpg
You should be left with this now.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0117.jpg
Now for the carbs to be removed. The carbs are heated, so full of coolant, i undid the bolt at the front of the bike under the front cylinders exhaust, you'll see it. It very stupidly placed imo.
Remove the bolt, it will drip once or twice before air lock. Put a nice big catch tray under the front, the spread of the coolant is stupid, it will hit your front wheel when you remove the radiator cap. Once all done you can remove the carbs without fear.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0119.jpg
Heres the carbs.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0120.jpg
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0123.jpg
Get that top off love!
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0124.jpg
Remove the 4 10mm bolts and carefully remove the cam cover.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0125.jpg
You dont need to replace the gasket unless its broken or cracking or severly damaged, smear some silicone (a thin thin layer) on it to reseal should you be scared. Make sure the sealing lips are clean on re-installation.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0126.jpg
To get the front off is a bit more tricky, First you need to remove the radiators, and the pipes. I was going to do this anyway as i wanted to spray them and the HT lead holder with the fairing brackets as they were getting all brown and furry.
So left one first.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0128.jpg
For the right hand one you just need to remove some wires and it will pull right off. TOP TIP: hoses get tight on Rads, to get them off easy, get the hose off slightly using a screw driver, and spray some wd-40 in and move it around slightly, the more care you employ the less damage you will do to the pipe and 'Rad spout.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0129.jpg
So here you go, this is what it should look like now.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0130.jpg
You need to undo the Oil cooler and lower it down, i put a glove between my mudguard and the cooler to stop it scuffing. I had to remove the brackets to lower it further, if you look closer wou can see it resting on them.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0131.jpg
To remove the front cam cover without damage you need to remove the HT lead holder like i mentioned, you can see it in this pic, theres 2 8mm heads with heavy corrosion that you'll see, i plan to swap these for some high tens s/s ones at some point.
When the cam cover is off, its time to get to your crank to turn the bike over via inspection covers like the one with my allen key hanging out off. TOP TIP: If you feel its not budging and scared you might round it off, stop, you need to shock it, keep your allen key in and hit it with a hammer with it centered. This will now make the cover come loose with ease.
https://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac278/IXITUGIXI/DSCF0132.jpg

More to come, i've gotta get out my room its too hot to keep typing this out. I took the front cams out and such so watch this space.
____________________
Haz ER-5, innit!