Pics of "my" Firestorm

vtryorks · Post by **vtryorks** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 3:18 pm

Hi guys,

This is the firestorm Im looking at buying. If anyone can offer any comments about it, I'd be very grateful. Front fork legs look corroded but I presume this is normal for that age of bike. I cant spot anything else bad, but I dont know what I'm looking for.

Image Gallery is: http://imageshack.us/g/641/dscf32292.jpg/

Can anyone help? Thank you so much!

Martin

Kev L · Post by **Kev L** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 3:49 pm

Looks OK to me, only things I noticed were non stock handlebar end weights and the stock (or at best stopper modded) CCT's.
Hope it works out for you mate. Did any members from the IoW get in touch at all?

vtryorks · Post by **vtryorks** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 3:51 pm

Nobody from IoW in touch as yet.

They wont offer any warranty due to the price and distance which concerns me a bit. Showing some surface rust on bolts etc. I also found out that I'd be the 4th owner.

Also has only two stamped services. Last one seems to have been done by owner with a gap of 5-6k between services. Hmm.

I'm just a bit unsure at the moment.

Cheers for the reply.

Miztaziggy · Post by **Miztaziggy** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 4:30 pm

How much is that selling for mate? If it is from a dealer, strictly they cant sell you it without some sort of warranty.

Personally, i would say that looks untidy, the exhaust and front forks are corroded, and if they are corroded, then the engine casing (at least front cylinder) will probably be corroded too. From there, it is anyone's guess as to what condition the engine electrics, cooling etc are in. The radiators are probably corroded and/or rusty, which isnt a major problem, just unsightly if you're bothered about that sort of thing.

If the front is in that condition, I would expect the back to be the same, the swing arm is probably pitted and marked, is it? The rear shock and pro-link is probably corroded and parts rusty maybe? Depends on how much they want for that one in the pictures, but personally I wouldn't pay any more than Â£1500 for that, and that would be if it was a low mileage 2001/2 model....if it was 97-99 then I would pay like Â£1000, maybe Â£1100 tops. There are some seriously mint ones going for not much over Â£1500 if you look.

I found a red one before I bought mine, was 98 or 99 and was mint. He wanted Â£1800 for it but I think would have taken Â£1700. Only reason I didnt buy it was that it had standard exhausts and I wanted something louder.

Where in Yorkshire you from? Im about 20 mins from Squires myself (seen that in your other post) and work about 5 minutes away from there.

agentpineapple · Post by **agentpineapple** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 5:06 pm

hi mate, i think she looks ok.
it's got a fair few extras.....
hugger
colour matched pyramid tail tidy
mini rear indicators
double bubble tinted screen
imho the best looking bikini fairing (moriwaki style)
and silver is a nice colour.

depending on the mileage/history/previous owners those are some of the things that it's value will depend on, as far as condition goes, i would say it looks average, fork lowers begin to look scabby on vtr's rather quickly unless cleaned and painted, one thing i would invest in is a front mudguard extender to keep the crap of off the front of the engine/exhaust, you can get a nice carbon fibre one of off ebay for about Â£20.....
all in all not a bad bike, firestorms are hard to price, this one could be anything between Â£1250 and Â£1750 as i said before depending on many factors.........
good luck with it matey

vtryorks · Post by **vtryorks** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 5:24 pm

You guys are great! Thanks so much all of you.

I'm still sort of undecided. Its from a dealer but with no warranty due to distance, patchy service history but full MOT history which is good but no real indicator of condition and I'm buying blind. I dont know whether its worth the Â£1600+delivery or not. I reckon they paid maybe Â£800 for it when it was part-exed.

It has just under 10k miles on it. 3 owners plus me (maybe).

There are a lot of bikes about but all seem priced over Â£2k.

I suppose by the time I've had it delivered Im looking at Â£1800 or thereabouts which leaves maybe Â£200 to sort problems. I was looking for a standard bike, plus maybe a hugger but no mods as such. This one also has K&N and a Dynojet apparently.

Tough decision. Money isnt the driving factor here really and I'm not in a rush. I know strictly speaking the distance selling regulations entitle me to some kind of warranty but its a major PITA to undertake a claim like that, at such a distance.

vtryorks · Post by **vtryorks** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 5:25 pm

Miztaziggy wrote:Where in Yorkshire you from? Im about 20 mins from Squires myself (seen that in your other post) and work about 5 minutes away from there.

I'm from over Pontefract way

Miztaziggy · Post by **Miztaziggy** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 5:41 pm

Lol nice one, ponte is only 10 mins from me, just down the old a1. Might end up seeing you at squires at some point, you will hear me coming from miles off :-)

As for warranty, if it's a dealer then you get 3 months or maybe 6 I think by law, where he would have to prove any fault WASN'T there when you bought it. He can give you no comprehensive warranty, but if the engine blows after a month, you can claim from him.

