Cubicincubi,
Reading back through the posts, it looks like your original post may have been just a little too direct, hence the response that was given.
Now that you’ve fully explained it, I tend to agree with you on certain aspects.
The ‘Storm is a Marmite bike, you either love it or hate it ! Its all about personal taste, and how the machine matches your riding style.
Exactly as Mellis says, I too had a ‘Storm but something wasn’t right for me and although it was fun, I just didn’t feel as one with it. That’s why I went and bought the bike I have now.
As for going down the supermoto route, I personally feel that if you do this come a few months time you’ll be back in the same situation. Yes I agree they’re an absolute hoot around the B roads, but they lack the top end of the A roads and I think you’ll become frustrated with it …. As from what you’ve said, you do seem to like your speed.
From all that has been said, the main factor seems to be that you should just enjoy your riding whatever machine your on, and be safe with it too.
If you decide to sell the 'Storm, best of luck and let us know how you get on with your next purchase.
I'm probably going to sell my storm.
That's interesting about the Busa, I've ridden one as my brother use to own one, so I know what they are like. The reason I asked was because my brother sold his simply because he was becoming far to over confident on his, everytime he went out he was just getting faster and faster (roads/traffic permitting obviously) and deep down he knew it was only a matter of time before he came a cropper, he couldn't seem to help himself, no matter how much he thought he would try to slow done a bit the next time he went out, it was almost as if he became addicted to the high capabilities of the Busa, I was not sorry when he got rid of itcubicincubi wrote:I ride the Busa on A type roads and motorways only, sees a B road when necessary for the journey. I hardly take it for a spin at weekends, it's for long haul and I'm planning a big 2 week trip next year to Italy. Of the two machines it is better balanced and by a long way far smoother than the firestorm on A roads. But we all know that, the beasts have very different natures. Busa is a relaxed bike, yeah ok so it does hypersport speeds if your daft enough. It's very overated with regards to people banging on about how mental it is... it's not, it's a piss easy bike to ride and very comfy... whilst the acceleration is blistering fast its easy to handle. it's very underated with regards to people saying it cant handle... it can. It sweeps nicely round bends without any fuss. I've hustled on it plenty of times when it's took my fancy and it blows the firestorm away in everyway for doing things in a more relaxed manner.sirch345 wrote:
I know it's everybody to their own idea of safe riding, but I am wondering if that's how you ride the Storm how do you ride your Busa
A hayabusa is simply a great tool for crossing continents. When I'm older I'll end up with a Big BMW, for now i'll tour on a Busa.
I find the Firestorm a completely different machine, obviously, I love the charecteristics of the V Twin, it feels tiny and light in comparison so naturally I'm expecting it to be able to handle tighter. It doesnt, it struggles, it twitches, it leaps about. I knew all of this before I bought it from reading reviews and owners stories about needing better brakes and suspension. I've never really been able to tame it I think and it feels a bit like a bucking bronco. I just dont get it. Some of you folks love them to bits, it doesnt seem to fit into my expectations. It is only now though, with 10,000 miles between the two bikes, with improved skills honed from both, that I'm finding this out for myself.
My riding is naturally taking me in a direction the Firestorm wasnt meant to go. It's a bike, as I was told when I first considered it, for experienced riders who can get more out of it. A post DAS rider will not become a progresive rider using a Firestorm as the tool to craft such skill.
cheers
The only down side with the Busa on a long trip if you start using it's power a little, you will probably need a new rear tyre before you get back
As Wroey said, you either love the Storm or hate it and that's exactly what my local bike shop boss said to me when I test rode my Storm.
It all comes down to personal choice, so I wish you luck in what ever direction you decide to go, but do keep in touch.
Cheers,
Chris.
Mine doesn't do any of those things!I find the Firestorm a completely different machine, obviously, I love the charecteristics of the V Twin, it feels tiny and light in comparison so naturally I'm expecting it to be able to handle tighter. It doesnt, it struggles, it twitches, it leaps about. I knew all of this before I bought it from reading reviews and owners stories about needing better brakes and suspension. I've never really been able to tame it I think and it feels a bit like a bucking bronco. I just dont get it.
Spend a bit of time settting the susspension up/dropping the yokes etc?
Admittedly I have changes the shock/springs etc as well, but I've never had aproblem keeping with more sports orientated machines ESPECIALLY on B roads where their firmer settings usually mean they are backing off over bumpy surfaces.
