One Happy Chappy
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 7:18 pm
As you fellow stormers already know this you'll find my tale common. Myself, as you have noticed, am not only new to this forum I am new to the Firestorm too having only bought one a couple of months ago.
My tale goes something like this:
Today I went out on the bike for a run. The first real ride out since I bought the thing a few months ago. Its been a winter workhorse getting me to and from work and shops but never really moved from second or third gear in weeks.
A friend (gixxer 600) and I went out for a run. Up the A32 towards Loomies and on to petersfield and back to Portmouth via the A3, M3. Nice road that A32 with enough national speed limits to keep you interested and the odd slow town to drive around. Every national limit sign I passed I opened her up and left the gixxer behind. The pull of the VTR surprised me and speeds of up to 90 felt comfortable and slow.
Pulled into Loomies for a pee stop, as one does, and a fellow biker there directed us to a better road than the old A272. We followed along and he was right. Fantastic twisties and I had a chance to see how the Storm corners, Which seemed to be better than I do.
The inevetable refuel stop at Petersfield (Why do they make the tank so small!?) and onto the A3 home. I let Gixxer in front. Happily crusing in 6th at 70ish it seemed every time I twisted the throttle I was sitting on his pillion seat with him. The torque of the bike is deceptive and I found myself backing off a few times before deciding "bugger this" and shot passed him at around 110 with the bike still pulling.
Needless to say that the bike had a good run today and I had a good laugh doing it. The clatter of the engine as I took off drowned out the Gixxer engine behind me and even he said it sounded great.
I came to the conclusion:
I know that the gear box is clunky. I know that the fuel range is piss poor with refuels every 200 meters and I know that the massive carbs and twin engine drink more than an alcho on benefit day............. But I dont care. If I can sit at 100mph and feel like I'm only doing half that then I'll gladly stop every few miles to feed the beast. Everyone else can get to where theyre are going in one tank. I'll get there in 3 but I'll be smiling the most!
My tale goes something like this:
Today I went out on the bike for a run. The first real ride out since I bought the thing a few months ago. Its been a winter workhorse getting me to and from work and shops but never really moved from second or third gear in weeks.
A friend (gixxer 600) and I went out for a run. Up the A32 towards Loomies and on to petersfield and back to Portmouth via the A3, M3. Nice road that A32 with enough national speed limits to keep you interested and the odd slow town to drive around. Every national limit sign I passed I opened her up and left the gixxer behind. The pull of the VTR surprised me and speeds of up to 90 felt comfortable and slow.
Pulled into Loomies for a pee stop, as one does, and a fellow biker there directed us to a better road than the old A272. We followed along and he was right. Fantastic twisties and I had a chance to see how the Storm corners, Which seemed to be better than I do.
The inevetable refuel stop at Petersfield (Why do they make the tank so small!?) and onto the A3 home. I let Gixxer in front. Happily crusing in 6th at 70ish it seemed every time I twisted the throttle I was sitting on his pillion seat with him. The torque of the bike is deceptive and I found myself backing off a few times before deciding "bugger this" and shot passed him at around 110 with the bike still pulling.
Needless to say that the bike had a good run today and I had a good laugh doing it. The clatter of the engine as I took off drowned out the Gixxer engine behind me and even he said it sounded great.
I came to the conclusion:
I know that the gear box is clunky. I know that the fuel range is piss poor with refuels every 200 meters and I know that the massive carbs and twin engine drink more than an alcho on benefit day............. But I dont care. If I can sit at 100mph and feel like I'm only doing half that then I'll gladly stop every few miles to feed the beast. Everyone else can get to where theyre are going in one tank. I'll get there in 3 but I'll be smiling the most!
Once you know it, its awesome.
