Maybe VTR owners always ride in the middle of large groups? Oh, and beware fork legs that have been painted silver to hide the damage. Paintwork is generally up to the job, but the forks seem to take a hammering, becoming pitted and a little scabby. Some people try the SP-1's front master cylinder for even more ooomph at the lever. Carbone Lorraine SBK3s and Bendix SSs are The trick is to clean them properly and often, fit braided hoses and try different pads. Owners reckon Avon Azaros are brilliant for grip in the dry and last forР”Р„ges, although confidence in the wet isn't as high as withР”Р„lways seemed to lack feel and bite after a while. Dunlop Sportmaxes offer even better longevity, although less outright grip. The old Bridgestone BT56s were favourite, while the newer BT010s are better still (expect 3000-4000 miles). Some owners go for 'bigger is better' and stick a 190-section in the rear, but it's not necessary. Expect around 110bhp at the rear wheel with Stage 1 mods. Owners drill the carb slides for swifter and crisper throttle response. Dynojet kits and filters are also prevalent, while some Standard exhausts (too quiet and very heavy, but desirable for the all-important MoT) are often junked. 70mph is seen in top at only 3750rpm, 120mph at 6250rpm and redline is at 9500rpm. It then takes off again, making max torque at 7000 and peak power at around nine.

Plenty of low-down go compared to a four-cylinder motor, before that emissions dip at 5000rpm. They're only two-thirds of a full, circular speedo so none of the numbers are in the place you'd expect. Confused? Well, early 'Storm owners love the idea of an LCD fuel gauge and a clock, while later 'Storm owners claim their speedos are naff. Pre-2001 clocks are loved by owners, post-2001 clocks are loathed by owners. Truth be known, the VTR is a softly-spoken machine that has been chronically underrated for too long. Quality shines on though, and while the likes of Suzuki's fuel-injected and more powerful TL1000S and R machines have disappeared from these shores, the now-humbler VTR quietly carries on with an army of enthusiasts behind.

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