Two bikes, still only four cylinders!
buy a bike without a fairing , but not a super moto you will have the wheel in the air and thats reckless driving and a ban , i sugest a musle bike no fairing , why dont you go out in the car take it up to 90mph stick your head out the window , then you will get my point , 90 feels like 90 , sports bike with fairings you look down and see 120 mph and it just feels so slow with the wind blasting over your head 
just because your breathing doesn't mean your alive
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firestorm996
- Posts: 617
- Joined: Tue Jul 16, 2002 10:15 am
- Location: Oop North
- Contact:
A KTM 950sm would be right up your street ;)
Plenty of grunt and just as capable of motorway miles and fast A-roads as it is at handling b-roads.
I've had 2 VTRs and became frustrated at the same things that you mention, mainly that on anything not resembling a good surface you just get bucked around all over the place and it stops being fun. I've had 3 supermotos to date, first one was a TM250 2-stroke, which was mental but I never went further than a few miles from the house on it as it wasn't taxed or MOTd. I then an XR650 which was superb, proper quick even on A-roads as Fluffy will testify (115mph no problem), it even handled the mountain at the IOM without breaking a sweat but yep you need to be not bothered by windblast. Kickstart only and something not dissimilar to a candle for a headlight meant that the practicality side was lacking but the fun factor was huge. Only reason I sold it was to get something that would be less top-heavy off-road. Then got me a Husaberg 501 supermoto which was the baldrocks, light as hell (48rwhp and 110kg) but basically a racebike so oil changes were needed every 150 miles max.
During all that time I missed having a bike which would eat up the miles, there were bike events going on in different parts of the country which I wanted to go to but couldn't. I then got my z750 which is a good compromise. It's chuckable down the B-roads, but also fun on a-roads and will handle motorway no problem. Rode back from east Germany on it in a day back in June so touring not a problem either! The lack of a fairing keeps the 100-plus speeds very much in the minority, you might nail it through the gears up to a ton or so but you'll be backing off pretty soon. The only prob really is that it still has sportsbike suspension with not much travel so on a b-road you either have to pick your line carefully (not a bad thing) or learn to ride the Irish Road-race way (over bumps and cowshit without batting an eyelid!) again which is not a bad thing. You'll never find a bike which will do everything perfectly, I would say though that if you've got a Busa in your garage then you can afford to have something less practical and not as capable on the bigger roads. Supermotos are the best bike in the world when it's a summer evening and you just want to get out for half an hour, and also if you've only got minor roads nearby such as me.
Regardless of what you get, good luck and enjoy.
Plenty of grunt and just as capable of motorway miles and fast A-roads as it is at handling b-roads.
I've had 2 VTRs and became frustrated at the same things that you mention, mainly that on anything not resembling a good surface you just get bucked around all over the place and it stops being fun. I've had 3 supermotos to date, first one was a TM250 2-stroke, which was mental but I never went further than a few miles from the house on it as it wasn't taxed or MOTd. I then an XR650 which was superb, proper quick even on A-roads as Fluffy will testify (115mph no problem), it even handled the mountain at the IOM without breaking a sweat but yep you need to be not bothered by windblast. Kickstart only and something not dissimilar to a candle for a headlight meant that the practicality side was lacking but the fun factor was huge. Only reason I sold it was to get something that would be less top-heavy off-road. Then got me a Husaberg 501 supermoto which was the baldrocks, light as hell (48rwhp and 110kg) but basically a racebike so oil changes were needed every 150 miles max.
During all that time I missed having a bike which would eat up the miles, there were bike events going on in different parts of the country which I wanted to go to but couldn't. I then got my z750 which is a good compromise. It's chuckable down the B-roads, but also fun on a-roads and will handle motorway no problem. Rode back from east Germany on it in a day back in June so touring not a problem either! The lack of a fairing keeps the 100-plus speeds very much in the minority, you might nail it through the gears up to a ton or so but you'll be backing off pretty soon. The only prob really is that it still has sportsbike suspension with not much travel so on a b-road you either have to pick your line carefully (not a bad thing) or learn to ride the Irish Road-race way (over bumps and cowshit without batting an eyelid!) again which is not a bad thing. You'll never find a bike which will do everything perfectly, I would say though that if you've got a Busa in your garage then you can afford to have something less practical and not as capable on the bigger roads. Supermotos are the best bike in the world when it's a summer evening and you just want to get out for half an hour, and also if you've only got minor roads nearby such as me.
Regardless of what you get, good luck and enjoy.
Firestorm996
'98 VTR in black - road whore - track bitch
'98 VTR in black - road whore - track bitch
I know exactly how he feels, i loved my 'storm for the 3 years that i owned it, but after changing to a busa it does everything that the storm does but so much smoother and far more comfortable and you don't need to keep stopping for fuel.
