Newbie Firestormer with questions

[bluesman]

Hello everybody! I am new to board and to Storm - just changed from Hornet, it was my 4th bike...I always rode inline fours before, but once had small brother of Storm - an VTR250, my first bike for 18000 km...
Just got myself 1997 Storm with titanium Arrow oval cans and in very good state.
As I always been a bit of tuning freak (prefer to work with bike myself), my previous bike had all suspension bits upgrade (Ohlins fully adjuastable rear, WP springs and oil front etc. etc.).

I had so far only one rideout with Storm, so difficult to tell about suspension, but I had a strange feeling that when I entering corner bike tends to "tighten"curve so I almost ended up in internal edge of lane...is that normal or I felt so just because of different bike?
And - I have quite few bobs left after bike change (saved me 800 Euros), so want to add up a bit and blow money on upgrades.
Hence question.
So far I identified following potential upgrades:

1. Wilbers/Technoflex or WP fully adjustable shock absorber
2. WP fork springs
3. Convertibars adjustable clipons
4. Braided brake and clutch hoses

However, of course I do not have money to do all at once so - any advice what to do first? All plastic bits and "nice to have" things can wait, I prefer real performance parts such as suspension and something to ease up my wrists...
Any advice will be very appreciated.
BTW - I am living in Belgium, so - no access to suspension setup places in UK

[bluesman]

money burning my pocket shall I go for suspension upgrade first?
What do you think - Wilbers/Technoflex or WP?

[Stormin Ben]

IMHO the best first step would be to get the brakes sorted. They're pretty crap as standard and braided hoses makes a noticeable difference.
Don't forget to give the calipers a damn good clean while you're messing too
Pads: Opinion varies but EBC HH's are popular for road use and I've now got Bendix Supersports in now and absolutely love 'em

Then you'll be needing to get the forks sorted
Stiffer Ohlins springs and different oil make a HUGE difference

The rear shock isn't a major limiting factor, it is oversprung but a lot of the stiffness is down to the linkages being virtually dry from new.
Strip , clean, replace if necessary and re-grease makes a big difference for pennies

Can't comment on raised bars coz I've got long arms so for me the standard ones are fine


Ben

[bluesman]

Thanks for advice! Will certainly start with brakes - after my Hornet brakes with braided hoses and CBR pads Storm feels a bit strange mostly down to hoses....
One more question if I may - what about clutch hose? To be honest I got impression it might be way better if I will get rid of "expansion" of original hose by replacing it with braided, but I actually never saw anybody doing it...any advice?

[Stormin Ben]

Clutch doesn't suffer from bulging like the brakes do coz the pressure's so much less.
If the original is getting tatty and/or you want more bling, go for it. Otherwise put it to the list marked 'cosmetic' and find something else to spend money on

Ben

[iggy1966]

Definatley do the brake hoses first, get the suspension sorted after you have ridden it for a while, you may find that you are happy with the standard setup and can spend the money on other parts.

[bluesman]

Well, ridden it again and found that front are soft....I am 82-84 kg (depends on amount of food inside ) and it seems that when I go heavy on brakes or hit something on road forks just go bananas...
Ordered Hyperpro springs and oil...
Rear seems to be a bit too hard...need to think more...may be play with settings...
Today going to order braided hoses (probably Goodridge - they cheap if buy online) and small indicators - that's functional! - I can't get bike through front door without scratching original "elephant ears" (don't have garage - my bike lives in room on first floor of my house)
And mirrors are next to do - did not found suitable shoes to make extenders in my wife's cupboard

[Leepy]

From my breif ride home on mine I have decided that the suspension needs sorting.. but nothing major

The rear spring is far too firm for me.. may suit heavier riders. A new spring to suit my weight would sort that out.. nice and cheap too

The front forks Maybe it's just mine but wow! they are so so soft. New either progressive or Ohlins springs with some fresh oil is going to be the first step there then.. I like to feel like I am riding a bike.. not a jellyfish.

