Buying tips

[scribbler]

Hi all i'm a new member,looking for some hints on what to look for when buying a firestorm.I'm selling my second bike a gsxr 750 srad as at my age the racy riding position is no good for my back and wrists. When gone i will be looking for a firestorm is there anything i should watch out for or be aware of? Thanks Nick.

[Kev L]

Have you tried a Storm for fit Nick? There have been quite a few guys who have bought them as an alternative to sports bike and found them too low as well. There are fixes, VFR or late Storm bars or convert to renthals. I would try before you buy.
Are you near Kent? There'll be a few versions to try tomorrow in Grain

[alanfjones1411]

+1 on the try before you buy and be prepared to do the vital mods,cct's and reg,unless you get one already done,welcome to the forum.

[scribbler]

Thanks guys i know about the cct's and regs a lot of honda's had reg probs fitting a computer cooling fan helps. I'm in Birmingham so to far from Grain, as long as those are the only bad points thats not to bad and as for riding position they can't be anywere near the srad butt up bars down cheers!!

[AMCQ46]

There are a few of us not far from brum, but as mine already has renthals fitted it won't be much help to you to work out the std riding position.

My advise would be to buy the cleanest bike you can afford, mileage and age are not much of an issue. I also base a lot on what I think of the owner, if they are ocd it Is a bonus

[sirch345]

Any Firestorm with the forks up graded and/or a trick shock will be a bonus, although after market parts do not really add very much to the 2nd hand value.

As already been said, the weak points on the Firestorm are CCT's and rectifier if the bike is the earlier model (16ltr fuel tank model), as the earlier ones had no cooling fins. Apart from those two things (and only one if it's the later version) generally the bike is pretty reliable. One advantage of the later version is the bigger fuel tank (19ltr's), so that might be something you might want to consider, although the later model speedo is not quite so easy to read as the earlier bikes.
The handlebars (clip-ons) on the later models are not as steep of an angle as the earlier ones, that might make a difference to you.

Good luck,

Chris.

PS. Worth checking the front exhaust header clamp nuts when you're giving the bike a good looking over, they can have a hard life from what is thrown up off the front tyre and if not taken care of will rust up badly and seize in place. Not a hard job to replace, but you will need a nut splitter to avoid shearing them off. Just check no one has gone about it already and the clamp is held in place with one nut and stud only. If a stud has been sheared off close to the cylinder head if could be a much bigger job, the c/head may even have to come off.

[scribbler]

Thanks again boys big help was thinking of a 2002 model so would be later model. Will post when have found one cheers!

[Pete.L]

Watch out for the 2002 model. Don't get sucked in just by the date. There was a lot of pre 2002 bikes registered late so there still have the smaller tank and original clocks. Check for that. (not that there's anything wrong with the earlier ones, you can just last ten minutes longer before filling up with the later one )

[Watty]

Watch out for the 2002 model. Don't get sucked in just by the date. There was a lot of pre 2002 bikes registered late so there still have the smaller tank and original clocks. Check for that. (not that there's anything wrong with the earlier ones, you can just last ten minutes longer before filling up with the later one )

Even later! My 03 was an FY model

[scribbler]

Thanhs for all the help guys found a well looked after 99 storm after changing all fluids & cleaning brakes took it out sunday for a blast rides great had a fun day, just need to get some cans on her now which i have ordered from blackwidow should make ber sound better,probabley change the tyres soon as fitted with dunlop roadsmart not a fan ut do for a couple of months!

[fabiostar]

Thanhs for all the help guys found a well looked after 99 storm after changing all fluids & cleaning brakes took it out sunday for a blast rides great had a fun day, just need to get some cans on her now which i have ordered from blackwidow should make ber sound better,probabley change the tyres soon as fitted with dunlop roadsmart not a fan ut do for a couple of months!

happy days. welcome to the world of v twins

[Kev L]

Congratulations on your new bike mate. Enjoy.

[sirch345]

Glad to hear you found yourself a bike

Chris.

[scribbler]

Thanks guys not my first V twin had a tuoni V twin before my tuono v4aprc so used to the v's more lazy way of riding