Ex Forum Lurker

[Hoppo]

Hi all,
Thought I’d say hello at last. Been lurking here far too long, (won't say how long-you'll banish me) using your brains
So thanks to you all for the insight into Firestorm quirks. sirch345 for the excellent cct guide, which I used after a failure, tony.mon & all you knowledgeable guys for all the hints & tips.

My Firestorm history so far

I'm way old enough to know better but still bought a T reg RED storm (15k immaculate, no mods apart from Scorpion cans) from one of my son's friends about 4 years ago after my son persuaded me to have a go on his. Found courage to ride his round the village a few times & had to have one & now won't get rid of it until I don't have strength to hold it up!
Up till then had only ridden my neighbours 750VFR round the village a few times, other than that nothing in the last 25 years!
My last bike was a well tuned ex track Norton 650SS.

Had a front cct go last year at around the speed limit (lol) & rode it home at 20 miles at 25ish, got some funny looks from car drivers as the din is grim!
When I got around to doing the cct’s (front, broken,dry as a bone & showing some rust), managed to make the front chain jump a few teeth which proved interesting & caused a lot of swearing. Checked everything again and again… including compression & valve clearances (to make sure valves weren’t bent) crossed fingers, started it & found i‘d got away with no damage!
BTW, wondered if a good quality oil nipple in place of the bolt & given a few shots of engine oil weekly would help. Any thoughts anyone?

Hope I can add something now and again & maybe see some of you at the Oakdene (Wrotham Kent) this summer. I’m just up the hill from there.
Cheers, Hoppo

[simo]

Welcome to the Forum Hippo. Great bike's once the cct's and R/R problems are overcome. Talking about oil nipples makes me think you're an oldie like me and a few others on here. We should compare Brass Oil Guns sometime. Lol

[AMCQ46]

welcome, better late than never.........I lurked for 3 yrs before I spoke to anybody, so i cant pick on you for doing the same

[lloydie]

Hello and welcome at last lol

[agentpineapple]

weicome aboard hoppo, post some pics of your bike fella, we like to be nosey here

[Kev L]

welcome, better late than never.........I lurked for 3 yrs before I spoke to anybody, so i cant pick on you for doing the same

But that was outside the municipal toilets in Birmingham!!!!!

[agentpineapple]

welcome, better late than never.........I lurked for 3 yrs before I spoke to anybody, so i cant pick on you for doing the same

But that was outside the municipal toilets in Birmingham!!!!!

if i remember the report in the newspaper correctly kev, it was the gents toilets!!!

[Kev L]

That's what I heard as well mate!

[AMCQ46]

Cheeky fuc*ers

I have to remind you that the case was dropped................ it was clearly a case of mistaken identity and when they found out that I didnt own a blue bike they were 100% satisfied that I wasnt confused

[chris vtr virgin]

Welcome to the mad hoose

[tony.mon]

Hi all,
Thought I’d say hello at last. you a failure, tony.mon

Hope I can add something now and again & maybe see some of you at the Oakdene (Wrotham Kent) this summer. I’m just up the hill from there.
Cheers, Hoppo

Well, that's nice, innit?
And me being a neighbour, so to speak, from Kemsing, just over the hill, myself.

At last we have a few locals for a Kent rideout in the summer, hopefully.
I keep having to go over the river and join the Essex lot.

Coming to Wicky's Essex workshop day?
If so, maybe a few of us could ride up together.

And yes, I get down to the Oakdene on a Wednesday eve sometimes, let me know when you're going.

[turbo_billy]

Welcome in at last mate
Just one question, you did replace the CCT`s with manuals after your misadventure....?
Just reread your first post and would hate to think you put some more Honda timebombs back in....

[karenvtr]

Hi and welcome

[sirch345]

Welcome aboard Hoppo, glad you took the plunge and joined us properly It's a long time I've heard of anyone say they've had a CCT fail but managed to ride it home and get away with no bent valves. I think you were very lucky, but it proves it does happen

Chris.

[Hoppo]

Hi guys, thanks for the great welcome!
To answer your questions/comments:
simo- by all means, lost my brass one but still have my short steel one from the Norton!
Bigspanishmarty - No pics of bike!I’ll get it out from under wraps in garage this week & take one. As I’m and old f**t it only comes out (THE BIKE) in fair weather!
Kev L-Latin?- so you are REALLY educated!! + I keep away from the municipal’s
AMCQ46 – no time for confusion on a Storm
tony.mon –over the hill - & you ride a storm?? Going to Essex-you speak the language then. Bet you just like making a noise in the tunnel! Hadn’t thought about Wicky’s, If I do i’ll learn the language again. (No offence to you Essex guys -i'm ex Essex!) Will let you know about Oakdene, my neighbour has been trying to get me to go.Good luck with clutch-haven’t had that yet.
turbo_billy – ouch – yes real Honda ones.Thinking of stopper mod -paying job for tony.mon?! I have the skill but not enough inside knowledge.
sirch345 – very lucky. must admit, big risk but it was firing evenly & I kept the load off. Amazing how light you can be with a throttle – real pansy style, actually got overtaken by cars – hasn’t happened since!.
Anyway hope to see some of you around.
Cheers, Hoppo