What year is the bike?

I wouldn't pay 1600 for one that looks like it has been used in winter. I paid 1500 for mine, and although it needed a really good clean, exhausts needed de rusting etc, the general condition was good, Inc forks, and mine weren't painted either.

If I were you, I would go for higher mileage, better cared for bikes. Honda engines will do 100k miles if you look after them. I looked at one with 50k and one with 60k before buying mine with 28k on it. Just get the CCTs changed and it will be fine. You will find really nice bikes for dirt cheap money as long as you don't mind 20k +

I think mileage on a bike is way over valued. Some people consider 10k high mileage, I think that is just about run in.

I'll try to find a few examples and send you links mate.

Miztaziggy · Post by **Miztaziggy** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 5:55 pm

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2002-HONDA-VTR-10 ... 3368f5946b

Lol this one is an odd story.

The guy selling lives in Barnsley, he was selling a VTR (good condition) when I was looking for mine. He told me he was selling to get an RSV. I thought it was a bit over priced, so didnt get it, and went to go look at one in a dealers.

Turns out it was this one, and the guy I went to bought it....dont know why he sold his yellow storm and bought another yellow storm

Anyway, now he is selling this one. I saw it in the dealers and at the time was up for Â£1800. I asked him what was the best price he could do and he said Â£1500. The guy at the desk showed him a calculator screen showing 1200 on it when he was calculating the best price, so I think it stood them at Â£1200.

Anyway, I think you could knock this one down in price a fair bit even though it says no offers. It was in really good condition, other than a crack next to one of the bolts on the fairing and one next to screen where the bolt had been tightened too tight.

Other than that...this one looks really clean and only 25k miles
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1998-HONDA-VTR-10 ... 35b340233b

This one looks very good condition and low mileage
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HONDA-VTR-1000-FI ... 264wt_1139

This one is immaculate apparently
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1997-Honda-VTR-10 ... 5644a6a868

Lastly, this one is dirt cheap and only 18k miles. Looks really good condition too
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1998-HONDA-VTR-10 ... 27bc7a69ba

vtryorks · Post by **vtryorks** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 7:56 pm

Thanks mate, I'll check those out.

I'm not keen on getting an import due to insurance. Its hard to get insurance without a licence and adding "import" to the mix might not help matters.

Otherwise I'd be tempted by that one with 16k KM on it for example.

You guys are great! Another good reason to get a VTR.

agentpineapple · Post by **agentpineapple** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:47 pm

hi mate is the bike a s-reg 1999 if so i would question why the forks have corroded within 10,000 miles even ridin thru winter, you do seem to be paying top money for it but if its the bike you want, then thats ok, it's a nice colour with lots of extras, i'm surprised someone went to the bother of k&n and dynojet only to leave the original exhausts on, my guess would be it had an after market pair that was taken off prior to selling it to the dealer, weither this now affects the fuelling i don't know.
as miztaziggy says there are alot of bikes for sale in that price range buddy.
i'm not trying to change your mind on the bike, because i think it's a decent bike, in your shoes i would see if the dealer could lower the price by a 100 or 200, i wish you luck mate.......

keep an eye on this one, a hell of a lot of money spent on it, and he's listed it a couple of times already so he might be getting weary and sell it cheap.....lol
it's up in newcastle but don't hold it against him.....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2003-HONDA-VTR100 ... 3cb9d623b1

this ones in york....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Honda-VTR-Firesto ... 4cf8887e14

vtryorks · Post by **vtryorks** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:02 pm

Im checking all of them out.

I just put an offer in on a bike...waiting for a response.

I've now decided against the one from the IoM. The concensus seems to be the condition isnt great for that sort of mileage.

I'm really glad you guys could help me out with this and its made me even more determined to find a good'un.

tattoo · Post by **tattoo** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:16 pm

hi martin

pop into sykes motorcycles in pontefract n take a peek at the 51reg turquoise storm he has in the shop...not sure how much it is but he's had it a while now so mite be open to haggle on the price alittle.

andi

vtryorks · Post by **vtryorks** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:44 pm

Thanks for that, I'll check it out. I had a look at the website for Sykes but they dont seem to list stock. Strange for a bike shop.

I didnt even know they existed..!

Lawless247 · Post by **Lawless247** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:44 am

vtryorks wrote:
Miztaziggy wrote:Where in Yorkshire you from? Im about 20 mins from Squires myself (seen that in your other post) and work about 5 minutes away from there.
I'm from over Pontefract way

Hi Mate

Dont live too far from you. I'm in Outwood.

Been a while since I had a storm but, would be happy to have a look at a storm your considering if you want.
Also regular visitor to Squires so maybe see you there.

Paul

VTR1000.ORG