the storms gone

[Zakalwe]

Very nice mate :wink2 Lovely bike to ride, and are deceptively quick as the power is really linear.

There are a few really easy and cheap modifications that you can make which will transform the feel of the bike.

Drop a tooth off the front sprocket and go up one on the rear (who needs 175MPH anyhow?). The 04/05s were way overgeared and this will transform the feel of the bike out of corners (the 06/07 bikes had larger rear sprockets as standard). This wil cause your speedo to over-read, but a Speedohealer will soon sorth that.

Reach behind the left hand middle fairing and disconnect the small rubber vacuum hose (flapper mod)....this will help to remove the hole in the power at 5K RPM. You can also disconnect the cables going to the exhaust power valve.....this will give you about 4-5 BHP in the midrange and make the throttle response much nicer.

Finally, if you want to go the whole hog, get a 32mm holesaw, fit it to an extension bar and drill out the exhaust baffle. Gives the exhaust a lovely throaty rasp and makes a real difference to the top end power (release another 2-3 BHP)

The above two mods will leave you with a bike making about 145-150BHP at the rear wheel. The fuelling will be much nicer, and will feel a lot more responsive low down.

Unless you are heavier than 15 or so stone, you will find the rear suspension harsh and oversprung. The cheap solution is to get a suspension linkage of an 06/07 blade. These are the same dimensions as the HRC linkage that was part of the 04/05 HRC racekit, and are a straight swap for the one on your bike. I have swapped mine for the 06 linkage and shock off and 07.....this made a hell of a difference. The rear feels a lot more planted in the corners.

[marravtr]

Very nice mate :wink2 Lovely bike to ride, and are deceptively quick as the power is really linear.

There are a few really easy and cheap modifications that you can make which will transform the feel of the bike.

Drop a tooth off the front sprocket and go up one on the rear (who needs 175MPH anyhow?). The 04/05s were way overgeared and this will transform the feel of the bike out of corners (the 06/07 bikes had larger rear sprockets as standard). This wil cause your speedo to over-read, but a Speedohealer will soon sorth that.

Reach behind the left hand middle fairing and disconnect the small rubber vacuum hose (flapper mod)....this will help to remove the hole in the power at 5K RPM. You can also disconnect the cables going to the exhaust power valve.....this will give you about 4-5 BHP in the midrange and make the throttle response much nicer.

Finally, if you want to go the whole hog, get a 32mm holesaw, fit it to an extension bar and drill out the exhaust baffle. Gives the exhaust a lovely throaty rasp and makes a real difference to the top end power (release another 2-3 BHP)

The above two mods will leave you with a bike making about 145-150BHP at the rear wheel. The fuelling will be much nicer, and will feel a lot more responsive low down.

Unless you are heavier than 15 or so stone, you will find the rear suspension harsh and oversprung. The cheap solution is to get a suspension linkage of an 06/07 blade. These are the same dimensions as the HRC linkage that was part of the 04/05 HRC racekit, and are a straight swap for the one on your bike. I have swapped mine for the 06 linkage and shock off and 07.....this made a hell of a difference. The rear feels a lot more planted in the corners.

thanks for all the info matey i've been looking at sorting out the baffle, theres a standard can on ebay at the mo thats been done, start price of £20! wasnt sure how easy it was to do on these, dont want to go for aftermarket as there all single port and dont like the look of them

rear suspension should be fine, 17 stone without my gear on!! lol

think i'll be looking at the sprockets then too, nice one

[marravtr]

I'm off to Padgetts Honda in Batley to look / do a deal in an 05 Blade also in black, 4K miles on the clock and mint. Been offered 2.5K for my storm in p/ex so might be a blade man by the end of Easter..... that is unless I can find an SP2 for the right money, low mileage, minter before ... anyone know where there may be one?

what they asking in the shop mate? got mine off a mate so know the history ect, for 4 grand

[Jbrebel]

that is unless I can find an SP2 for the right money, low mileage, minter before ... anyone know where there may be one?

