In 2001, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer launched the Honda VTR1000F, a V-Twin sports bike known worldwide as the Firestorm, except for the USA market, where it went as the SupeHawk.
The 2001 model came with numerous changes, such as a larger fuel tank from 16-liter to 19-liter, internal modifications to the front fork, black-finished wheels, smaller indicators, and a less extreme riding position thanks to its slightly raked clip-on handlebar.
Also, the updates included a new LCD dash and a Honda Ignition Security System (HISS) immobilizer that became a standard feature, while the US model retained the original smaller fuel tank.
As a backbone, the bike featured an aluminum twin-spar frame with a 41 mm HMAS adjustable cartridge-type fork mounted on the front and an adjustable Pro-Link gas-charged HMAS shock absorber on the rear.
In the braking department, the model packed two 296 mm discs with six-piston calipers mounted on the front wheel and a 220 mm disc with a single-piston caliper mounted on the rear wheel that offered strong braking performance.
The 2001 Honda VTR1000F Firestorm took its power from a 996cc four-stroke V-Twin liquid-cooled engine that delivered an output power of 110 hp with maximum strength at 9,000 rpm and 97 Nm (72 lb-ft) of torque available at 7,000 rpm.
All the power generated by the engine was converted into speed by a six-speed manual transmission that spun the rear wheel to a top speed of 248 kph (154 mph).