Hi new guy here on my first VTR.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 17
From: Fernvale Qld.Australia
Hi new guy here on my first VTR.
Hi guys , Im in Brisbane Australia here and have just bought my first Superhawk a 2005 model , its got Staintunes on it and a performance air filter , nice tidy bike , only got 3800k's on the clock , guy who owned it was a mechanic and didnt get a lot of time for riding .
Dont know anything much about them , one of my nephews had an SP1 but thats about all Ive seen of them , I have a 2000 model Buell M2 Cyclone 1200 as well , thats where I got the love of big twins from .
Just needing to know is there anything I need to look out for with the Firestorm as in problems or what type of tyres do guys think work best on them etc , Ive read a heap of reviews on them before i bought it but they all say there very reliable and not much needs doing , would you guys agree with that .
Dont know anything much about them , one of my nephews had an SP1 but thats about all Ive seen of them , I have a 2000 model Buell M2 Cyclone 1200 as well , thats where I got the love of big twins from .
Just needing to know is there anything I need to look out for with the Firestorm as in problems or what type of tyres do guys think work best on them etc , Ive read a heap of reviews on them before i bought it but they all say there very reliable and not much needs doing , would you guys agree with that .
Senior Member
Superstock
Superstock
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 321
If you're looking to upgrade, the "low hanging fruit" is front brakes (SS lines and EBC HH pads or the like) and front springs (stock are too soft for anyone tall enough to ride the bike).
Be mindful of your fuel supply. The Superhawk does ok when commuting buy whack the throttle open a few times and mileage drops badly and there's only 3.8 truly usable gallons on board.
I have Bridgestone BT021's and love them. They're sort of a sport/tour tire but they provide light handling, good grip and long life. IF you're an agressive corner carver, get something like the Dunlop Qualifiers. Won't last as long but a little better for the shenanigans.
Be mindful of your fuel supply. The Superhawk does ok when commuting buy whack the throttle open a few times and mileage drops badly and there's only 3.8 truly usable gallons on board.
I have Bridgestone BT021's and love them. They're sort of a sport/tour tire but they provide light handling, good grip and long life. IF you're an agressive corner carver, get something like the Dunlop Qualifiers. Won't last as long but a little better for the shenanigans.
Old and dangerous
SuperSport
SuperSport
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 604
From: DFW Texas
Ride the bike for a while before thinking of changing anything. I don't have any issues with the suspension or the brakes. Most of my riding is around town, but every other weekend I travel out to the twisties and my stock Hawk handles marvelously. I run Pilot Power tires. The CCT's can bite early, or work for many miles just fine, but it's hard to know, and they are a bit of a ticking bomb. Same with the R/R.
Welcome to the forum.
Welcome to the forum.
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,461
From: South of Live Free or Die & North of Family Guy
Ride the bike for a while before thinking of changing anything. I don't have any issues with the suspension or the brakes. Most of my riding is around town, but every other weekend I travel out to the twisties and my stock Hawk handles marvelously. I run Pilot Power tires. The CCT's can bite early, or work for many miles just fine, but it's hard to know, and they are a bit of a ticking bomb. Same with the R/R.
Welcome to the forum.
Welcome to the forum.
Cheers mate
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 17
From: Fernvale Qld.Australia
Thanks guys , awesome input there , that'll give me lots to think about , Im not thinking of doing much to it just yet except a fender eliminator , cant live with that big rear mudguard 
, but other than that its already got staintunes on it and a K&N filter and its been dynoed with them on so its running sweet , so for the time being Ill just ride and enjoy , cheers .
, but other than that its already got staintunes on it and a K&N filter and its been dynoed with them on so its running sweet , so for the time being Ill just ride and enjoy , cheers .
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,461
From: South of Live Free or Die & North of Family Guy
You don't have to use fender eliminator, just cut the existing fender as much a you can without damaging the storage area and blinkers, it will look already much much better.
Unless you want to go with the Euro tail, that will require allot more work..
