I've read through most of the technical knowledge on this forum a year ago, when I was considering buying a Firestorm and wanted to be ahead in the know-how when it comes to it's quirks and known problems.
Happy to say I did buy a pretty well maintained black 1998 VTR - it came with pretty horrible aftermarket turn signals, a tinted screen, and, most importantly, a pair of Italian MIVV carbon exhausts. The ground shook at the rumble it did..
This is my first "big bike", but I do have around 50.000 miles of mostly city riding under my belt, so I'm not very intimidated by the VTR... now that is! The first few months we're mental, the instant torque is absolutely amazing, as is the thunder that accompanies it. In spite of the new Michelin Pilot Road 4's (wonderful decision), the bike would powerslide into wheelies easily, manic laughter ensued!
(Video of a small wheelie)
One of these wheelies snapped the chain, that did a bit of damage, but was easily remedied in a local metal factory for 10 eur and new front sprocket cover with sprockets and chain. I don't like going really fast and mostly do city riding, so I went for a 1-tooth-down front sprocket, the change was reaaaally nice. Did the TPS reset, went up a size on the main jets, removed plastic divider in the airbox, found that the infamous electrical SH1T thingy had already been changed to a later part, shimmed the cush drive, lowered the front end a bit and had a blast for a few months.
I'm a big fan of minimalistic bikes, especially something between a retro cafe racer'ish muscle bike and an industrial looking street fighter. So the VTR stood before me, naked... The feeling after having removed all the rattling fairings (most of the tabs we're broken when I bought it, sadly) was awesome - the bike felt much more nimble, flickable, prone to wheelies; everything I desired. Found an MX style headlight from a bike I had 6 years ago - on it went. In the end of the season (we have quite harsh winters in Lithuania) I became brave and, with a spare complete rear end I bought for a 100 euros, I attacked my bike with the angle grinder and a welder. Rear subframe came out a lot shorter and a bit thinner. Somehow managed to squeeze all the electric bits under the now much shorter seat. Made some temporary minimalistic side fenders. Had a few prototypes of a LED tail light, nothing final yet.
The bike is now of course un-rideable in the wet, but I hated that anyway, have my car for the slippery stuff.
Only a few pictures of the bike in it's last stages, because my season was abruptly ended when I slipped, lost my balance and fell with the bike into an open pit in my garage. My fault, nothing serious, a few scrapes and bent clip-ons. But that made me just put it to rest for the year.
The bike is now in bits, going to get the frame, swingarm and some small things powdercoated in a few weeks time. Still have to polish the exhausts, install manual CCT's I already have, have some professional upholster the seat, make permanent fairings, lower the front, lift up the rear. After reassembly, some more fabrication.. anything else the imagination conjures up. Most of the stuff I do myself, ghetto style, learning along the way.
I know that my modifications, and especially the way that some of them are done, or at least look (half-assed) may offend some VTR purists, but I really believe that bikes are supposed to reflect one's self. And I am, indeed, an untidy fun loving young adult/kid at heart, who loves to wheelie and tinker while making his bike more raw and unique, smiling along the way. The bike will look awesome when I'm finally finished, promise!
Martynas
Can't wait to see it fully painted and assembled.
