The Honda VTR1000F, frame designation SC36, was a 90-degree V-twin sport bike produced from 1997 to 2005. Known worldwide as the Firestorm, it was marketed in the United States as the SuperHawk.
Honda VTR1000F at a glance
| Maker | Honda |
|---|---|
| Frame designation | SC36 |
| Production | 1997–2005 |
| Engine | 90-degree V-twin |
| Names | Firestorm worldwide, SuperHawk in the US |
| Front suspension | HMAS fork |
| Rear suspension | HMAS shock |
| Frame | semi-pivotless, engine as a stressed member |
| Radiators | side-mounted |
| Carburettors | 48 mm, the largest on a production motorcycle |
| Intake valves | 38 mm, Honda’s largest at the time |
| Quarter mile, Cycle World | 11.03 seconds at 124.26 mph |
| 2001 update | 19-litre tank, black wheels, LCD dash, HISS |
| US tank | stayed at 16 litres |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the VTR1000F.
History of the Honda VTR1000F
New ideas in one bike
The VTR1000F was introduced in 1997 with an all-new 90-degree V-twin engine and HMAS, Honda Multi-Action System, fork and shock. It brought several new design concepts to Honda, including the semi-pivotless frame, in which the engine is a stressed member and the swingarm is bolted directly to it. Other innovations were side radiators, a single-casting engine case, connecting rods with cap screws instead of nuts and 38 mm intake valves, the largest Honda had used on a production engine at the time. It also had the largest carburettors ever fitted to a production motorcycle at 48 mm.
Smoothing the V-twin
To overcome the response irregularities typical of large V-twins, Honda specified different camshaft profiles and intake manifold dimensions for the two cylinders, and the engine’s power control was praised in motorcycle surveys. Cycle World recorded a quarter-mile time of 11.03 seconds at 124.26 mph.
Model history
In 1999 the VTR1000F received new silver wheels. From the 2001 model year Honda made several upgrades: the tank grew from 16 to 19 litres, the front forks were modified internally, the wheels went black, the indicators became smaller and the riding position became less extreme thanks to mildly raked clip-on bars. A new LCD dash showed fuel level, engine temperature, dual trip meters, odometer and clock, and a HISS immobiliser became standard. The American SuperHawk never received the larger tank and kept the original 16 litres. The model was discontinued in 2005.
Design and features
- Semi-pivotless frame: the swingarm bolted directly to the stressed engine.
- 48 mm carburettors: the largest on any production motorcycle.
- Side radiators: a packaging idea new to Honda.
- Asymmetric tuning: different cams and intakes for the two cylinders.
Honda VTR1000F versions
- VTR1000F Firestorm (1997): the original model.
- SuperHawk: the American name, with a 16-litre tank.
- 2001 update: larger tank, LCD dash and HISS in Europe.
The VTR1000F shares its stressed-engine frame idea with the Honda VFR800 and its V-twin theme with the Transalp. More Hondas are in the Honda collection.
Sources
- Honda VTR1000F, English Wikipedia: engine, frame, innovations, updates
