Well, now my bike has fewer bits that were as Honda made them in the factory, I thought I'd post an update of what shiny bits I've put on and a brief overview of why I did it and what benefits I've gotten from it.
Engine & Drive Train mods:
K&N Air Filter - Fitted to make best use of the stock engine. Honda's airbox is pretty good, but doesn't breathe well enough if you put aftermarket pipes on.
Stage 1 Carb Kit - (not an Atkins diet product) From Dynojet. Fitted to combine with the aftermarket filter and exhaust for best results. Requires setting up properly but is well worth it.
Custom Hand Made Exhaust - Fitted as I tried 4 different exhausts to find one that has exactly what I want in terms of look, riding position, noise and performance.
The above combined with a proper set up by Revolution Racing has yeilded more power, better throttle response, smoother and stronger pull and better fuel useage as a nice bonus.
APE Cam Chain Tensioners - Original set started to make funny noises. Replacement set with upgraded springs did the same. Fitted solid state racing adjusters and can now banish CCT concerns permanently. Anodised in red for extra bling.
Renthal Sprockets and Tsubaki 530 Gold X-Ring chain. Ratios are 15/41 which is 1 tooth down on the front. Heavy duty chain for good mileage vs. lighter 520 ones and less faff in converting. Much better pull now with improved acceleration and most noticeably in top gear. Pulls same speed as stock about 500rpm higher, so not too bad a compromise on distance cruising ability. Gold chain looks bling too.
Chassis Mods:
Front Forks - modified by Revolution Racing using custom springs and valves developed to suit the FireStorm and my weight. Cheaper and arguably more effective than a complex front end swap. Doesn't look as bling though.
Penske Shock - Vast improvement over stock item, fitted and set up to match with the equally vastly improved front end. Remote adjustment is handy too.
Ancilliary Mods:
Front Calipers Suzuki GSXR1000 K1 6 pot Tokico - Looks ultra bling and has much larger pad area than standard. Improved braking power and a world of 1 finger stoppies awaits. Fits straight on with no messing too.
Front Master Cylinder Honda SP1 19mm - Much larger bore than standard. Fitted to provide a better partner to the GSXR calipers in providing more power and large bore size for maximum feel at the lever. Also fits straight on with no messing.
Braided Steel lines - Front brake, rear brake and clutch all wear braided steel hoses. Harder wearing, slightly increased performance, blinger look, and no pressure bulging vs. standard rubber hoses.
2 Bulb HID type headlight - custom built direct replacement in an original headlight housing. Not pukka HID lights, but 2 H4 bulbs with HID lenses. Will be upgrading the H4's with Xenon bulbs and balast system in future for full on melt your eyeballs at 1000 yards lighting.
Clear Alternatives LED rear light - Clear lense matches silver bodywork much better. LED unit so no more replacing bulbs and plugs straight in to standard fittings.
Clear Flush Mount Indicators - front and rear. Much nicer look and profile than bulbous standard ones. Might upgrade them with LEDs instead of bulbs in future.
Speedo Healer - now my speedo reads 100% true, even with the altered gearing and my mileage is correct too.
Yamaha R1 Regulator/Rectifier - fitted to replace the woeful Honda original. Later models got a betetr one, but this one is huge.
Optimate Battery Conditioner (plus new battery) - Coupled with the rectifier, my electrical system is now ace. Optimate's are great, fully charged battery all the time and just a lead to plug in.
Motohaus Mirror Extenders Nicely engineered, looks fine and I can see behind me. Bonus.
Bodywork and Cosmetics:
Carbotech 21 litre carbon fibre fuel tank - Lightweight and doesn't look too huge like some aftermarket enduro race tanks do. Increased capacity gives me 150 mile range plus reserve. Originally, had issues with this as the filler cap it came with was fitted to a moulded shape. It leaked and generally sucked, so its in the process of having a new hole cut and a new filler cap fitted. Currently running a steel 16ltr tank.
Front Mudguard - Replaced with a standard item, but in black to match the bellypan and hugger. Looks nice.
Skidmarx Moriwaki style Bellypan - Looks nice too. As bellypans go, its small and slim and looks right for how I wanted. Larger bellypans are probably better in a practical sense, but didn't look how I wanted.
Pyramid Plastics Hugger - Also nice. Keeps the crud off my lovely shock too.
Powerbronze Undertray - After terrible experience with cheap undertray, bought a proper one. Fits well, and really tidies up the back end. Looks nice.
