firestorm handling

[paddy_skipton]

my storm is my second big bike so aint had that much experience with sports bikes.
i think it handles good for a so called sports tourer but i cant really compare it to many other bikes.
basically the question is how do you more experienced riders compare the storm in handling terms compared with sports 6's and 750's?
thanks paddy

[Stormin Ben]

Simple answer - chalk and cheese mate!!

The current crop of sport 600's are just that -sport bikes. The steering is rapid to the point of instability, they go where you are thinking of going before you are conscious of even thinking it, change line in an instant and feel SOOO light and small its unbelievable

The Storm (in standard form) is a slow steering, long old bus. Its nice and stable once leant over but takes a bit of effort getting it there (especially at speed) Very much horses for courses, you pays yer money and you takes yer choice

HOWEVER
With a bit of time and money spent it can be made pretty good
Mods in order they should be done
1) Sort forks -new springs and oil transform them, Blade forks improve not only the feel but also the look of the front end
2) Rear shock spacer -lifts the rear of the bike to sharpen the steering
3) Replace rear shock
4) If you wanna go further look at pulling the forks throught the yokes a bit (but beware of tyre choice at this point, some become effin unstable)


Hope this helps

Ben

[paddy_skipton]

cheers for that mate

[Stratman]

I've done a few bits to my 98 Storm:-

Forks resprung & heavier oil
Yokes dropped 8mm
Hagon rear shock

Settings on the soft side, as I prefer it that way. Can get the pegs down no probs, and I run Avon AV45/46's and get 7,000 plus miles from the rear!

Now keeps up with my mate's CBR600RR on the twisty bits (tho it takes a bit of manhandling) but the advantage is, when he and others on "sports" bikes are slowing down over bumpy backroads as their bars twitch, I'm away, no bar slapping etc.

I do sometimes wish I had sportsbike brakes though ( despite braided hoses and sintered pads) but they're OK I suppose

[droid]

Hey! A 'Storm handles waaay better than an 11 year old CB1000.
I won't be replacing owt yet

[teagie]

aint sure how u can compare this to any 600 class machine tbh when u consider the diffrent levels of torque vtr bout 70 lb per foot an average 600 my give out 47 . my guess is this machine should power out of the corners real fast . will let u know when i get it on tuesday

[paddy_skipton]

With a bit of time and money spent it can be made pretty good
Mods in order they should be done
1) Sort forks -new springs and oil transform them, Blade forks improve not only the feel but also the look of the front end
2) Rear shock spacer -lifts the rear of the bike to sharpen the steering
3) Replace rear shock
4) If you wanna go further look at pulling the forks throught the yokes a bit (but beware of tyre choice at this point, some become effin unstable)


Hope this helps

Ben

thanks to all the replies people

just out of interest how much would all the above cost in parts?
then i have to find someone a bit more mechanically minded than me to fit it all

[paddy_skipton]

I've done a few bits to my 98 Storm:-

Forks resprung & heavier oil
Yokes dropped 8mm
Hagon rear shock

same question again
how much did all that cost you in parts?
cheers

[Stormin Ben]

thanks to all the replies people

just out of interest how much would all the above cost in parts?
then i have to find someone a bit more mechanically minded than me to fit it all

1) About £80 and an hour of your time. If you can undo a couple of bolts you can swap the fork oil an springs
2) FOC if you can use a drill and hacksaw
3) £200 upwards (second hand) £500+ for new Ohlins, WP or Penske
4) FOC while you're doing 1

Ben

[paddy_skipton]

thanks to all the replies people

just out of interest how much would all the above cost in parts?
then i have to find someone a bit more mechanically minded than me to fit it all

1) About £80 and an hour of your time. If you can undo a couple of bolts you can swap the fork oil an springs
2) FOC if you can use a drill and hacksaw
3) £200 upwards (second hand) £500+ for new Ohlins, WP or Penske
4) FOC while you're doing 1

Ben

nice one
does anyone wanna help me out?>please
i'll do the work but need someone there to tell me what to do

[Stratman]

Just come back from North Yors and the Dales - three of us went up for the weekend, me and my Storm, a Blackbird and a CBR600RR.

Caught up, passed and annihilated a pair of FireBlades coming back through the Lincolnshire Wolds - on of them a new Repsol job with shiny new Crowtree leathers - ot grunted him between hairpins then away. The old girl still goes bloddy well.

My forks costs £105 to have resprung etc
I fitted a Hagon rear shock for £235. Not sexy, but good enough for me to beat a new Blade round the twisties! I dare say I'd notice the limutaions on a track, but I don't do tracks.

[paddy_skipton]

did you get anywhere near skipton on your travels mate?

[Max]

I just took my shock spacer off, on advice from Roger not to use one with std forks. I did find that at high speed (130+) that she was a lot more slappy with the spacer in.
Needless to say I am arranging for Roger to do my front forks and a rear shock soon.

[Stratman]

We went through (or past) Skipton on the way back. On the way there we went round the bypass and picked up the B6265 across the Dales.
You are spoilt for scenery and roads round there, compared to here in Norwich! We stayed up at Bainbridge at the Rose & Crown.

[paddy_skipton]

We went through (or past) Skipton on the way back. On the way there we went round the bypass and picked up the B6265 across the Dales.
You are spoilt for scenery and roads round there, compared to here in Norwich! We stayed up at Bainbridge at the Rose & Crown.

yup
dont know how lucky we are round here
not been to bainbridge but i'm assuming you went up the dales,past grassington,through kilnsey,buckden etc,then up to leyburn?