VTR Firestorm ..... any good?

[Nick 50]

Got chatting to a fellow biker at Uni this morning. He was asking what big bike I was looking at after passing my test. I said ideally I would like a CBR600f.

He suggested a VTR Firestorm might be a good cheaper alternative. I looked at bit bemused at the idea of a 1000cc bike as a 1st big bike. He said it is same insurance group and less HP and Top Speed of a CBR but still a honda. Turns out he was right.


I know mpg is way down due to the engine size and being a V-twin but there is 2001 models going around the £2k mark which is a fair bit cheaper than I have seen CBR6's going for of the same age and mileage.

So are they any good? And am I being a bit foolish even considering it as a 1st bike??
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Current Bikes: ZX7r 97 (Black Beauty), VFR400 NC24 (The banana)
Previous Bikes: Aprilia Tuono 03 (The Beast), CBR600f (97)
First bike: A GZ125 Lemon.......

[Nexus Icon]

They sound great and the late 2001 machines had a bigger tank.

That's about all I know I'm afraid.
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Greetings from Shitsville!

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Not bad as a first bike.

They're heavy, not that quick, the suspension's a bit crap and they lack ground clearance. Rubbish on fuel too.

I think a CBR6 is a better all round bike, depends what you want it for really. The Firestorm's a bit of a relic in comparison to a CBR600F of similar vintage.

This makes it sound like I'm slating then, when that's not really my intention. They aren't bad bikes, just that the CBR600F's a better bike in every way IMO.

If it's a first bike why not consider a Honda Hornet as an alternative. Same engine as the CBR600F ( just a few different parts to bring the power down a touch), no expensive fairings to worry about and big wide bars so it's easier to hustle.

All of them are decent enough first bikes, just the CBR and Hornet are "easier" for someone inexperienced to get along with.
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[salty21]

pretty sure you could get a decent firestorm for £1000-£1500. There were loads going for about that when i was looking a year or two ago. dont see any reason not to go for one over a 600 if it works out cheaper. The firestorm would probably be just as suitable to a new rider in my opinion but be prepared for shocking fuel economy
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04 NSR 125(sold) ---- 03 CBR 600rr(sold) ----90 pan euro ST1100 '' ----02 CG 125
94 CB400 Super Four ---- 2000 VTR SP1 (sold) ---- 08 ninja p8f(sold, meh) ----05 CBR600rr

[bridlad]

I had one 10 or 12 years ago and I loved it ,grunty pick their feet up well,decent top end,good build quality,easy to work on and a little bit different to the usual sports bikes ,yeh was a bit thirsty but I dont ride a bike to woorie about the fuel it uses,I ran it for 2 years only got rid because my old shoulders and wrists didnt like it,Ive now got an sv1000n a similar beast tbh ,try and blag a go on one and I bet you anything it will leave grinning like a self abusing ape

[pinkyfloyd]

If you were closer and insured for other bikes I'd let you have a test ride.

In before G tells you its a V2 bike and therefore shite (see sig)

I've had my Storm for 18 months now and I honestly cant see me getting rid of it. If it dies a death and no longer cost effective to fix I'll probably get another one. They have the plus and negs like all bikes and I'll do my best.

Positives:
Handle great for new riders, very forgiving.
Deceptivly quick with the low revving engine, you could be sitting at 70 thinking your doing 40.
Great torque
Comfortable riding position in comparison to a sports bike. Its slightly more upright but still feels sporty.
They have character, they hiccup, burble and fart their way along.
They sound like the devil and his horsemen with after market cans and even standard cans they sound great.

Negs:
Budget bikes and sometimes it shows.
Not as powerful as a modern 600IL4
Not the prettiest of bikes around but you either love them or loath them.
Thirsty with an average of 35mpg.
Suspension, some people find it a bit soft but easy fixed by uprating the springs.


And the biggest neg is the pre 2001 models have a 16L tank which only gives you between 75 - 90 before the little light comes on telling you to feed the beastie.

One thing I have noticed with Storms is they grow on you, if you get on with them and like them then you do end up loving them and in another forum dedicated to the VTR there are many members who have sold theirs only to find themselves back on the Storm or members that have owned their bikes for many years and still love it as much as they did at the start.

For me. (sorry G I cant help it buddy). I love the power delivery, what it lacks in top end (145 ish) it more than makes up for in grunt and personality. It was my second big bike having owned an old GSXR for 6 months before buying the Storm and I love the thing. It always brings a smile when you open it up and the gentle whirring of the engine gets replaced by the clatter of the exhaust.

Edit: It is cheap on insurance, mine comes in at 97 a year TPFT and theres always parts on Ebay.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[jjdugen]

Probably the worst bike honda have made (IMHO), and Honda have made some royal cock-ups. First thing to kow is that if you havent changed out the cam chain tensioners for manuals, you are riding a grenade with the pin pulled. Acess to anything you actually need to get to on the engine is poor. Fuel consumption is BAD, compounded by the stupid small tanks (either version), you spend more time looking for a fill-up than you do riding the thing.
Power delivery is typical big V, lurchy, lumpy, a pain in traffic and semi lethal on greasy roudabouts.
To add to the fun, many of them have an inherant clutch grab problem, you think you are slipping the clutch at take-off, and the thing locks solid. Great for unintentional wheelies, but not good for the state of your underpants.

