Honda VTR1000F

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The Honda VTR1000F is a V-twin sportbike manufactured by Honda. Known in the U.S. as the SuperHawk, outside the U.S. it is marketed as the Firestorm.

1 Introduction
2 Racing variant
3 History of "SuperHawk"
4 Improvements
5 Known problems
6 External links

[edit] Introduction

The SuperHawk was introduced in 1997 after the Ducati 916 made V-twin sportbikes popular again. It was an early-release 1998 model year bike.

The SuperHawk used an all new 90-degree V-twin. The bike introduced several new design concepts such as the "pivotless frame", side radiators, single-casting engine case, connecting rods with cap screws instead of nuts, and the largest carburetors Honda ever put on a motorcycle. "Pivotless frame" meant that engine was a stressed member with the swingarm bolted directly to the engine.

One motorcycle magazine suggested (circa 2000) that this bike was the fastest 0-60 mph production bike at the time.

A racing version of the bike was expected from Honda.

[edit] Racing variant

In 2000 Honda produced the RVT1000R (RC51) known outside the United States as the VTR1000SP, though the bike had only four engine parts in common with the SuperHawk. The RC51 was an entirely new V-twin racing platform that won the World Superbike championship its first year racing with Colin Edwards and the Castrol team.

[edit] History of "SuperHawk"

The street-oriented, twin-cylinder VTR1000 used a historically important name: SuperHawk. The previous 60's SuperHawk was a parallel twin motorcycle that Robert M. Pirsig rode in "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". The original SuperHawk was a commercial success, hence the name being recycled. Outside the United States the motorcycle was named the Firestorm.

[edit] Improvements

From model year 2001, Honda introduced a number of improvements. These included increasing the tank from 16 liters (4.2 gallons) to 19 liters (5 gallons), internal modifications to the front forks, an improved riding position thanks to less steeply raked clip-on bars and an LCD display for fuel level, engine temperature, trip meter, odometer and clock. A Honda Ignition Security System (HISS) immobiliser also became standard.

[edit] Known problems

Early models suffered from premature failure of the cush drive, probably due to the power pulses of the big V-twin engine, but Honda rectified this with improved materials. The remaining weak point of the motorcycle is cam chain tensioner failure. Luckily, this failure rarely results in engine damage and simply requires the tensioner replacement. Of the two tensioners, the front which is more likely to fail but, unfortunately, this is the more awkward of the two to replace. Replacement is comfortably within the capabilities of the competent home mechanic, but consequently the valve timing must also be checked.