Couple of questions

Do you have stock bodywork?
Each side cowl comes off separately.
You just remove the one for the side you need access to.
Just a few bolts, some plastic fasteners, and a quick-release fastener for each side cowl.
An inconvenience, but near as bad as some.

Yeah it's stock bodywork. So it does come off in two halves? That's good.

You have the bolts/screws that secure it to the upper cowl and lower-inner cowl (in front of the engine), then the bolts that secure it along the bottom, then the plastic fasteners that secure the two halves together front and rear, then the quick-release fastener in the middle.
I'd leave it quick-release fastener secured until all the others are undone, then click and the cowl comes off.

Brilliant, cheers SubSailor

bigbadmad said:

Getting the side fairings off seems to be a real ball ache, do you really have to undo both sides of the fairing and take it off in one piece?

Secondly, are the crash bobbins normally threaded through an engine mount from one side of the bike to the other?

Oh and does anyone have a link to service manual?

Cheers for reading

Click to expand...

Forgot about the crash bobbins question.
The answer is yes, when you install the bobbins, they usually swap the stock engine mount bolt with a longer one to secure the bobbins on each side.

If I undo it I won't end up with the engine on the floor will I? Silly question but I'm just making sure

Go to this site and locate the VTR1000R SP1/SP2 UK model.
It's in PDF format is a very good quality scan.

http://www.carlsalter.com/motorcycle-manuals.asp

bigbadmad said:

If I undo it I won't end up with the engine on the floor will I? Silly question but I'm just making sure

Click to expand...

You're only loosening the one bolt (the lower front), not all of them.
And of course, be sure to correctly torque the bolt.

Because they're exposed to the elements, I'd use either anti-seize or locktite on the nut so the threads won't corrode.
And a little grease on the bolt shaft as it slides through the engine. It can get a bit corroded there as well.
And apply locktite on the engine mount pinch bolt.

And of course you'll have to drill holes into your lower cowls with a hole saw for the bobbins.