Hi from new member! Advice before buying Firestorm please!!

[MikeTheKnight]

Hi all,
Thanks for accepting me in your forum!

I realy want a Firestorm. I have had a variety of 600cc and 1000cc inline 4s, a 650 parallell twin and a 675 triple but I have never had a big V-twin. I reckon its everything I want in a bike right now!

Anyways...

I know the Firestorm was updated in 2001, but I have seen some bikes that are registered 2002 but are still the earlier spec. I guess they were just late registered? I have been in touch with one seller of a 2002 reg bike who says it has the larger fuel tank, but not the digi clocks. I havn't seen the bike in person, or pics of the dash but that doesn't sound right. So first question is did Honda ever make the bike a half-way house of the 2 specs? or does the lack of digi clocks (updated dash) mean its definately the older spec?

Secondly, when i'm looking at bikes, how can I tell if the cam chain tensioner is original, or been replaced with the manual one?

Thanks in advance

[VTRDark]

Sounds to me like a late registered made to look like a later one. The 19l tank is not much good without the later clocks as you want the digital fuel gauge with a 19l tank otherwise it will have a modified, bent and possibly inaccurate fuel tank sender unit from a 16l tank or another bike for when the level drops. The later 19l Tank has a float that moves up and down with the level of fuel. No there was no middle ground VTR.

Welcome to the forum

[StormyRob]

What VTRDARK said

If the 19l is a requirement for you then wait for a proper one.

However it is only 3 litres. Not going to make a huge difference. There is no denying it is a petrol hungry bike but it is magnificent. Personally I would spend my budget on a decent model regardless of the tank size.

[Shauned71]

Heya Welcome to the forums

Cam chain tensioners.. look at pic below... top is manual bottom is auto. There can be subtle differences to the manuals but the auto's all look the same.

//uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20131201/7a8ejaze.jpg

No Firestorm has a true digital clock unless it's after market.. both early and late models have analogue speedo/rev gauges and both have a digital display of sorts.

Early model clocks - http://images.mcn.bauercdn.com/upload/8 ... 8ra-01.jpg

Late model clocks - http://www.elfshot.com/vtr/images/dash.jpg

The 19l tank is not much good without the later clocks as you want the digital fuel gauge with a 19l tank otherwise it will have a modified, bent and possibly inaccurate fuel tank sender unit from a 16l tank or another bike for when the level drops.

Just to clarify.. the above^ is not an issue. If it was an older bike with a later tank... it's not exactly hard to work out what your reserve is and to adjust it if needed.

[MikeTheKnight]

Heya Welcome to the forums

Cam chain tensioners.. look at pic below... top is manual bottom is auto. There can be subtle differences to the manuals but the auto's all look the same.

//uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20131201/7a8ejaze.jpg

No Firestorm has a true digital clock unless it's after market.. both early and late models have analogue speedo/rev gauges and both have a digital display of sorts.

Early model clocks - http://images.mcn.bauercdn.com/upload/8 ... 8ra-01.jpg

Late model clocks - http://www.elfshot.com/vtr/images/dash.jpg

Thanks! forgive me for being mechanically naive, is it possible to see the CCT on the bike, and where do i look? Just so i know if the auto has been replaced when i buy the bike.

many thanks

[MacV2]

Unless its a std one thats been converted...

Which looks like this...

https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.t4jz ... Co&pid=Api

Right hand side of the bike, the lower part of the rear cylinder you will find the CCT

[Wicky]

Yes look at the right side above the footpeg / swinger pivot at the back of the rear pot. The front one is hidden by the right hand side frame rail / fuel tank.

[MacV2]

The other thing worth considering is if your not 100% sure about a bike you like/would consider purchasing is to have someone from here help at a veiwing...

Of course you'll have to let us know where abouts you live for someone local to step forward to help.

Most will work for beer money or a cup of tea/coffee but expect biscuits to be requested...Some will only work for sexual favours so make sure you have lube at hand...

[alanfjones1411]

The other thing worth considering is if your not 100% sure about a bike you like/would consider purchasing is to have someone from here help at a veiwing...

Of course you'll have to let us know where abouts you live for someone local to step forward to help.

Most will work for beer money or a cup of tea/coffee but expect biscuits to be requested...Some will only work for sexual favours so make sure you have lube at hand...

It's always handy to know where you are located.The manual tensioners usually have a bolt poking out with a lock nut.

[MikeTheKnight]

Thanks all for the info and advice - all really useful, especially the lube......

[agentpineapple]

good luck finding a bike fella, look for condition, has it been well cared for, just because it's shiny doesn't mean it's a good bike, I've been caught out by that myself.
check the bikes mot history online, it costs nothing. it's a bonus if its had the cct's changed to manuals.
late model bikes cost a little more. and there's plenty of bikes out there, prices have been on the up for a while now, but you can still find the odd bargain, and £1750 should buy you a very decent bike....

[sirch345]

Welcome aboard Mike

I think most things have been covered so I can't really add to that.
Taking someone with you who does know about bikes is a good suggestion.

Good luck with your search,

Chris.

[fabiostar]

welcome along mike. happy hunting. as with any bike try to figure out if the owner is a numb nuts or not... dont be to worried about the miles on storms. they do get better with age.

[alanfjones1411]

I wouldn't worry about fuel capacity,as said it's only 3 litres.I recently got 127 miles from fuel light to fuel light,but i was sticking to speed limits and taking it steady.A member of this forum currently has a very nice bike for sale at the moment on ebay item number 263252372410. Take a look.