A bit of history here... I have been posting here in a variety of subjects because I like bikes. I do not have a VTR, but sold Hondas from 1983 to 2006 full and part time and like the bike. I was a quality engineer and now am a middle school industrial arts teacher, thus the slick graphics and thought out design. It's what I do and teach; design, graphics, creating projects.

I was contacted and asked about making the VTR Superhawk/Firestorm tensioners based on my reputation for the tensioners I've made for the Kawasaki line. I made the tensioners and have sold about 12 sets or so of the VTR tensioners in the UK, Australia, the U.S., and Canada to date. There are about 300 Kawasaki tensioners in 18 countries around the world at this point.

So, here's the kit:



The body is made with .500" 6061T aluminum (the common stuff with excellent machining and corrosion resistance, two years in the Zephyr without detailing and still shiny). The kit includes zinc coated fasteners (corrosion resistance and no seizing like stainless might), OEM gaskets, instructions, and a couple of decent stickers for the bike. The O-ring seal on the threads works, the O-ring is Viton for high temp applications and the tensioner can be disassembled to replace the O-ring. The rear tensioner adjuster bolt is now 20mm shorter for appearances. Feed back from the first buyers was to leave the front long so it can be adjusted with the tank on the bike. This part was built with a lot of thought, what would I want if I bought the kit.

The VTR 1000, kit including shipping by USPS flat rate, sells for $65.20 in the U.S., $71.95 in Canada, and $73.95 for the rest of the world. The USPS flat rate priority has proven very reliable. I have only had two problems I mailed out a new part immediately on learning the part was "lost". One was my fault with a wrong street address, showing back up at my house in about a month after returning from the UK, and the other was the part being held up by Canadian cusoms. I was going to reimburse the buyer for return shipping, but he decided to keep the part, figuring he'd use it or sell it some day.

I use PayPal for the transaction because it is quick, easy, and safer for both of us. A non-binding PayPal money request will be sent and you can pay it if/when you decide to order. In the U.S. I can also accept checks or money orders. All I need is your PayPal email address and the country where you live.

The whole tensioner business started due to my need for one for my Zephyr and no one made one or was willing to attempt to do so. So when I did I made five, selling on the KLX650 group and the Zephyr-Zone. That was two years ago.

Here are some of the Kawasaki tensioners I do:


Top row: KLX 250, ZL 900 Eliminator, ZR 750 Zephyr
Bottom row: ZG 1000 Concours, my own ZR 550 Zephyr, my own KLX 650C

In other words I can do other bikes if you have friends with those slow Kawasakis and the like. The single units are $35.20 U.S, $41.95 Canada, and $43.95 rest of world; with the exception of the KLX250 tensioner, which is $38.20 U.S., $44.95 Canada, and $47.95 rest of world.

PM me to get my email address and phone number if you want more information for yourself or others. Thanks for taking time to check it out. I hope I can help if you or a friend needs a tensioner kit.


It's about the adventure. I'm working on adapting 4 piston caliper brakes to the Zephyr 550 and to Eliminator front ends right now. I'm looking forward to Mid Ohio to see some of the Eliminator guys and a couple of the Superhawk guys if I can meet up with them. I don't have any booth or even try to sell stuff there, I'm there for the races, to look at bikes, sit around and smoke cigars while sipping an ale, stout or good lager. It's for fun.