[bluesman]

when I had my Hornet I changed it all - put Ohlins rear shock absorber, fork springs and oil etc. and of course braided hoses.
As result my bike was amazingly pleasing to drive - never done wrong to me even in 700-ish a day rides on backroad twisties in French Alps...
So - I preatty much know what to expect with new rear shock, but - I am going for Wilbers shock (about 615 Euro), and this thing have one smaal difference - it has both "fast" and "slow" damping-rebound adjustment, to make it simple - one adjustment for smal bumps on hight speed, another for big bumps on slow speed.
This gives a possibility to create comfortable-yet-controlled ride, and I thought as I have some moneyt left of Hornet now and will definitely spend them later on it will be difficult to do it later - I mean, 615 Euro is a lot of money...
So - yes, I am going for it.
However, there is a cheaper alternative - first of all taking wilbers without remote reservoir and super-all adjustements (415 Euro) or changing spring on shock to Hyperpro spring - about 150 Euro I think.
Don't know how well it work for Storm - on Hornet's it gives a great deal of improvement ....but I am new to Storm and do not even want to experience any of issues just skipping it all

[bluesman]

that's it money spent - at least orders placed. Still need to sort brake pads and mirrors - sellout of Hornet parts will do
raisers can wait so far - I discovered that because I am short I can lean on tank and completely relax arms - cool. Windblast does not bother too - with 174 cm and OGK Aeroblade helmet got no probs (at least up to 200 kmph)

Goodridge braided hoses (in "race" variant - 2 hoses to cylinder) - delivery on Saturday
Wilbers/Technoflex full-blown shock absorber with low and high speed adjusters - 3 weeks to get, when I'll have it I'll post full report...
Hyperpro all-way progressive fork springs and oil - hope about 1 week to receive
mini-indicators - simple and cheap with 23 w halogen bulbs (saturday)

insurance - transfer from Hornet to Storm by Monday
and I kept my numberplate!

[penst8grad]

I think that the european version must have different gearing than the US version. I hardly ever use my brakes except to stop. I thought that it was my squidlyness, but my friends with v-twins all say the same thing. Engine braking is mostly enough, but I also spend most of my rides on 3rd gear roads. If I am on the binders, I usually wind up too slow in the corner.

[bluesman]

well, can't speak for anybody but myself - places I use to go for vacations are heavy on brakes
Southern High Alps in France etc. - method of smooth wiggling did not work for neither of people who was with us this summer - at those places Hornet's were kings , but - none of bikes were Vtwin - 2 Blackbirds struggled until starting to go brake-throttle-brake-throttle mode...
At least that how it was for us...descends in hairpins at some places aro so steep that I filed off corner at end of my swingarm
Actually - that what made me to go for Vtwin - Storms are BRILLIANT there due to tractor-like pull from low RPM (you see, keeping RPM to high on fours don't work as it's too hot)...
That's IMHO, I guess I am not good enough rider to judge it, but...

[penst8grad]

I would love to ride those kind of roads. Just once. The only places we ahve like that here are out in the Rocky Mountains.

The group I ride with just went here for a rally. It's a little more extreme than the roads around these parts. But we do have some that are close.

[bluesman]

Cool! That's really nice place - those curves really asks for ride! And it's not too crowded I suppose (it's what's annoys me in Belgium as I am from quite big ex-Soviet country)
You knoe - some of areas in french alps are just like that (Napoleon's Route mostly) - but we always go into really tight small roads as we come to see places - not just drive, and anyway - there is nothing else to do...
My favourite place is Canyon Du Verdon. Not mine, but just photos of place on somebody's site:

http://www.beyond.fr/sites/verdon.html

I wish I'd be able to just drive my bike over water!
Always had a dream of going across at least part of US with one of my friends -he live's in NY and every year taking a ride to Daytona all the way with stop at ranch of his father in law...
One day I'll do it!

But so far plan for Spetember - 4 days in Normandy. Our "micro group" of 2 riders had enough of heat