Anyone Have Expreience with Honda's VTR1000

I am looking at a 2005 Honda VTR1000F Super Hawk 996cc. It has a Two Brothers exhaust system, and a LOUD rattle in the engine. It could be the early stages of cam chain tensioner failure. The rest of the bike is fine. The tires are very good. The bike has just over 33K miles. All of the lights work properly and it comes with a clear Texas title. It also has a Haynes repair manual, Owners Manual & OEM tool kit along with the original owner's paperwork, and two keys. All for $1250

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with these birds. My only experience comes from a 100 mile ride on a shop bike several years ago. It was very fun. I also know that the automatic timing chain adjusters are junk. The VFR800 and the VTR1000 seam to be very similar in construction.

 

Loved those, sounds great to.
For that price, thats what the exhaust probably cost or close to it...grab it......let us know....Merry Christmas

 

Tensionors are prone to failure and that is prob what you hear. Especially if it gets louder after the engine is revved and the engine is decelerating. A friend put some manually adjustable ones on his.

 

I looked up the procedure for installing manual adjusters. It is doable but a huge pain in the butt.

 

Aloha and Merry Christmas .

Big _Jim59, I would not run the bike anymore without checking your cam tension/valve clearences.

I am also a member of the Superhawk Forum and would suggest that you visit our forum and do a

search for cam chain tensioners. Unlike our VFRs the Vtrs at times give little to no warning of tensioners

going. I did the conversion on mine at about 60K miles-I was Very Lucky.

The results of tensioners are very bad. I currently have 2 extra front heads and 1 extra rear(complete

heads) on hand before I did my manual CCT install, just in case. Install took about 2 hours for me.

Usually when the tensioners go bad the results are bent valves and maybe damaged piston.

I don't ride my VTR much now that I have my 6th gen. I have a sargant seat and heli-bars on her

(VTR) along with a DB windscreen. C/F two bros exhaust also.

You may have been lucky with a loud rattle and no damage yet. As you know, it is hard to tell online.

P.M. me if you have questions, I don't know a lot but will be more than happy to answer what I can.

What I can tell you is that your bikes age and mileage are definately due for either a auto or manual

tensioner change (if not done). Tensioners are very serious business on the VTRs IMHO.

Good price on her though. Ask owner if tensioners were done. If so look for manual CCTs. Take Care.

 

Aloha and a Merry Christmas to you too!

I am almost positive that the tensioners have not been changed and that this is a tensioner issue. The guy rode it about 1 mile and the noise made him stop. He said it did run. That was his description. Maybe this is not the best project? I don't want to get into bent valves and damaged heads for a marginal sport bike. I could waist my money elsewhere.

Is it easer to do the manual CCT install with the engine out of the frame? It looks rather cramped and restricted with the engine in place.

 

B J ,

definately not required or warrented to remove engine. to be honest it took longer to remove the alloy

crank cover bolt. a chisel and punch combined with a sizable hammer to cut slots in it to pound counter

clockwise. pre soaking helps too . remove tank and rear head cover to check cam lobe position. ziptie

cam sprocket to chain once set. slowly remove old tensioner.

it seems that spring fatigue may be the main culprit to the autos. and lack of oiling to the front ones..

The best way to describe the VTR is to say, its Alive(V2).

will probably never go back to an inline 4 again.

 

Well I pulled the trigger. I paid $1250 for this 2005 VTF1000. It comes with a clear title (a big plus) new tires and a new battery. Baring a few scratches the paint looks really good with zero dents in the tank. It has all the lights and turns signals. I heard it run (briefly). I am the third owner from new. It has a Two Brothers exhaust system.

I heard it run long enough to diagnose a sloppy timing chain on the front cylinder. It sounds nasty. The story was the owner rode it a mile and it started making noise. He rode home and at the end of his drive it quit. I am pretty sure it has bent a valve(s). It has an oil leak on the drive side engine cover. Both rear view mirrors are broken and the drive chain and sprockets are shot (normal). The triple clamp looks like crap. It's cosmetic I know but it is faded gray and key scraped. It make the whole bike look shabby.

The Two Brothers exhaust system is a slop fest. I have never seen an exhaust system that is so sloppy. The pipe joints, with tight clamps are not tight at all. It’s just strange that a system that cost so much is so floppy. I'll bet I can make it better. I got the title work done yesterday so it is mine in the eyes of the state of Texas. The manual adjusters are already on the way. Next weekend I’ll strip it down. I won't let little things like slipped timing chains and bent valves put me off. I can't wait to tear it down and get it scattered all over the shop. It’s projects like this that help me through the winter.

 

Yes, just sold one having owned it for 8 years. A very underestimated bike.
It's the front cct which gives the trouble as the internal spring corrodes mainly on a bike that's been laid up for a long time. You need www.vtr1000.org they're a great bunch with some Members from over your way. Check out the Workshop Section.

 

Any reason you didn't track down a RC51 instead? That's closer to the VFR as it has gear driven cams as well.

 

For me, it was a case of wanting comfort. After a 300 mile day it was getting close to having to be lifted off the bike. Lol. I like to stick with Hondas but I never thought I'd find a bike with as much punch. These 1200's are bloody quick and look forward to some quick distance riding. MPG I think will be about the same although only got 800 miles on the VFR.

 

I love my VFR800 for everything it is. I bought a Kawasaki Concours at a great price and I have been riding that this winter. I want to like it and there is a lot to like but I don't. The VFR is more fun, quicker and for me more comfortable with its raised bars and Sergent's seat. The jury is still out on the VTR. I will fix it and I will ride it but I have no idea whether I will keep it. The Connie gets sold as soon as the weather warms up. I have been thinking about doing some track days and I didn't want to risk throwing the Interceptor down the road. The VTR might be perfect for track riding.

The VFR takes to the role of sport tourer instantly with a set of soft bags thrown across the back. The VTR, with it high mounted cans is another matter. It just doesn't look as versatile as the VFR. It is more pure sport bike, which is OK if that's what you are after.

I didn't track down a RC51 because I really didn't intend to buy this one. I got it at a good price. I knew what was wrong with it and I figured I could put it right and sell it for a little extra if I didn't like it.