Ermax Double Bubble Screen - Besides looking nice, it really does make a difference to windblast. Very little buffeting and a much more comfortable ride especially on motorway slogs.
The Future?
Well, only things I'd like to do start getting expensive. Moriwaki engine bits, PVM wheels and maybe a nice bit of powder coating and custom paint. Still, knowing I'm never selling it and am quite happy to spend some brass on it rather than replace it, it might well end up getting them at some point.
Will be fitting some crash mushrooms as soon as I find some I like at the right price.
Well, thats it for now. If you're inspired or reviled, either way, I hope you find something interesting above.
Mods Update (a.k.a. Stop! leave it alone dammit!)
Mods Update (a.k.a. Stop! leave it alone dammit!)
Last edited by Kitch on Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:04 am, edited 5 times in total.
Voted most likely to be found dead in park bushes following an act of autoerotic asphyxiation.
Kitch, all I can say is bloody hell. I would hate to climb off yours and on to mine after a 30miler, I would probably sell it 
. All the mods sound like good sense and should improve the overall perf and handling without too much bling. You have missed one crucial mod though......
A total respray to the fabulous colour of red
. All the mods sound like good sense and should improve the overall perf and handling without too much bling. You have missed one crucial mod though......A total respray to the fabulous colour of red
I see myself as a sensitive intelligent man but with the heart of a clown that causes me to **ck things up right at that crucial moment........'Jim Morrison'
Kitch wrote:I'll let you have a go on the next site weekender / proper trip out we're both at.
Second thoughts, that means I'd have to ride your red one...
Forget it.
I see myself as a sensitive intelligent man but with the heart of a clown that causes me to **ck things up right at that crucial moment........'Jim Morrison'
The filler needs to be specific. Honda and pattern ones have all sorts of gubbins and bolts on the underside that means you can't match a shape to it.FirestormMike wrote:nice 1 matey, it's come a long way since I first saw it at windermere on that VERY rainy day...
Do you need a filler cap for your tank ? I've got 1 sat here if you need it, has a key with it too.
Its getting one thats basically just a flat "T" shape.
Voted most likely to be found dead in park bushes following an act of autoerotic asphyxiation.
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LotusSevenMan
- Posts: 1915
- Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2006 8:32 pm
- Location: Liss, Hampshire. UK
Very nice spec Kitch. 
I had a one tooth less at the front end with increased chain wear as a result but h*ll, yours is brand new so should last a bit!
I bought my Speedo Healer because the std item was even more inaccurate with this sprocket change.
You are missing one of these though!!!!
The black wire wrapped through the subframe is the alarm's aerial and the remote control just visible in lower rhs is for programming the on board TV, sorry, scrolling message board above the number plate (yeah really!)
I had a one tooth less at the front end with increased chain wear as a result but h*ll, yours is brand new so should last a bit!
I bought my Speedo Healer because the std item was even more inaccurate with this sprocket change.
You are missing one of these though!!!!
The black wire wrapped through the subframe is the alarm's aerial and the remote control just visible in lower rhs is for programming the on board TV, sorry, scrolling message board above the number plate (yeah really!)
"Only ride as fast as your guardian angel can fly" !!!
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Stormin Ben
- Posts: 1234
- Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2002 12:23 am
- Location: Birmingham
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Squiffythewombat
- Posts: 1406
- Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2005 1:51 pm
- Location: Canterbury, Kent
- Contact:
Cash total is around £1500 for all of it - over 2 years.
That starts going up rapidly once you put serious bits on it. £1500 for Moriwaki engine bits (inc fitting and tuning), £1000 for magnesium wheels, £1000 for powdercoating and all over paintjob.
Not all that exciting really, it just looks like a regular Storm, but pics will be coming soon.
Gonna go somewhere nice when I'm not working and take a whole bunch of pics plus pics of all the individual bits.
Insurance hasn't made a great deal of difference to be honest, though it is a bit more.
That starts going up rapidly once you put serious bits on it. £1500 for Moriwaki engine bits (inc fitting and tuning), £1000 for magnesium wheels, £1000 for powdercoating and all over paintjob.
Not all that exciting really, it just looks like a regular Storm, but pics will be coming soon.
Gonna go somewhere nice when I'm not working and take a whole bunch of pics plus pics of all the individual bits.
Insurance hasn't made a great deal of difference to be honest, though it is a bit more.
Voted most likely to be found dead in park bushes following an act of autoerotic asphyxiation.