Honda Firestorm with 50k - Yay or Nay?
Discussion
As some of you might know I properly spangled my S1000R at Mallory a couple of weeks ago. It's probably going to take me a little while to slowly put it back together so I've been looking out for another cheap bike to run around on.
I've spotted a Firestorm fairly local to me that has caught my eye, but it does have 50k on the clock.
I havent had chance to view it in person yet. But from the photos I've seen it looks to be really clean and unmolested.
Quick check of the mot history seems to show that it did the bulk of its mileage in the first 3 years (30k) and then its pretty much just done 1k miles each year since.
Its uo for £2300 with a local dealer and has 5+ owners.
At 50k would £2300 seem fair considering the stupid prices of all bikes at the minute. And is there anything specific to these bikes that I should look out for when I do go to view it?
I've spotted a Firestorm fairly local to me that has caught my eye, but it does have 50k on the clock.
I havent had chance to view it in person yet. But from the photos I've seen it looks to be really clean and unmolested.
Quick check of the mot history seems to show that it did the bulk of its mileage in the first 3 years (30k) and then its pretty much just done 1k miles each year since.
Its uo for £2300 with a local dealer and has 5+ owners.
At 50k would £2300 seem fair considering the stupid prices of all bikes at the minute. And is there anything specific to these bikes that I should look out for when I do go to view it?
Make sure the cam chain tensioners have been changed, I personally put manual ones on my firestorm back in the day, as cct letting go means new engine on these.
Typical honda reg rec flakyness, other than that solid old bikes. Like a wheelie too.
Can't believe how much money they are now, I paid £1300 for one with 30k on 6 years ago.
Wes
Typical honda reg rec flakyness, other than that solid old bikes. Like a wheelie too.
Can't believe how much money they are now, I paid £1300 for one with 30k on 6 years ago.
Wes
Is a 50k Firestorm really worth £2.3k? Debatable, but symptomatic of the mental used bike market at the moment I guess.
As ever, it’s entirely dependent on condition. 5 fastidious owners who have serviced the bike on time, done the valve clearances, changed the brake fluid yearly, fitted new brake and radiator hoses when worn, serviced the suspension and changed the fork oil, cleaned the callipers and renewed the seals, greased the linkage bearings and the bike comes with documented service history, two keys and a good set of tyres, then £2.3k is a bargain.
If not, a £2.3k bike can very quickly start costing you an awful lot more.
As ever, it’s entirely dependent on condition. 5 fastidious owners who have serviced the bike on time, done the valve clearances, changed the brake fluid yearly, fitted new brake and radiator hoses when worn, serviced the suspension and changed the fork oil, cleaned the callipers and renewed the seals, greased the linkage bearings and the bike comes with documented service history, two keys and a good set of tyres, then £2.3k is a bargain.
If not, a £2.3k bike can very quickly start costing you an awful lot more.
Seems well over priced to me, have a look on eBay
Few examples with 10-15k for around £2500.
I had one with around 6,000 miles on it a couple of years ago, it felt baggy then so as said above, check the chassis carefully.
Pay a bit extra and get a nicer example to start with would be my advice.
Few examples with 10-15k for around £2500.
I had one with around 6,000 miles on it a couple of years ago, it felt baggy then so as said above, check the chassis carefully.
Pay a bit extra and get a nicer example to start with would be my advice.
Cheers for the replies, there's some stuff to think about there.
To be honest, I havent been keeping my eye on the 2nd hand market too much lately, but I did know prices had gone a bit mad so wasn't sure what is fair in today's 'new normal'
My hearts not set on a Firestorm either, it's just that this particular bike caught my eye with it looking like a clean example with 12 months mot and a 3 month warranty, I am open to more or less anything around the 2k to 2.5k mark though.
I'll still go have a look at it and see if he is open to a bit of a deal, but if its not right I'll just walk away, there's plenty of other bikes out there.
To be honest, I havent been keeping my eye on the 2nd hand market too much lately, but I did know prices had gone a bit mad so wasn't sure what is fair in today's 'new normal'
My hearts not set on a Firestorm either, it's just that this particular bike caught my eye with it looking like a clean example with 12 months mot and a 3 month warranty, I am open to more or less anything around the 2k to 2.5k mark though.
I'll still go have a look at it and see if he is open to a bit of a deal, but if its not right I'll just walk away, there's plenty of other bikes out there.
So the search goes on and the same dealer has a couple of other bikes in that would do the job too. I will be trying to negotiate some discount off these prices.
I'm still going to have a look at that Firestorm
£2350 sticker price
2002 model in red and white.
50k miles
12 months MOT
3 months warranty.
But I've also seen :-
Triumph Sprint RS 955
£2595
2003 model in black
18k miles
New sprockets, chain and tyres
12 months MOT
3 months warranty
SV1000 K3-S
£2595
2005 model in silver
31k
New tyres
12 months MOT
3 months warranty
Eta.
Just spotted a TL1000 SY as well. (Ooooh I'm gonna die!)