These things are cheap, for a reason, they are crap. (Built one up after the CCT failed, tried to ride it, gave up in disgust).
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The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

[Blau Zedong]

Poor chassis, slow for what it is, suffers camchain and cylinder head issues. My best mate had one and struggled to give it away. A CBR600 is better in every way.
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[400bandit]

I'd have to agree with Pinky, I loved mine. Like yourself, I was young when I had it (20) but found it to be cheap to insure. I know people will tell you they are slow etc etc, I thought it was far from slow.

If nothing else, it's worth paying 1500 quick just for the sound track!

Go for it.

Joe
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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...)

[G]

Seeing that he got here first, I'll present a more reasonable view:

[pinkyfloyd]

And G smells of wee!
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[G]

[pinkyfloyd]

[MarJay]

[MarJay]

[pinkyfloyd]

Marjay, the VFR Vtec has issues with CCT rattle but then a quick google shows people have experienced the same issues with CBR Fireblades, CBR600's CBF's Blackbirds and I am sure I could find more.

Ultimately you could throw scare monger stories about many Honda's of the same years. Reg/Rec issues being another one Honda screwed up on. They would overheat and burn out causing the battery to fry but again it was not confined to the VTR but it was across the whole Honda range.

The CCT issue that affected several bikes became an issue because they would let go, it is an issue that the VTR owners seem more aware of because of the lay out of the engine, the front CCT is in a position that does not make it easy for the oil to get up there and would let go under heavy throttle release. As a result many changed perfectly fine CCT's for manual ones as a precaution. (better to have a condom and not need it than need one and not have it)

With many bike companies there are issues in certain models should it be Ducati and their famous electrical failures, Suzuki with their Rotary suspension on their TLS. I'm sure if you dig around you could find many bike models with issues to watch out for. It happens. But still does not make the bike a bad bike.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[MarJay]

[pinkyfloyd]

Marjay, I'm on the VTR forum and there is a few that have posted that they let go on them. But then my bike has done 32K miles and still on the originals. That said they'll probably pack in now I have mentioned them.

To the OP. If you want your first big bike to be a 1L bike but still as practical, easy to ride, forgiving for new riders, and reliable as a Honda then the Firestorm is a hoot to ride. Check the reviews, everyone from MCN to the every day joe all claim it is a great fun bike.

A few review sites to give you some unbiased info.

https://www.visordown.com/road-tests-used/used-review-honda-vtr-firestorm/4309.html

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Honda/HONDA-VTR1000F-FIRESTORM-1997--2005/

https://www.bikez.com/bike/show_review.php?review=376

Even the Americans loved it.

https://www.motorsports-network.com/honda/vtrtest8/vtrtest.htm

Personally I think they are a seriously underated bike. People often bypass them for the more powerful TLR Suzuki or the Honda SP and even the Ducati's but the Storm is a great little bike that has done everything I have asked of it and more.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[jjdugen]

I usually let the comments made about my posts go, I've said my piece, up to whoever to take note or ignore.
But in the case of the 'srorm, I do have to reply.
I am no starnger to all types of macine and manufacturers, I buy up the fails on E-Bay and turn them back into good runners. I have also been riding and repairing bikes since the mid 60's, so I know a bit about 'character' bikes. The Firestorm has a disatrous fail rate on its CCT's, for Gods sake, just read the dedicated forums.
These do not 'rattle' a bit, they just GO! Result is bent valves if you are lucky, damaged piston, scoured bores if you are not.
You can get to the top of the carbs easily enough, thats not the important bit, to get to the (all important) air screws you have to have the dexterity and hands of a four year old. (I found an easy way to gain access after a monumental struggle, but thats for me to know).
As for the pitiful fuel range, riding for 70 miles before looking for a fill? Now that IS utter tosh and idiotic on a road machine.
The clutch grab thing is common and downright dangerous (once again, just scan the relavant forums, I dont tell porky pies). After a few instances of this happening to me I did think I had assembled the engine incorrectly.... I hadn't, Honda did.
Look at the average selling price for one of these horrors (E-Bay). Roughly £1200. A comparable CBR6 is anything from 1600 upwards, 'nough said.
Please, as a newish rider, save your money for something not so badly flawed.
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The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

[P.]

[Wave2k]

IL4s are better at low speeds i find, as V-twins can get snatchy.

Dont look a graphs and bhp readings when buying a bike, a V-twin will have alot more useable road power then an IL4

Not sure if this is the same a firestorm as i havent ridden one, but its the same for the Sp1.

Simple tart factor is they sound better, deeper and more ballsey rather than 10,000 bees locked away in a small tin can like an IL4 does.
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[st3v3]

[G]

[Nick 50]

Thanks for all the replies.

Seems to have sparked quite a few opposing views on the Storm. Seems a bit of a marmite (either you'll love or hate it) bike with added mechanical risk thrown in.

I guess if I want it to be a serious consideration I need to do some homework on the CCT which seems to be its biggest Achilles heel.

Excuse my naivety here, is the CCT issue the actual cam-chain? as in it stretches, becomes loose and jumps a tooth or even snaps? Or is it more a flawed design in the actual tensioner design?
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Current Bikes: ZX7r 97 (Black Beauty), VFR400 NC24 (The banana)
Previous Bikes: Aprilia Tuono 03 (The Beast), CBR600f (97)
First bike: A GZ125 Lemon.......

[pinkyfloyd]