Honda VTR1000 Firestorm 998

I'm going through my midlife crisis and a Ducati has been on my bucket list for many years. My trusted bike mechanic responded with "How much you got?" Then I discovered this little known gem of a bike, the VTR1000 Super Duper Hawk. I have been riding bikes for almost 40 years but this is my first sportbike since my 1983 Kawasaki GPz 750, last ridden in 1986. Wow oh wow oh me oh my..what a bike! The power is brutal and right now. The handling is sweet and precise. The sound with a pair of aftermarket pipes is a NASCAR-like staccato howl. This is as close to flying a fighter jet as I'll ever get. Oh yes and I love the look of the bike. Oh yes it's red. This is like a Ducati without the costs and headaches of ownership. Sure it'll do 150 but all the fun is in the first 2/3 of that which is really all I need anyway. My search has ended, I'll never need another sport bike. And when I'm riding it, I can't remember a word she said..

I bought this bike five years ago.It still looks good runs great. All of my friends rides the other guys. there bikes are always breaking down. It is a very dependable bike. Very easy to work on yourself. Handles very well.

I went from an R1 to a VTR and I must say, the drop in power wasnt as noticeable as I thought it would be.

Good points:

- Lovely deep rumble from the engine

- Lots of low down power

- Great value bike - second hand prices are low and you get a lot of bike for your money

- Relatively comfortable compared to the out and out sports bikes

Bad points:

- Suspension is a bit squishy

- Looks are a little dated now

- CCT (Cam chain tensioner) failure if left standard parts can cause engine failure, though replacement for manual CCTs fixes this problem and is quite cheap to do.

- Not as much top end power as a 4 pot bike

- Quite thirsty for fuel

As the bike has been around a long time, there are loads of parts on ebay and loads of upgrades available. Fork springs, lower fairings, exhaust systems etc.

As with most Honda bikes, build quality is excellent. Gearbox is excellent and never misses a change. Everything feels solid as it should.

I have a vtrf is a my dream!!!!! is a great bike!!!! very great bike!!!!!!

I,ve ridden m/c's most of my life in the 70's cb750,500 Kwaka Z1, Ducati 860 GTS and was out of the scene for a few years,got back into riding on Hyosung GTR 650 an underated m/c but needed something more ala the VTR,damn it was just pure awesomeness the ride the noise the vibe I just love it,read a mixed re-view on a local m/c mag, said its style was outdated! come on mate get real aye. Have stand cans with guts out of them omg awesome sound,great sport cruiser, viva la vtr, why isnt there a club out there for our beast??!!!

Have an fy version VTR 1000 Firestorm 2001 registered in the fastest colour (red) I have ridden big bandits, cb1300 etc and fancied a change from the screaming fours which to be honest I got bored with but at the time I didnt know why. I had to get rid of the cb1300 quickly as it had a bent frame and wasnt gonna pass its MOT so with 2.5k in hand I found a VTR on eblag which looked a minter. Never having ridden a v2 before I got on for the test ride and was shocked by the size of the bike which was teeny compared to the big ripsnorting brutes I was used to and draped myself over the tank and fired her up. OMFG the micron straight through's blew the residential peace and quiet to smithereens and I took off for a small ride out to make sure all was well, I went down the road like a wellington bomber with a big grin. I offered the guy £1900 which was agreed and I drove the 100 miles back home in the sun. The following day the speedo packed up. This has been the only trouble I have had in the last 4 months and I must say that it is a pleasure to ride. Lots of people go on about the torque and there is some but I think unless you have ridden 90/100ft/lb torquey bikes you cannot call this really torquey, i find it just right. Pirelli Diablo's are the tyres to have on, the Avons were pants, didnt handle and were vague. I replaced the double bubble screen for an original spec and it looks better and in my opinion is more aerodynamic. Other additions are a pair of heated grips, carbon hugger, 12v socket, scottoiler, and a battery optimizer to keep the teeny battery happy. The bike is a little slow to pull away, without giving it a handful and hence giving the clutch a hard time, possibly the clutch being slightly weak to give you a good biting get away but once moving you are into 10.5 second standing quarter times!! the front suspension is soft but is adjustable so screw the springs down to firm and this gives a very acceptable setting. If you go screaming around, popping wheelies and drag starts mileage is looking grim at 25/28 mpg.....once you "learn" to ride it that is keeping between 3/6000 revs you will get 20 out of a 15 litre fill, thats about 35mpg, which to me is just acceptable, on a long motorway run 130 miles to a tank is easy if you keep the throttle steady!! Great riding position and the seat is fine, no numb bum for me at all, have had a buzzy leg though. Headlight is a bag of c@@p with a standard bulb and a Halfords extreme is a worthwhile investment to double the light output.My bike drinks a bit of oil, 1 litre per 4000 miles which ask a Triumph rider is nothing to worry about. All fun.

Having bought it from new over 13 yrs ago and having used it daily as my main work (I was a mobile auto electrician), and social transport, I can certainly vouch for how good this bike is. It has been used in ALL weathers and has been nothing but 100% reliable.

Year after year I look to see what other bikes are about and what I would REALLY change my Firstorm for, and I can't !!

I love the torque, handling, balance and reliabilty. Mix it all up for something that has lived outside for all of its 13 yrs you then see mt 'problem' :)

If I could give 10 out of 5 stars I would !!

The VTR 1000 firestorm was my first 1000cc bike and I love it my last bike on the road was a TDR 250 stroker and the firestorm is as much fun without the reliabilty isues you get with a 2 stroke cheap to insure as well!

having been out of riding for 9 years i seen a firestorm for sale took it for test and was sold on it.. having never ridin a v twin i was amazed at the engine braking it was awsome in wet weather being able to use the engine instead of brakes all the time handles very well. only prob i have is theres a slight chug at 5500 revs im not sure if this is usual in v twins also cutting out at idle but only occasional if anyone has similar probs please let me know the outcome.. azpart from this excelent bike and puts a big smile on my face......

1st bike having not ridden for 12 years and found this to be a superb return to motoring. Torque and engine braking made it a doddle to return to biking and have had no problems with it. Would highly recommend it.