My new ride!
04-12-2009, 10:53 AM
#1
Junior Member
Squid
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 18
My new ride!
Hi all,
Fairly new member, this is my third post (I think) and I just picked up the new-to-me bike yesterday
. I actually bought it a few months ago. It's a 2000 Firestorm (Canada) with 30K KMs. I guess that's about 18-19K miles. The pictures may not show it but the color is really unique. It's in excellent condition too. The word mint doesn't do the bike justice.
The bike is pretty much stock. After market flush-mounts and back turn signals and stainless braided brake lines. The CCT's were checked a year ago and I don't abuse my bikes so I'm not too concerned there. The brakes are really strong which surprised me as well.
Between the ride home and the short ride I took after I can already see that it's going to be a fun ride. My previous ride was a Yamaha FZR1000 which was pure muscle. This thing is much more well mannered.
I'm thinking some high-mount pipes might be my first add-on. What else should the new FS (SH) owner consider doing? Any ideas would be appreciated.
Fairly new member, this is my third post (I think) and I just picked up the new-to-me bike yesterday
. I actually bought it a few months ago. It's a 2000 Firestorm (Canada) with 30K KMs. I guess that's about 18-19K miles. The pictures may not show it but the color is really unique. It's in excellent condition too. The word mint doesn't do the bike justice.The bike is pretty much stock. After market flush-mounts and back turn signals and stainless braided brake lines. The CCT's were checked a year ago and I don't abuse my bikes so I'm not too concerned there. The brakes are really strong which surprised me as well.
Between the ride home and the short ride I took after I can already see that it's going to be a fun ride. My previous ride was a Yamaha FZR1000 which was pure muscle. This thing is much more well mannered.
I'm thinking some high-mount pipes might be my first add-on. What else should the new FS (SH) owner consider doing? Any ideas would be appreciated.
04-12-2009, 11:16 AM
#2
Calamari
Squid
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 65
Nice bike. You're gonna luv it!
Mine came with two bros pipes. The sound is really addictive but perhaps not so much for the neighbors. New pipes are pricey but modding the current ones might provide more grins on the cheap. The corbin seat on my 2005 was ok for a 300km ride yesterday but I would hate to have tried the OEM if the Corbin is supposed to be an improvement. Headilight relays from Easter Beaver noticeably improved the headlight output. LED's wherever possible (it looks like you have some already) frees up some juice for electric vests and other accessories. Searching the site will give you a tonne more tips. Have fun
.
-Darc
Mine came with two bros pipes. The sound is really addictive but perhaps not so much for the neighbors. New pipes are pricey but modding the current ones might provide more grins on the cheap. The corbin seat on my 2005 was ok for a 300km ride yesterday but I would hate to have tried the OEM if the Corbin is supposed to be an improvement. Headilight relays from Easter Beaver noticeably improved the headlight output. LED's wherever possible (it looks like you have some already) frees up some juice for electric vests and other accessories. Searching the site will give you a tonne more tips. Have fun
.-Darc
04-12-2009, 11:17 AM
#3
Senior Member
Superstock
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Arlington Heights, IL
Posts: 320
Congrats on a beautiful bike. I had my forks done by Greg this past winter and the difference is amazing. I waited a year to do it though. I wanted to be able to tell the difference. I upgraded the brakes also...Next on the list is +2 on the rear sprocket........Good Luck
04-12-2009, 08:32 PM
#4
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 158
Very nice looking bike! When I got mine it already had TBR slip-ons, jet kit, sprockets and the forks redone. Other than some cosmetics that's everything I would have wanted to do to it myself when I got it. Personally, I probably would've done the exhaust and jetting first thing since it really makes it sound nice.
________
SICK FROM PRILOSEC
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SICK FROM PRILOSEC
Last edited by Malice; 05-01-2011 at 07:27 AM.
04-12-2009, 09:14 PM
#6
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MotoGP
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 3,132
As a 2000 it likely has the older style R/R that are known not to last. Also you mentioned CCTs, they are the other fault the bike has, manual ones are recommended.
Other than that, anything you might choose to do is for improvements rather than reliability.
Other than that, anything you might choose to do is for improvements rather than reliability.
04-13-2009, 05:53 AM
#7
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Orlando, FL
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Very nice! I've had mine since new in '98 and it never gets old. Watch that torque out of the corners. It takes a little control at first. Seems like more than a few new owners have found that out the hard way. Enjoy!
Last edited by runrowdy; 04-13-2009 at 07:05 AM.
04-14-2009, 02:16 PM
#9
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Squid
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 18
Thanks for all the input! I will start some research on forum for the forks and re-jetting right away.
One question though, lazn mentions the older style R/R that are known not to last. This will probably be stupid but I don't know what that is. Any clarification would be helpful.
One question though, lazn mentions the older style R/R that are known not to last. This will probably be stupid but I don't know what that is. Any clarification would be helpful.
04-14-2009, 02:21 PM
#10
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Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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regulator/rectifier it is located on the right side under the tail plastic. Take a look at it, if it has fins on the outside you are good if there are no fins order a new one with fins.
Where in Canada are you?
Where in Canada are you?
04-14-2009, 02:36 PM
#12
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Squid
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Where in Canada are you?
