mattycoops43

I most strenuously object your honour!

Very unlikely you will be able to chain a bike to something when out and about unless you already know a spot with railings. Good quality disc lock is the way to go. Does the same job as a chain round the back wheel. If they want it, they will get it, unfortunately.

Quite a bit done today, but not particularly photogenic. I fitted a new rear disc, rear fluid reservoir (mine had to be hacked to get one of the screws out), Loosened off the subframe bolts, swivelled it down a bit and cleaned off some powdercoat so it earths to the frame, Oil and filter change, fixed the tacho which had stopped working. (the two weeks in bits under a cover had allowed the earth connections on the back of the dials to corrode), and fitted a late model top yoke which is black, mainly because mine was in awful condition and really let the bike down looking at it while I was riding, along with some shiny anodised bar ends to go with the Honda grips. (not missing the heated grips AT all). http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Barends.jpg That's kinda it for now, plan is to ride it and enjoy the sunshine till the winter, then it will be completely stripped, engine rebuilt (it's blowing a little bit of oil) and various other bits powder coated.

Hoping it will mostly be back in one piece tomorrow. I have everything here now except bar ends, and the rear disc wont turn up till the weekend, but I think I will just put it all together so I can see what it's like and change the disc when it turns up. Also sourced a later top yoke which is black from the factory, should go with the other bits and mine is one of the tattiest bits on the bike at the moment.

yup. my textiles knock about 30mph off the top speed of my bike!

Have a little pile of bits to fit now, Rear disc, Rear brake fluid reservoir, Red bar ends and a black top yoke. Planning to take all the controls off and give them a tidy up so the bars look good. I'll post some pics when I get round to this. Also need to take the powder coat off where the sub frame meets the frame as I forgot it earths through the join and the tacho has gone funny since refitting everything.

Monster day on the bike today, only just come in from a shake down ride. Started with the rear end going back together. http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/finish1.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Finish2.jpg Then the body panels etc went on. The new seat covering has a half inch of foam under it in addition to the standard, it meant the seat cover had a good half inch gap from the seat unit. I had to pack up the rear screw mount of the seat unit fairing with a couple of nuts to close the gap. Sitting very close now and looks ok. http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Finish3.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Finish4.jpg All went back together, left the original disk on for now, just didn't use it. All brake system bled through and everything, just didn't want to bed the new pads in when I am changing the disk. Had to go for a ride and get some gratuitous arty shots. http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Finish5.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Finish8.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Finish6.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Finish7.jpg

Hi folks. Thought I would make a proper post here as I am actually getting on with this bike now. I bought a ropey one, got properly ripped off, because despite knowing 4cyl bikes, I had not had a twin for many years and didn't know it wasn't meant to sound like bolts shaking round in a can, and was also not told it had been front ended, bent forks, twisted yokes etc etc. First off I just did the bare essentials to get it roadworthy, replaced the fork stanchions, yokes, discs, new headstock bearings and a few other bits and bobs. Fitted some of Bazzers manual CCTs and discovered the timing was three teeth out on the front head valves. Ended up with a tatty but running storm like this: http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Stormoriginal2.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Stormoriginal1.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Stormoriginal3.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Orighump.jpg I then did some tidying up of the bodypanels, there is a lot of cracking in the paint where it was repainted, quite nicely in a metal flake black, but a long time ago and it hasn't stood the test of time well, so I sourced a better tank, and painted that and my seat unit and hump black, did the headlight surround white and fitted an orange screen. http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/vtrtanks.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/replacementbodypanels.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Seatunit1.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/tankprotec.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Whitefront.jpg At the same time I replaced the reg rec which had died with a new Mosfet one from the USA. Came as a nice kit with all the connectors and waterproof bits and bobs. It's a tight fit but just fits inside the seat unit with a few mm to spare. http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Regrecfitting.jpg So, I recently sold my Fazer, which freed up some cash for the Storm fund, I have decided not to do a total strip down at the moment because summer is on the way and I want to ride it. The plan is to do a complete break down in the winter and get the frame and swingarm and probably engine powdercoated. For now, I have bought a set of black body panels and tank which is going on, the wheels, subframe and fairing bracket have been powder coated. I stripped it to the engine in frame and forks so I could give everything else a good clean up. Picked up the wheels today and went straight to the tyre place and go some PR4s fitted. Also collected my seat which has been done by a local guy and looks stunning. http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Engineframe.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Strip2.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Subframe1.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Wheels1.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Wheels2.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Swingarm2.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Swingarm1.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Roller1.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/Roller2.jpg http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x103/mattycoops43/Honda%20Firestorm%20Project/seat1.jpg Bits to fit now, new rear disc as it has cracks, new rear brake fluid reservoir as one of the bolts was seized. (I got it free but it's made a mess). I have some OE handlebar grips and some red anodised bar ends to go on. Red and White Honda wheel tapes (block ones) hopefully being done by my Brother in law. All the fairings etc need a good clean and tidy and then it's going on. I will keep this thread updated as I go.