They seem to be like rocking horse poo at the moment Ernie.

Can't blame anyone for keeping hold of one though. SP's, in general, are only going to increase in value imo. Lurvely bike...possibly the only way I'd be tempted back to anything with VTR wrote on it

[Zakalwe]

thanks for all the info matey i've been looking at sorting out the baffle, theres a standard can on ebay at the mo thats been done, start price of £20! wasnt sure how easy it was to do on these, dont want to go for aftermarket as there all single port and dont like the look of them

rear suspension should be fine, 17 stone without my gear on!! lol

think i'll be looking at the sprockets then too, nice one

I personally can't see the point in an aftermarket can TBH. Stick a 32 mm holesaw into the standard can and bore out the baffle. This gives a lovely raspy sound and deepens the tone. no problems with MOTs either. Just make sure that you let the drill stop beffore trying to take it back out, otherwise the holesaw can come off. Then you have to dismantle the rear of the bike, take off the rearsets and disconnect the valve cables to get the can off to get it out again (please dont ask me how I know this.... :mad2 )

Aftermarket cans are often too loud.....unwanted attention magnets IYSWIM. A can might release 1-2 BHP more, but will you notice it? After all, you will have the best part of 150BHP at the back wheel if you do the flapper mod, disconnect the cables to the exhaust valve and bore the baffles.

Jardine do do a twin-port can, but they are well over £350. That's a lot of petrol/trackdays to me!

WRT the suspension, I am the wrong side of 16stone with gear on. It is still well worth doing the linkage....it takes a lot of the harshness out of the back end.

[Dean O]

that is unless I can find an SP2 for the right money, low mileage, minter before ... anyone know where there may be one?

They seem to be like rocking horse poo at the moment Ernie.

Can't blame anyone for keeping hold of one though. SP's, in general, are only going to increase in value imo. Lurvely bike...possibly the only way I'd be tempted back to anything with VTR wrote on it

SP1 march 2005 ('54 reg) 7000miles, 2nd owner, full T&T, full titanium akrap system (& unused standard system) PC111, BMC filter, dyno'ed, carbon f/fender & r/hugger, pillion seat (used twice)
. . . . and definitely NOT for sale (can't find a smug smiley )

[marravtr]

thanks for all the info matey i've been looking at sorting out the baffle, theres a standard can on ebay at the mo thats been done, start price of £20! wasnt sure how easy it was to do on these, dont want to go for aftermarket as there all single port and dont like the look of them

rear suspension should be fine, 17 stone without my gear on!! lol

think i'll be looking at the sprockets then too, nice one

I personally can't see the point in an aftermarket can TBH. Stick a 32 mm holesaw into the standard can and bore out the baffle. This gives a lovely raspy sound and deepens the tone. no problems with MOTs either. Just make sure that you let the drill stop beffore trying to take it back out, otherwise the holesaw can come off. Then you have to dismantle the rear of the bike, take off the rearsets and disconnect the valve cables to get the can off to get it out again (please dont ask me how I know this.... :mad2 )

Aftermarket cans are often too loud.....unwanted attention magnets IYSWIM. A can might release 1-2 BHP more, but will you notice it? After all, you will have the best part of 150BHP at the back wheel if you do the flapper mod, disconnect the cables to the exhaust valve and bore the baffles.

Jardine do do a twin-port can, but they are well over £350. That's a lot of petrol/trackdays to me!

WRT the suspension, I am the wrong side of 16stone with gear on. It is still well worth doing the linkage....it takes a lot of the harshness out of the back end.

thanks matey nice one

[Beamish]

Nice one Marra, one more Blader eh You will love it.

[Ernie Cooley]

Ref the various comments up there ^^^^

Bike I am going to look at today has 4K on the clock, 1 owner, Goodrich hoses, Datatool alarm and is up for 5300, I should be able to get that down to 5 with a bit of negotiating.