Unless you want to go with the Euro tail, that will require allot more work..
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 17
From: Fernvale Qld.Australia
Yep the fender was an easy fix , very happy with the bike and as mentioned hopefully wont have any problems for a while with such low mileage
rides066.jpg?t=1333602445
rides066.jpg?t=1333602445
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,461
From: South of Live Free or Die & North of Family Guy
Cheers mate
Slacker
Superstock
Superstock
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 489
From: San Antonio, TX
Welcome to our world!
The only thing that I could suggest is to check the R/R mounting location. There is a ground wire with ring terminal attached to one of the R/R mounting bolts. Make sure this wire is connected against the bolt head and NOT between the R/R and subframe.
Mine was attached the wrong way, which caused excessive heat in the R/R. It died too young from heat stroke.
The only thing that I could suggest is to check the R/R mounting location. There is a ground wire with ring terminal attached to one of the R/R mounting bolts. Make sure this wire is connected against the bolt head and NOT between the R/R and subframe.
Mine was attached the wrong way, which caused excessive heat in the R/R. It died too young from heat stroke.
erno
Back Marker
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 226
From: Australia
G'day Griffo
The guys on this site are A1 plenty of info as well
Have you also tried the oz site www.ozfirestorm.com.au
cheers
The guys on this site are A1
plenty of info as wellHave you also tried the oz site www.ozfirestorm.com.au
cheers
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,138
From: Austin, Tx
She's beast on the ascent but a pig on the descent in her stock form. I did front breaks and rotors, new tubes and tires all in the same ten weeks. It was a new bike - totally different. The pig was gone and the gazelle was on.
You don't have to buy a $30k Ducati. You can buy a Superhawk like yours and destroy Ducati's all day long with proper rider skills and simple mods to the bike - all bolt on.
You don't have to buy a $30k Ducati. You can buy a Superhawk like yours and destroy Ducati's all day long with proper rider skills and simple mods to the bike - all bolt on.
SportTouring
Superstock
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 274
From: Hawaii
Aloha, welcome to the forum. Lots of good info on here. Do a "search" for questions
and post additional concerns. The R/R should be a concern, as well as a Manual Cam
Chain Tensioner, just for peace of mind. Had a good work-out when my R/R went out.
First the gauges went out, then then motor cut out. Luckily I was within a 15 minute push of a Honda dealer. I think I lost about 5 lbs, pushing the bike with full leathers,
helmet off in the Hot Kona Hawaii Humidity. Did not know at the time it was the R/R.
New Battery died about 48 hours later. Did the multimeter test in the factory manual and ordered a new R/R. Went with one from a R1, been fine since. Have acquired spare
front(2) and rear(1) complete heads just to have. Along with MCCTs. Love the S/H
and post additional concerns. The R/R should be a concern, as well as a Manual Cam
Chain Tensioner, just for peace of mind. Had a good work-out when my R/R went out.
First the gauges went out, then then motor cut out. Luckily I was within a 15 minute push of a Honda dealer. I think I lost about 5 lbs, pushing the bike with full leathers,
helmet off in the Hot Kona Hawaii Humidity. Did not know at the time it was the R/R.
New Battery died about 48 hours later. Did the multimeter test in the factory manual and ordered a new R/R. Went with one from a R1, been fine since. Have acquired spare
front(2) and rear(1) complete heads just to have. Along with MCCTs. Love the S/H
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 17
From: Fernvale Qld.Australia
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 17
From: Fernvale Qld.Australia
G'day Griffo
The guys on this site are A1 plenty of info as well
Have you also tried the oz site www.ozfirestorm.com.au
cheers
The guys on this site are A1
plenty of info as wellHave you also tried the oz site www.ozfirestorm.com.au
cheers
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,461
From: South of Live Free or Die & North of Family Guy
Even after many years mate, can't get over leaving Sydney behind... miss it terribly, people, weather and my surfboard
Cheers
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