Shorter! You know it makes sense!

Tho I'm not saying its right but if you or anyone took a child on the back and came off at speed what they were wearing might not make a difference. If he did what he said and even tho he need not explain himself the child may have a worse accident falling off a push bike.. I've taken the kids for a little ride round without all the gear knowing it would be a one off admittedly they were a lot older, its quite possible there safer on the back of some riders while clad in swimwear than they would be with others in top level armour He looks well chuffed in the picture! Yep, I know what you mean, but if you fall off a pushbike and it lands on you it wont do much, if your dad drops a superbike on you and it lands on your foot (quite common, it happened to me) I would not want them to be in trainers. You are quite right, high speed it's not going to make much difference, but I would hope none of us would be doing high speed with a small child on the back, I was more thinking of protecting the child from the bike in the case of a low speed drop for whatever reason. Fair do's, we are all grown ups and can judge our riding skills and what we need to do to be safe. When I got the storm roadworthy, me and owen went up the close and back on it at 10mph both in trainers (I think I was in slippers) but that was about 50m total, I wouldn't go any further without him having gear on.

Owen has been coming on the back from a similar age, obviously you ride appropriately. I would not however let him on without being fully covered, young bones are soft, if he fell off for whatever reason at his age in those shoes, he could easily be crippled for life. Especially if the bike fell on him.

Thanks for the help guys I realise this is a thread hijack. Sorry! I have just looked, I am quite tempted to just spend the extra on PR3s as I know how good they are, but I can get Plot Power 3s for £30 less than the PR3s. I haven't used a tyre like that, can anyone tell me what they are like? Are they soft but with rubbish mileage? Don't know what to expect really?

Hmm. You guys might be changing my mind. Will have to revisit this. What is out there in the sport bracket then? that has good reviews? I would go for PR3 if they were cheaper, but they are a bit steep. Is there anything cheaper that works for fun days? I am not mega quick or anything.

Not worried about the touring bit to be honest, Going to do some track days this year.

Oh you will like them. You will love them. don't worry about that! I am going to try 016's next, they are a lot cheaper, I want to know what they are like.

PR3s are the best tyres I have ever used, bar none. ( I haven't ever needed proper track rubber, so can't compare) . I am sure the PR4s will be awesome. However, the price of them is getting a bit silly. I am putting tyres on the storm, and PR3s are running about £260 a set. My set on the fazer were on 9k miles when I sold it, the front was still full depth, and the rear had loads left but was flatted off due to being 9k motorway miles mostly on my commute. I do not need to use it to commute any more, so quite frankly the price is putting me off, I can get some sticky Bridgestones for almost £100 less than the PR3s, so I am going to give them a try. They might not have the longevity, but I am only riding for fun now, so I think it's worth a try. I would never put anyone off PR3s but I do think they are trading off the rep and pushing the price a bit silly. They are getting to the point where 50% more miles is going to cost 60% more, so I would rather have the same miles per buck but spend less time on the last bit of tyre and have new tyres more often.

Most bikes I have ever owned have had mismatched tyres at some point, whether it be because I was skint or whatever. I have never been able to tell the difference on any bike. I have however been able to tell the difference between a shagged tyre and a good one.

The answer is to ride it. Discs go rusty when stood. If left too long it can write discs off as you get pits where the pads are sitting. Put a few miles on it and they will soon clean up.

I expect b&q will have some. thanks for the tips anyway.

Thanks guys, I have been told turps is a no go, so I will pop and get some paraffin in the morning. Is it worth using some thinner oil first after cleaning to get into the o rings before chain lube or wax?

Hi peeps. Got my storm in bits, one advantage of the storm layout is I have the chain completely off without spitting it. I want to clean it properly, because it's pretty manky, but not worn. I have heard of parrafin to clean it, but haven't got any, I have turpentine? I don;'t think turps will work in thick grease though, is paraffin a different thing (apart from being purple) if it will do it I will go and get some.

Sounds like someone who knows what they are on about needs to look at it. Might need a head gasket or something, but I would keep it original and do the work, probably less hassle in the long run.

Bar Steward.

AAaaw Stu! I thought I had made a fwend!

Hi. Where are YOU from? Show me yours and I'll show you mine?