£2995 (he can FRO at that price though)
2001 in Yellow
27k
One owner from new
12months MOT
And it still has the standard cans too.
If I'm honest, the Triumph is swaying me a little bit now, a single sided swingarm and 3 cylinder engine with a Delkavic can is appealing.
All 3 bikes do look very clean in the photos to be fair and I'd probably be happy with any of them but ..... What does the greater wisdom of BB think?
I'm going to look at them all on Thursday and will likely end up with my Mrs riding one of them home for me (she's also buying by the way)
As Terry Tibbs would say .... Talk to me.
I'm still going to have a look at that Firestorm
£2350 sticker price
2002 model in red and white.
50k miles
12 months MOT
3 months warranty.
But I've also seen :-
Triumph Sprint RS 955
£2595
2003 model in black
18k miles
New sprockets, chain and tyres
12 months MOT
3 months warranty
SV1000 K3-S
£2595
2005 model in silver
31k
New tyres
12 months MOT
3 months warranty
Eta.
Just spotted a TL1000 SY as well. (Ooooh I'm gonna die!)
£2995 (he can FRO at that price though)
2001 in Yellow
27k
One owner from new
12months MOT
And it still has the standard cans too.
If I'm honest, the Triumph is swaying me a little bit now, a single sided swingarm and 3 cylinder engine with a Delkavic can is appealing.
All 3 bikes do look very clean in the photos to be fair and I'd probably be happy with any of them but ..... What does the greater wisdom of BB think?
I'm going to look at them all on Thursday and will likely end up with my Mrs riding one of them home for me (she's also buying by the way)
As Terry Tibbs would say .... Talk to me.
Edited by airsafari87 on Tuesday 15th June 16:23
Edited by airsafari87 on Tuesday 15th June 16:25
I’d get the SV although I’m completely biased as I’ve just paid £2200 for a K6 SV1000 with 17k on the clock (private sale though).
The firestorms mileage would put me off a bit unless the service history makes up for it, I think you may struggle to sell it on later. There’s a lot of lower mileage bikes available under that price.
The triumph is also one to consider as most seem to have been owned by mature riders and taken care of as a result.
As ever, the best advice is to go and test ride them and see which one you get on with best.
The firestorms mileage would put me off a bit unless the service history makes up for it, I think you may struggle to sell it on later. There’s a lot of lower mileage bikes available under that price.
The triumph is also one to consider as most seem to have been owned by mature riders and taken care of as a result.
As ever, the best advice is to go and test ride them and see which one you get on with best.
Agree on the Firestorm now. The more time I've had to think about it the less appealing it's becoming.
The SV is probably the more sensible buy, and for what I want the bike for its probably the best option too, but buying bikes should never be based around logic!!
I never even mentioned it being wanted as a track bike either? Not sure what gave you that wrong impression?
The SV is probably the more sensible buy, and for what I want the bike for its probably the best option too, but buying bikes should never be based around logic!!
I never even mentioned it being wanted as a track bike either? Not sure what gave you that wrong impression?
None of those particularly appeal, but out of all of them I’d choose the Triumph, purely because it’s more likely to have been owned by someone a bit older. Better to find the ST model though I would have thought. I looked on eBay and prices for the 955 are all over the place.
Hope this doesn’t sound too intrusive but wouldn’t the £2/2.5k be better spent on fixing up your S1000? That’s a much better bike than any of your suggestions so far!
Hope this doesn’t sound too intrusive but wouldn’t the £2/2.5k be better spent on fixing up your S1000? That’s a much better bike than any of your suggestions so far!
TT1138 said:
None of those particularly appeal, but out of all of them I’d choose the Triumph, purely because it’s more likely to have been owned by someone a bit older. Better to find the ST model though I would have thought. I looked on eBay and prices for the 955 are all over the place.
Hope this doesn’t sound too intrusive but wouldn’t the £2/2.5k be better spent on fixing up your S1000? That’s a much better bike than any of your suggestions so far!
Prices for everything are all over the place, it's madness!!Hope this doesn’t sound too intrusive but wouldn’t the £2/2.5k be better spent on fixing up your S1000? That’s a much better bike than any of your suggestions so far!
Buying this won't affect the repair of the S1000R either. Its literally just a bike to get me back out in the roads and enjoy the summer with my Mrs in her bike.
Depending on what I do buy and how much i do or don't bond with it, it will either be sold once the S1000R is fixed or kept for winter / pootling about duties.
I'll bring this one to a bit of a close.
In the end I didn't buy any of the above, and bought a Gaydius instead.
Why a Gladius??
Well it was local.
Its on a 09 plate.
Only had 2 owners.
Its immaculate.
Covered 6000 miles
It was kept in the dining room of the previous owner.
Its got 12 months MOT
And it was £2300 with a brand new, loose pair of Pirelli Diablos too.
It prettt much fits fits bill perfectly for what I want it for too. Its basically just a cheap bike to get around on for the rest of the year while the S1000 gets repaired, and most of my road riding at the minute is done with my Mrs who has just recently passed her test and has her own SV650.
