Does anybody actually own a '97 VTR or was the '98 model just an early release?

 

The VTR was released in Feb. 1997 in europe, don't know when in the US. But `97 Firestorms do exist...

 

Yep... I own one...

But you in the US only got them in 98... dunno why...

 

We actually got them in '97 as 1998 models. The were late showing up to the dealerships, which means they were there about Mar-Apr instead of the late fall or early winter of the prior year like most new models. As mentioned the UK Firestorms are actually 1997 models.

 

Took delivery of my 98 in Feb of 98. It was made in Sep of 97.

 

Yeah, I think mine is about the same, late fall manufacter date but licensed as a 98.

 

my born on date is 03/97 1998 model

 

I ran some VIN #s of bikes posted on the web as stolen and as being "1997 Firestorm".

They all came back as "1998 model year".

I'm sure there are VTRs with '97 build dates that people bought in '97, but I think they might all have "1998 model" VIN #s.

 

The tenth digit of the VIN indicates model year. "V" would be a '97, "W" a '98 etc.

They went from letters to numbers starting with "1" for '01 model year.

If there is such a thing as a "1997 Firestorm" it would have a "V' as the tenth digit of the VIN.