VTR1000.ORG

Hi everybody,

I'm about to try a Honda VTR1000 1998. I've heard pretty good things and generally I'm just more into older bikes.
Any guys got experience with a VTR? What to look out for and stuff? Any dos and donts?

Thanks in advance.!

http://vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php ... 56#p304637

Like any 2nd hand bike, general condition if it looks good it's been looked after, if it looks tatty, dirty, rusty ect then Ask questions or walk away...

Check date stamp on tyres, even if they have loads of tread & look ok if they are 10 years old only fit for the bin, unless you like hedges !

Things like headstock bearings, coolant & fork oil may never been replaced in its life...

The shock linkage is real easy one to have missed some lovin in it's life time deff needs pulling & at the very least a regrease If not a full strip down, clean up & new bearings & seals...

At the end of the day, It's either been loved or just used & abused...

How big is your wallet ?

One other thing that can be an issue is the front exhaust header fixings, as it gets all the weather thrown at it if it's ridden in the rain, plus whatever the front tyre can throw up. If you give the front exhaust header flange a quick look and it's rusty as an anchor it will probably mean the two nuts holding it there are seized onto the studs. Removing these can be a fairly difficult job, in some cases even shearing the studs off flush with the cylinder-head. If that happens, unless you are really skilful and have the right tools it could mean the front cylinder-head will have to come off.

That probably sounds really bad, but I'm not trying to put you off buying a Storm, just making you aware.

On the other hand if there is a nice new stainless steel header flange fitted the chances are the nuts holding it there won't be seized.

Chris.

You could always ask the seller to show them turning freely.
Give them a bit of notice, though!
WD40 doesn't work instantly.

(Or at all, sometimes...)

Definitely the sqeauky shock linkage/swing arm pivot.
Cam chain rattle due to weak tensioner.
Starter motor gets a pasting from the elements so check the cruddiness of the main battery cable connection to the s/m.

Other than that it's just general stuff... A 'clean bike' should be exactly that.

If you've not ridden a twin before, they can feel quite agricultural especially when pulling away, lots of big torque pulses from those huge pistons!

bigbadjonno wrote: ↑Sun Mar 02, 2025 11:19 am Definitely the sqeauky shock linkage/swing arm pivot.
Cam chain rattle due to weak tensioner.
Starter motor gets a pasting from the elements so check the cruddiness of the main battery cable connection to the s/m.

Other than that it's just general stuff... A 'clean bike' should be exactly that.

If you've not ridden a twin before, they can feel quite agricultural especially when pulling away, lots of big torque pulses from those huge pistons!

OEM ones don't rattle they just go snap, clack, clack, crunch.

If it has manuals fitted & they not tensioned correctly you might hear a bit of a rattle.