The busa's not all about speed, you don't need to keep going faster and faster, i toured two up this summer 1500 miles in 9 days/ 50mpg/ and lots of comfort, no way i could have done that two up on the 'storm or at least not with my wife. Oh and Busas and tyre life is all bullshit, the last rear on mine has managed 4200 miles so far and still has a little life left, yup burnots will kill em but what do you expect.
It's not knocking the 'storm but there are different bikes out there that suit some people better. Find the right bike for you and be happy.
Some people won't or can't change their bike, usually finances or wife, but continue to defend their bikes as it somehow justifies their longterm ownership. If money was no object i fear very few people would own a 'storm
The busa's not all about speed, you don't need to keep going faster and faster, i toured two up this summer 1500 miles in 9 days/ 50mpg/ and lots of comfort, no way i could have done that two up on the 'storm or at least not with my wife. Oh and Busas and tyre life is all bullshit, the last rear on mine has managed 4200 miles so far and still has a little life left, yup burnots will kill em but what do you expect.
It's not knocking the 'storm but there are different bikes out there that suit some people better. Find the right bike for you and be happy.
Some people won't or can't change their bike, usually finances or wife, but continue to defend their bikes as it somehow justifies their longterm ownership. If money was no object i fear very few people would own a 'storm
Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana.
Fruit flies like a banana.
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LotusSevenMan
- Posts: 1915
- Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2006 8:32 pm
- Location: Liss, Hampshire. UK
I think you might be right, but then if everyone enjoyed having a good looking motorcycle people would stop buying the 'busa now. "It does what it does very well but is butt-ugly".Some people won't or can't change their bike, usually finances or wife, but continue to defend their bikes as it somehow justifies their longterm ownership. If money was no object i fear very few people would own a 'storm
Me talking? Nope. The 'busa owner in the next unit to where I work!!!!!!
"Only ride as fast as your guardian angel can fly" !!!
I disagree slightly I have 2 bikes the Benelli and the Storm, the Benelli is in a different league to the Storm, My cousin has 12 bikes one of which is a Storm(riding his Storm made me buy mine). Every so often he/me considers selling the Storm , then we take them out and hammer them. This usually means we come back with a huge grin and keeping the Storm. The Storm is so much fun IMHO I doubt either of us will ditch it.Pipstorm wrote: Some people won't or can't change their bike, usually finances or wife, but continue to defend their bikes as it somehow justifies their longterm ownership. If money was no object i fear very few people would own a 'storm
Max
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Stormin Ben
- Posts: 1234
- Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2002 12:23 am
- Location: Birmingham
Well here goes with my (alcohol fuelled) twopennyworth
1. As STANDARD the storm doesn't cope with those sort of roads very well.
2. I'm with Cub on this one -the majority of my riding is on B-roads for the simple reason s of a) they have more corners and b) when was the last time you saw a speed trap on one? There isn't the volume of traffic to justify the expense
3. For not a lot of money and effort the Storm can be made into a demon back road blaster -£80 sees new oil and springs in the forks, talking nicely to the local engineering shop sees a 5mm spacer on the rear -TRANSFORMED
A bike you can razz down fast A roads but that will also outgrunt anything down the B-roads too
4. A supermoto is NOT a more license friendly bike. They just encourage you to ride like a prize twot
5. Give me some pointers to some of your favbe roads coz I'm heading up that way next year (Belford, nr Bamburgh)
Anyway, hic off to bed
If you want to swap your storm coz it doesn't suit your riding style -good luck to you, nobody's gonna hold it against you and feel free to stay active on this board
Cheers
1. As STANDARD the storm doesn't cope with those sort of roads very well.
2. I'm with Cub on this one -the majority of my riding is on B-roads for the simple reason s of a) they have more corners and b) when was the last time you saw a speed trap on one? There isn't the volume of traffic to justify the expense
3. For not a lot of money and effort the Storm can be made into a demon back road blaster -£80 sees new oil and springs in the forks, talking nicely to the local engineering shop sees a 5mm spacer on the rear -TRANSFORMED
A bike you can razz down fast A roads but that will also outgrunt anything down the B-roads too
4. A supermoto is NOT a more license friendly bike. They just encourage you to ride like a prize twot
5. Give me some pointers to some of your favbe roads coz I'm heading up that way next year (Belford, nr Bamburgh)
Anyway, hic off to bed
If you want to swap your storm coz it doesn't suit your riding style -good luck to you, nobody's gonna hold it against you and feel free to stay active on this board
Cheers
I've got an inferiority complex
But its not a very good one!
But its not a very good one!