New VTR Owner here!

[thetroublemaker]

Hi Guys,

I have, after going through quite a list of bikes, decided to get a firestorm.

Previously I have had:

1992 CBR 600F
1997 ZX9R C1
1996 TRX 850
2009 Daytona 675
2010 Speed Triple (last of old shape)
2007 ZX10R Gen 2
2011 ZX10R Gen 3

I sold the ZX10R in January so i wasnt tied to £250 a month before it had even turned a wheel, and to be fair it was going to end up with me in the nick or the morgue, as you had to be doing twice the limit for it to even start making sense.

And that got me thinking, and I realised that the bike i had had the most all out fun on that i could jump on and ride about easily and enjoyably was the venerable old TRX850, which never ceased to bring a smile to my face (and it was obnoxiously loud - which always helps!).

Now TRX's make way more than they really should used at the moment, i guess they are rare and "cult" - a bit like my second choice a TL1000s. So that left the VTR looking incredibly good value for money, and being a honda I expect a decent level of finish and reliability from it. I saw this one, have bashed a deal out for £1300 for it, which i think is fair.



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0883791128

I have had a little look, and i already have a few mods ready to do - namely

6mm spacer on the rear shock (i am 110kgs with leathers so 6mm would seem the correct amount)
Bafflectomy on the stock pipes (or i have a MTC GP PRO from the zx10r, could get another one to make a pair)
HT Lead resistor removal for stronger spark

So, expect several posts/threads from me asking whether to/how to do things in the future!

Dave.

[lloydie]

Hello and welcome and black is the fastest
Have a good read through the
Workshop knowledge base section
Regarding cct's and r/r .

[Kev L]

Welcome in Troublemaker, you got the value for money bit right fella, difficult to see a better buy for bangs for your buck.
As Lloydie said check out the CCT threads on here and check the RR.

[agentpineapple]

welcome aboard trouble maker, thankgod your bike isn't yellow
have a good read and then start asking questions.....

[AMCQ46]

Welcome to the club troublemaker,. The thought process that brought you here is pretty common, new 1000cc bikes are just far too good for most riders and most conditions, and you have more fun on something with a bit of soul......and you cant go far wrong with £1300! and lower insurance!

as others have said, get the basics sorted and then just enjoy the summer

[MacV2]

We really don't want any trouble makers in here thank you very much, it's bad enough as it is!

Only joking, welcome in but can you please stand at the back.

Looks like you got a good bargain there. What's the mileage on it?

Heed the warnings of the other lads & check those CCT's if they are standard ones look at making them the first thing you sort out. They can go pop at any time with no warning leaving you with an expensive repair.

Contact Bazza via PM on here & I'm sure he'll be able to sort you out a pair.

Whereabouts in this sunny isle are you? We have a workshop day coming up on April 7th in Colchester, group of us meeting up & tinkering followed by a ride out. (see the post in the Sunday rides section.)


Mac

[tony.mon]

Hi and welcome.
Not a bad price, you did ok there.

[pinkyfloyd]

What they said.

Oh and you wanna be removing that top box thingy on the back.

Loving the colour. Looks a lot like mine only cleanerer.

[turbo_billy]

Welcome to the joys of the Storm

[Flatline]

Welcome aboard buddy

[lumpyv]

hello mate plenty of advice and depth of knowledge on here.
what was the daytona like??

[sirch345]

Welcome aboard TTM It looks like you did well there

Chris.

[thetroublemaker]

Hi guys!

Well we got it home from Wales to sunny Milton Keynes.....

However, it did lose volts on the way home Went through the reg/rect test flowchart on here and on the last test it failed - luckily the rectifier side (i think) has died not the regulating side - so theres no voltage output to mention (11.6 volts whoop whoop!!!) but at least its not 18 or 19 which would be worse! The batterys on the optimate and the original style reg/rech is being replaced with a genuine honda finned replacement (cheers ebay - 51.99 + delivery - local honda dealers wanted £120. Plus vat. oooook then!!!

Its had a cam chain at 18K according to the manual so maybe the CCT's have already been changed, either way will send the PM and grab some manual ones

The stock exhausts are off, have bafflectomied one already, but will do the other one tomorrow. Have also ordered a MTC GP Pro to match the one i took off the ZX10r (250mm carbon "poor mans racefit") and bought some link pipes. That should be interesting on the VTR!!!!!

Then I need a new tyre for the back in next 500 miles, a tail tidy and some smaller indicators are on the cards (plus a smaller number plate thats not the size of a surfboard!), a good service and the carbs balancing up and i think we will be getting there.

Oh....and the brakes are poop. HEL lines and new pads methinks!

Main thing is i REALLY like it, its like the TRX but with a little more grunt - not as smooth up top as the TRX's parrallel twin lump, but it moves with a distingctly more "oomphy" shove in the lower gears - 2nd and third are good fun - its a very friendly character for a road bike, power from 4k to 8k is where you need it - not 8k to 13 lol!!!!!! Handles ok, a bit wayward, but with the spacer on the rear i am sure we will get it there :D

[agentpineapple]

i'll be selling a matt black tail tidy/undertray in a week or so matey....

[whitestorm pete]

welcome to the club mate