VTR Differences Between The Years; '98-'05 (U.S. Models)
 

Hey VTR Crew,
I'm going to try and put together a bit model information for the KB. For this, I need (and would greatly appreciate) your input & help. All viable and related information will be moved into the first post, to keep things organized. Please include a reference to your wild claims if possible!! ;) THANKS!!

'98-'00: Identical (Aside from color changes).
1998 - Italian Red (R157)
1999 - Italian Red (R157)
- Pearl Shining Yellow (Y124P)
- Mute Black Metallic (NH359M)
2000 - Pearl Shining Yellow (Y124P)

'01-'05: Identical to '98-'00 models with the exception of;
-less steeply raked clip-on's Wikipedia
-New instrument cluster with an LCD display for fuel level, engine temperature, trip meter, odometer and clock Wikipedia
-Water pump weep tube added.
-Updated converter unit, ECM, regulator-rectifier, wiring harness.
-Updated Lock Set
-Updated clutch and front brake master cylinder (2005 US models only)
-Smaller, lighter battery; YTZ12S replaces YTX12BS Burnie Morgan
2001 - Italian Red (R157)
2002 - Italian Red (R157)
2003 - Candy Tahitian Blue (PB215C)
2004 - Black (NH1)
2005 - Titanium Metallic (YR183M)

2003 - Candy Tahitan Blue

Ditto also 2001 was Red

crank case cover different from 98- 05 not sure what year it changed but they are different in color and size of water pump

My '98 owners manuel says the tank cap is 4.2 US gallons.

Confirmed by the microfiche, do you have an online reference?

I can't count how many of these sets of forks I've taken apart but I've seen no difference at all in the valving. I've not held the two different years' springs side-by-side, so I guess there's always a possibility that, although they are still progressive springs, they could still be different.

How about magnesium?
 

My '01's sprocket cover says magnesium on it I think. Wasn't there some point when they started putting mag' tid-bits on to reduce the weight and give the bike more flashy'ness?

The aluminum part that the compression valve stack is attached to is different on my 2001. On earlier models the valve stack is held on by a Allen head bolt. On mine the stack is held on by a peened over nut. The threaded shaft that the nut screws onto is hollow. If you squirt some contact cleaner down the hollow shaft it comes out a hole farther down. I suppose it's a bleed.

True about the peened over bolt vs Allen head... other differences I dunno about...

could it be a non-US update.....?

ALL late model Showa compression valves are attached to that aluminum plug. They ALL have the 5mm allen bolt that clamps the assembly together.

The rebound is held on by a 10mm nut with the shaft slightly peened. That assembly threads to the rebound rod which moves up and down inside the cartridge.

The rebound adjuster seats on the compression valve and is the bleed. The stock compression bleed is comprised of a smaller shim under the "base" shim of the compression valve stack.

It's possible. There are NO differences in US part numbers for any of the fork parts between 98 and 05 (ref. Ron Ayers fiche).

Well... I have taken apart a 03 fork besides mine from 97, and I saw no difference, granted I'm far from an expert...

BTW thinking about my above statement, you are absolutely right... The peened bolt is on the rebound stack and the Allen head on the compression stack...

no but i can take a pic of the old one i took off my bike and the new one i just put on color is different and shape is the same.but for the bearing for the water pump sticks out on the new one a bit due to to the size difference still interchangable

Oh yeah, that's another difference between years. I don't remember specifically which year, but Honda added a water pump weep tube vice just a hole in the right side crankcase cover. May have been 2000.

And the later years use a different lock and key set.

this is a link to Honda's press information on the 2001 Fire Storm.
http://www.burniemorgan.com/firestor...tr1000f01e.pdf
The fork info is on page 6.
It also talks about a rebound adjustment being added to the rear shock... but I could'a swore my '98 had that.

cool, so the actual size of the impeller was increased?

I take dealers micro fiche's with a grain of salt. Lightspeed is the software company that set the whole thing up. Their database is full of parts that come up as discontinued instead of superseded, mislabeled part numbers (some-what rare), and incorrect descriptions.

Getting back to the compression valve stack on my 2001 VTR. Disagreeing with Hawkrider is like disagreeing with Zeus. There is a peened bolt on the rebound stack. There is also a peened bolt on the compression stack. I had replaced the compression valves with Race Tech gold valves several years ago. I had the fork apart about 6 weeks ago to clean it. I checked the tightness on the the nut securing the compression valve stack with a torque wrench and a 10 mm. socket. There was no 5 mm. Allen bolt.

I recall when I installed the Race Tech Gold Valves I received very helpful guidance from runlevelzero and from http://www.kamware.com/vtr1000f/forks3.htm. The compression valve stack shown on kamware.com is held on with an Allen head bolt. The compression valve on my 2001 was held on by a nut and peened over bolt. I wondered why there was a difference.

$20 discount to the next guy who sends me their 2001 and up forks for revalving just so I can end this controversy once and for all! This bothers me....

Didn't the part number change on the cam chain tensioners?

Some time after '00, I believe.

That changed '01 as all the rest... but atleast visibly I couldn't find any difference when I compared... I have the "never" one's on my '97...

Yeah I think they did change the CCT's in '01.

no i think just the shaft where the bearing is at. the impeller is same size and its not by much maybe a mm

:)Excellent thread! This is exactly what I have been looking for...
Great forum!

did honda stop making the hawk ?

'05 was the last year for the U.S.
I think '06 was the last year for Europe.(?)

Does anybody have any production numbers for U.S. models??