Beschreibung:

The VTR1000 Firestorm owes its existence to one simple fact: Honda's 750cc V4 RC45 was finding it increasingly difficult to beat Ducati's 1,000cc v-twins in the World Superbike Championship and the Japanese manufacturer had had enough. Ducati's racetrack success was reflected in sales and so, swallowing its pride, Honda followed the Italians' lead, introducing the Firestorm in 1997. The latter was built along Ducati lines, featuring a 90-degree, 8-valve, v-twin engine of 996cc, with the swinging arm pivoting directly in the gearbox casing, just like the 916/996/998 family. Only its aluminium alloy beam frame and side-mounted radiators set the Honda apart. Although a competent sports roadster, the Firestorm was in fact no WSB racer, that role being filled by the very different SP-1 and (later) SP-2 derivatives. With around 105bhp available at the back wheel, straight-line performance was almost identical to that of the Ducati 916, the Firestorm's top speed being a little over 150mph. Bike magazine liked the example they had on test in 1999: 'The Storm is a fantastic road bike... especially if it's your first big bike.... It doesn't rev as freely as a Ducati... but boy, does it get up and go.' In 1998 Honda celebrated its 50th anniversary as a motorcycle manufacturer and to mark the occasion Honda Britain released Limited Edition versions of the CBR600F, VFR800, CBR900RR FireBlade and VTR1000 Firestorm, production of which was entrusted to Russell Savory's RS Performance. This Firestorm 50th Anniversary Limited Edition model was first registered to Honda Motor Europe Motorcycle Division in London as 'T150 LLD' while its first private owner was one Paul Rolfe of Croydon, Surrey. Its second owner, Aled Jenkins, acquired the Honda in 2001 and had the registration changed to 'T50 VTR'. The machine is offered with two expired MoTs (most recent March 2005), Swansea V5 document and copies of the preceding V5.