Come winter it will get an ACF50 or similar coating and used as a winter commuter hack.
I havent been able to ride it yet because my collarbone is still broke, but my Mrs brought it back and said it rode canny.
And that's it, I'm now off to buy some blue camo trousers, a butt plug and bottle of poppers.
Please feel free to ridicule.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/Bk13rUHv[/url]
In the end I didn't buy any of the above, and bought a Gaydius instead.
Why a Gladius??
Well it was local.
Its on a 09 plate.
Only had 2 owners.
Its immaculate.
Covered 6000 miles
It was kept in the dining room of the previous owner.
Its got 12 months MOT
And it was £2300 with a brand new, loose pair of Pirelli Diablos too.
It prettt much fits fits bill perfectly for what I want it for too. Its basically just a cheap bike to get around on for the rest of the year while the S1000 gets repaired, and most of my road riding at the minute is done with my Mrs who has just recently passed her test and has her own SV650.
Come winter it will get an ACF50 or similar coating and used as a winter commuter hack.
I havent been able to ride it yet because my collarbone is still broke, but my Mrs brought it back and said it rode canny.
And that's it, I'm now off to buy some blue camo trousers, a butt plug and bottle of poppers.
Please feel free to ridicule.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/Bk13rUHv[/url]Edited by airsafari87 on Thursday 17th June 22:27
I can’t quite believe how prices have gone up!
Five years ago, getting back in to bikes, I was looking at Firestorms, always a bike I fancied.
Yours would have been around £1300, a good low mileage private sale with the tensioners changed around £1600 to £1800. The only bike over £2K was a main dealer with a very very low mileage and immaculate that I went to have a look at.
We live in crazy times
Congrats on the New bike, look good!
Five years ago, getting back in to bikes, I was looking at Firestorms, always a bike I fancied.
Yours would have been around £1300, a good low mileage private sale with the tensioners changed around £1600 to £1800. The only bike over £2K was a main dealer with a very very low mileage and immaculate that I went to have a look at.
We live in crazy times
Congrats on the New bike, look good!
Thread resurrection, how are we feeling about buying a Firestorm in 2026?
The fuel tank size doesn't really bother me, I would tend to want to get off and get petrol / stretch my legs every 100 or so miles anyhow. I'm not looking to do ridiculous miles, just an outing a few times a year.
I'm particularly looking at something with under 20k and one that has had the cam tensioner recently changed, the couple I've seen advertised have been around £2k.
Is there anything I need to consider or reasons not to buy one, if I don't get on with it do people think they are something that are hard to move on?
The fuel tank size doesn't really bother me, I would tend to want to get off and get petrol / stretch my legs every 100 or so miles anyhow. I'm not looking to do ridiculous miles, just an outing a few times a year.
I'm particularly looking at something with under 20k and one that has had the cam tensioner recently changed, the couple I've seen advertised have been around £2k.
Is there anything I need to consider or reasons not to buy one, if I don't get on with it do people think they are something that are hard to move on?
mark seeker said:
Thread resurrection, how are we feeling about buying a Firestorm in 2026?
The fuel tank size doesn't really bother me, I would tend to want to get off and get petrol / stretch my legs every 100 or so miles anyhow. I'm not looking to do ridiculous miles, just an outing a few times a year.
I'm particularly looking at something with under 20k and one that has had the cam tensioner recently changed, the couple I've seen advertised have been around £2k.
Is there anything I need to consider or reasons not to buy one, if I don't get on with it do people think they are something that are hard to move on?
I loved my Firestorm, which I sold to a friend, who sold it it a friend, from whom I'm thinking about buying it for my son!The fuel tank size doesn't really bother me, I would tend to want to get off and get petrol / stretch my legs every 100 or so miles anyhow. I'm not looking to do ridiculous miles, just an outing a few times a year.
I'm particularly looking at something with under 20k and one that has had the cam tensioner recently changed, the couple I've seen advertised have been around £2k.
Is there anything I need to consider or reasons not to buy one, if I don't get on with it do people think they are something that are hard to move on?
Apart from the cam chain tensioner issue (mine did break a tensioner) and the small tank, the suspension was "budget". Replacements need to also be upgrades. Ideally, the front wanted stiffer springs and revalving or, better still, replacing with a Fireblade front end of the same era.
As for moving it on if you don't like it, everything will sell if the price is right. The question is how much of a hit would you be happy to take?
I had an early one, albeit for less than a year so never had any long-term problems. The range wasn't great due to a combination of small tank/thirst but, I think later models got a bigger tank? It wasn't the most dynamic bike out there but it was very good, I only got rid of it to get a 916.
I can say it crashed well - after a highside where it ended up (fortunately) on the grass verge, it was still rideable and only needed a side fairing, mirror, bar end, gear pedal and some straightening of the footrest and exhaust.
I can say it crashed well - after a highside where it ended up (fortunately) on the grass verge, it was still rideable and only needed a side fairing, mirror, bar end, gear pedal and some straightening of the footrest and exhaust.
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