04-14-2009, 03:06 PM
#13
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MotoGP
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Location: Phoenix, AZ
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Well any electricity generated by the Stator and not used by the motorcycle gets turned into heat by the Voltage Regulator Rectifier to prevent overcharging the battery. This is how pretty much all vehicle charging systems work.
Honda in their infinite wisdom decided that a 1" x 2" metal backed block of plastic could dissipate all that heat into the frame and the air.
Well it turns out that the R/R gets hot.. Too hot, and over time that heat breaks down the R/R, eventually leading to failure. When it fails it can either fail but no longer providing enough power to charge the system, or (as it did in my case) no longer properly regulating the voltage and overcharging the system.. Leading to a boiled battery and if you keep riding long enough in this condition a fried electrical system. (I only lost the battery on my bike)
Honda later realized that the other motorcycle manufactures were on to something when they put metal heat sinks on their R/Rs and started doing so sometime in either 01 or 02.. There is no other difference between these and the earlier R/Rs so they are drop in upgrades for the older bikes. Also several aftermarket MFGs started offering fined upgrades for the bikes.
Either way, the fined R/Rs seem to be able to dissipate the heat load well enough to last quite a long time. (I have yet to hear of a new one failing, but that isn't a guarantee)
Honda in their infinite wisdom decided that a 1" x 2" metal backed block of plastic could dissipate all that heat into the frame and the air.
Well it turns out that the R/R gets hot.. Too hot, and over time that heat breaks down the R/R, eventually leading to failure. When it fails it can either fail but no longer providing enough power to charge the system, or (as it did in my case) no longer properly regulating the voltage and overcharging the system.. Leading to a boiled battery and if you keep riding long enough in this condition a fried electrical system. (I only lost the battery on my bike)
Honda later realized that the other motorcycle manufactures were on to something when they put metal heat sinks on their R/Rs and started doing so sometime in either 01 or 02.. There is no other difference between these and the earlier R/Rs so they are drop in upgrades for the older bikes. Also several aftermarket MFGs started offering fined upgrades for the bikes.
Either way, the fined R/Rs seem to be able to dissipate the heat load well enough to last quite a long time. (I have yet to hear of a new one failing, but that isn't a guarantee)
04-14-2009, 04:07 PM
#14
ukbiker.me
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Same colour as mine only mine looks a little better, also a 2000 model
see here https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=18234
see here https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=18234
04-14-2009, 04:39 PM
#15
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Squid
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Same colour as mine only mine looks a little better, also a 2000 model
see here https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=18234
see here https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=18234
04-14-2009, 04:49 PM
#16
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Squid
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 18
Well it appears I have an old style rectifier. It seems some have replaced them with other manufacturer models that require some wiring mods and there also appears to be aftermarket Honda models as well. Anyone know if the aftermarket models are directly compatible with the Honda connector? I am assuming they are but would like confirmation. I'm not interested in messing with the wiring.
04-14-2009, 04:49 PM
#17
ukbiker.me
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off the top of my head i couldnt tell you, i will tho get back to you, im from the uk it was a company bassed over here. they are primed and then you order what colour you want and then they post it out. it melted it other day after doing CCT's and misfitted it, it was touching exaust slighty i went toilet came back and saw smoke!! arghhhhh not to bad tho
04-14-2009, 05:09 PM
#19
Senior Member
SuperBike
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: moncton nb canada
Posts: 1,269
welcome! that is a nice color.
you're farther east than me. nl is out there.
i used an r6 r/r. bought it from mrcycles.com because it was 1/2 the price of the local dealer. the border was no problem either, but you know you could get nailed there.
slip ons are a must.
buell low pegs are nice.
get rid of that tank bra before it chafes your tank.
oury grips.
canadian tire weather station is on sale right now. i velcroed it to my mirror.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/pr...romSearch=true
i have got to get on auto cct. truck makes them and you should check his build thread "first vtr, most of one"
you're farther east than me. nl is out there.
i used an r6 r/r. bought it from mrcycles.com because it was 1/2 the price of the local dealer. the border was no problem either, but you know you could get nailed there.
slip ons are a must.
buell low pegs are nice.
get rid of that tank bra before it chafes your tank.
oury grips.
canadian tire weather station is on sale right now. i velcroed it to my mirror.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/pr...romSearch=true
i have got to get on auto cct. truck makes them and you should check his build thread "first vtr, most of one"
04-14-2009, 08:54 PM
#20
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MotoGP
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 3,132
Well it appears I have an old style rectifier. It seems some have replaced them with other manufacturer models that require some wiring mods and there also appears to be aftermarket Honda models as well. Anyone know if the aftermarket models are directly compatible with the Honda connector? I am assuming they are but would like confirmation. I'm not interested in messing with the wiring.
This is the one I have:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-H...spagenameZWDVW
That page doesn't list the VTR as compatible, but it is.. Honda used the same part for almost all their bikes over those years.
04-15-2009, 05:47 PM
#23
Junior Member
Squid
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 18
I was looking at how to get the reflectors off last weekend but it looks like I might have to take the rear cowl off to do it cleanly as there were no screws underneath. Any suggestions on the pipes?
04-16-2009, 10:09 AM
#24
Moderator
MotoGP
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Gettysburg, Pa
Posts: 5,072
The reflector are rivited in, I drilled mine out. You'll get a bunch of different opinions on pipes. I have Jardine high mount but there are lots more choices. Any will uncork the sweet music of the motor.
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