The Honda VTR1000F (frame designation "SC36") was a 90°

V-twin A V-twin engine, also called a V2 engine, is a two-cylinder piston engine where the cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration. Although widely associated with motorcycles (installed either transversely or longit ...

sport bike A sport bike (sports motorcycle, or sports bike) is a motorcycle designed and optimized for speed, acceleration, braking, and cornering on asphalt concrete race tracks and roads. They are mainly designed for performance at the expense of comfor ...

produced by

Honda is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a product ...

from 1997 to 2005. Known worldwide as the ''Firestorm'', in the USA it was marketed as the ''SuperHawk''. In 2005, the VTR1000F was discontinued.

Innovation

The VTR1000F was introduced in 1997 using an all new 90-degree V-twin engine and a HMAS (Honda Multi-Action System) fork and shock. The bike also ushered in several new design concepts for Honda such as the semi-pivotless frame, where the engine is a stressed member with the

swingarm A swingarm, or "swinging arm" (UK), originally known as a swing fork or pivoted fork, is a single or double sided mechanical device which attaches the rear wheel of a motorcycle to its body, allowing it to pivot vertically. The main component of ...

bolted directly to it. Other innovations were side

radiator Radiators are heat exchangers used to transfer thermal energy from one medium to another for the purpose of cooling and heating. The majority of radiators are constructed to function in cars, buildings, and electronics. A radiator is always a ...

s, single-casting engine case,

connecting rod A connecting rod, also called a 'con rod', is the part of a piston engine which connects the piston to the crankshaft. Together with the crank, the connecting rod converts the reciprocating motion of the piston into the rotation of the cranksh ...

s with

cap screw A screw and a Bolt (fastener), bolt (see ''#Differentiation between bolt and screw, Differentiation between bolt and screw'' below) are similar types of fastener typically made of metal and characterized by a helix, helical ridge, called a ''m ...

s instead of nuts, and 38 mm intake valves, the largest Honda has ever used on a production motor at that time. It had the largest

carburetor A carburetor (also spelled carburettor) is a device used by an internal combustion engine to control and mix air and fuel entering the engine. The primary method of adding fuel to the intake air is through the venturi tube in the main meteri ...

s ever put on a production motorcycle (48 mm). In order to overcome response irregularities typical for larger V-twin engines, Honda figured out different camshaft profiles and intake manifold dimensions for the two cylinders, and the power control of the engine was praised in motorbike surveys.

Cycle World ''Cycle World'' is a motorcycling magazine in the United States. It was founded in 1962 by Joe Parkhurst, who was inducted to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame as "the person responsible for bringing a new era of objective journalism" to the US. ''Cyc ...

list a quarter-mile time and speed of 11.03-second/124.26-mph.

Model history

In 1999, the VTR1000F featured new silver wheels. From model year 2001, Honda introduced a number of upgrades. These included increasing the tank from 16 liters (4.23 US gallons) to 19 liters (5.02 US gallons), internal modifications to the front forks, black wheels, smaller indicators, and a less extreme riding position (thanks to mildly raked clip-on bars). A new LCD dash display comprised fuel level, engine temperature, dual trip mileometers, odometer and clock. A Honda Ignition Security System (HISS) immobiliser also became standard. The US model "Superhawk" never received the larger tank, instead retaining the original 16 liter (4.2 US gallons).

References

External links

VTR1000F Sport bikes Motorcycles introduced in 1997 {{motorcycle-stub