Hi all!

[dansrockin]

Hiya! Just thought I'd sign up and say hello!
I'm dan, and I live in banbury. I'm about to go and pick up my first firestorm later today. It's a 97 in red, with fsh, fairing lowers, hugger, and a few other extras. It's done 23k, and looks really tidy.
Is there anything in particular I should look for before I hand over the cash?
Cheers

[agentpineapple]

welcome to the forum dan.
have a read thru the new member links posted by cybercarl.
http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... 23&t=31345
heres a few things to look for
has the bike had manual cct's fitted, if not try and haggle £50 to £100 off the price, and put it towards getting manuals fitted, has the bike had its reg/rec upgraded to the finned type?
does the rear suspension linkage creek?
is the bike slow turning over when you turn the ignition(possible battery issue)
if you take 10 mins to read thru the workshop knowledge section you'll see all the main issues....
http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=31

[Watty]

Welcome aboard sir. All the info you'll ever need on here and a great bunch of guys and girls

[AMCQ46]

welcome to the club and as you are in the midlands region I might just bump into you on the roads as I use the Banbury / Daventry area for a bit of a blast if I dont have time to get out to Wales.

[lloydie]

Welcome I'm only up tut road In Coventry :-) .

What I'd check for first is
Oil level and colour .

Tyres / tread depth and condition and age and psi as this will dampen the test ride if they are low .

Chain/sprockets - again condition

Suspension - bounce up and down on the rear and listen for squeaks /knocks and that it has dampening .
Forks . Check condition you don't want to see stone chips or oil leaks .
Head stock bearings are they smooth they should be .

Brakes . Check discs for thickness and groves . Pads is there any left .

Body work . Condition us all with these so give it a good going over .
Look in the tank for rust (there should be none )

Test ride :-)

It will have a clunky gear change from 1-2 this is normal so don't be put off by it .
Make sure it pulls hard above 7k to the red line and on deceleration check the brakes for warping (the brake lever will pulse if they are bad )
. Listen out for any unusual noises you might feel a knock or a cough in the tank don't worry this to is normal .
Have fun

[AMCQ46]

good list Lloydie

also look for the standard fitment pillion seat cowl and honda toolkit under the seat. if it doesnt have these you will end up paying out good money money on e-bay to get them.

Service history, or better still an owner who can show you all the oil & filter reciepts in his oily haynes manual.

enjoy the bike

[simo]

Hi Dan. Welcome to The Fast Red Club.

[Duffy1964]

Hi Dan, welcome to the forum fella

[Flatline]

Welcome aboard buddy

[VTRDark]

good list Lloydie

I was thinking that too.

Welcome to the forum. Should be some bargains to pick up this time of year.

(:-})

[dansrockin]

Thanks all for the welcome and advice! That link to the advice page is going to keep me busy for a while!
Is there anyway to tell without taking them out if the cct are original or manual? There is full service history but nothing that shows if they've been changed before.
Generally it is in good condition, forks and shock are very clean, no pitting or stone chips. It's got decent tyres and brake pads, tool kit is still there, renegade high level cans (that sound quite nice!), and pretty good body work apart from a few scuffs here and there. It's got a lower fairing, but I'm not sure about the looks with it on so that may go.
Only real minors that I can see so far is the front right indicator bracket is broken so the light wobbles a bit, but it's solid enough for now, and when they put the exhaust on, they have removed the pillion pegs. Not a huge prob as I don't carry a pillion but I'll try and source some at some point.
I only had a quick spin on it but I love the sound and the way it goes! My last bike was a zx9r, and I loved that bike, but you really can't beat a good vtwin!

[Jamoi]

Hello and welcome!

Strange, that's the 5th person (inc me) I've heard coming from a ZX9R to the Storm! I don't miss the ninja much, maybe the handling was a bit more composed on the ninja, but easily sorted on the Storm via decent fork rebuild (Roger at Revolution) and a rear shock to suit your weight.

Enjoy your new beastie

[dansrockin]

I loved the 9r, really comfy, good at distance work, brilliant engine, and really really good on fuel! I used to get around 50mpg and that wasn't riding particularly slowly!
I took it to the Isle of Man earlier in the year and got an indicated 175 on the straight between Kate's cottage and creg ny baa! Unfortunately that was also the main reason I got rid, it was just too easy to go way too fast!
I've always been a fan of vtwins though. I've had a sv650 and a couple of Harley's in the past, and just love the sound and the way they feel. The vtr certainly seems to cover those bases pretty well too!

[Saintsman27]

Hi M8tey ... ride a rock horse to Banbury Cross see a etc etc... cancel Dan M8
looks like you'll be ridin a different steed .. take care

[darkember]

[quote="dansrockin"]Thanks all for the welcome and advice! That link to the advice page is going to keep me busy for a while!
Is there anyway to tell without taking them out if the cct are original or manual?

Manuals will look like this:



If they don't look like the above then you will most probably have the stock variety which could have the stopper mode already done to them.

BTW welcome