In 1997, Honda unveiled the VTR1000 Firestorm, known as the SuperHawk in the USA — a 90° V-twin sportbike with a semi-pivotless frame, where the swingarm was bolted directly to the 100-bhp engine. The VTR also boasted side radiators, a single-casting engine case, and mammoth 48mm carbs — the biggest ever fitted to a production bike!

The VTR ran an 11.03-second quarter-mile at 124 mph for Cycle World, but the bike’s true beauty was its power delivery and grunt:

“Riding a Firestorm is all about surfing that glorious mid-range….. When an engine makes such a satisfying shunt between 4000 and 8000rpm, you can forgive it anything.” — MCN

Last year, our friend Francesco Tutino of Francis Von Tuto Moto Works picked up a ’98 Firestorm for a song:

“It wasn’t the best looking Firestorm I’ve ever seen — over 90,000 km on the clock — but it came cheap due to some running issues and the work needed to make it roadworthy.”

After sorting a huge timing F-up on the part of the previous owner (a self-proclaimed mechanic), as well as replacing an array of bearings and seals, Francesco took the VTR on a few solid interstate rides and a track day before putting it up for sale. He’d planned a relatively quick flip but hadn’t anticipated the number of flakes and tire-kickers he’d get:

“After I’d gotten stuffed by the umptenth time-waster, I decided to strip it down and turn it into a custom bike.”

Francesco has customized everything from enduros to cruisers, but the idea of a semi-modern sportbike got his blood pumping:

“This model is equipped with a bulletproof 100-hp 1000cc V-twin with decent-sized wheels and suspension — awesome start when you’re aiming for a torquey, corner-hungry machine.”

After an insane amount of work, he worked out the shape of one very cool one-piece fairing that both hides the side radiators and keeps them cool. He also fabricated a stainless T-bar that supports the removable lightbar unit, which has both headlights and indicators, and he retained the big original speedometer:

“I love the look from the inside, especially when riding chin on the tank, tucked behind that big ‘fishbowl’ clear bubble screen.”

The livery is inspired by the mighty Honda CR750, but with a candy jade green akin to that of the CB500 Four. The 2-into-1 exhaust was his first-ever full handmade system, using 44mm stainless and Arrow silencers, and most of the major aluminum parts have been vapor-blasted. Francesco calls the bike the FVTR:

Simple name, a real no brainer.
F(rancis Von Tuto) VTR?
F(inal)VTR?
F(arewell)VTR?
FVT R(acer)?
It doesn’t really matter, as it just works so bloody good!

Full story straight from the builder’s mouth, as well as more gorgeous shots from photographer Dallas Shultz.

#Honda #Custom #Moto #VTR