Honda VTR sp1 & sp2 :: thoughts please

[vfxdog]

I have ridden an SP-1 that was stock apart from the cans, and then the same bike with a custom mapped power commander, Ohlins shock and revalved forks... bloody awesome! Quite an under-rated bike. I found the bike VERY comfortable to ride, apart from the thin seat padding... mind you, I am used to comfy gixxer seats

Put a Sargent seat on my SP2- made a huge difference; not cheap but well worth the money.

[_intense_]

has been great too apart from the composite tank warping and dumping it's load in my garage.

// what the....

[_intense_]

Que the TLR or S

Why - cause you can mod the crap outta them, try doing that to a honda.

www.tlzone.net

// Whish is PRECISELY why i wouldn't buy one. How many sp2s you see around... im not after something common, hence not a $6k firestorm in the garage.

[SPman]

The RSV4 hasn't been released yet and that could go straight to No. 1 in the list when I see the road version.

End of 08 apparently.
Looks good.
http://www.motorcycledaily.com/22feb...rilia_rsv4.htm

[Fluffy Cat]

Just got back from a ride on my SP-1 up and down the Wongamoas(not spelt right but sounds right) in sunny Nelson, i have owned the bike for a few years now. These bikes are one of the best v-twin super bikes you can buy let me explain.
1-The price is right, i have seen some going for $10,000 or less on trade me with low k's.
2-Set up right they handle great if a bit on the firm side then again firm is good for a race bike and that is what it is(just a little over damped). The SP-1 rear end is to low and many peeps put a 5mm spacer on the rear shock to speed things up a bit the SP-2 addressed this. Me i put the SP-2 shock on the SP-1 and this made things much better. Or get an Ohlins.
3-Motor 125-133 hp at the rear wheel in 2000 was very good for a vee. Things have moved on but still not bad. Had a bad rep for low down fueling and yes it could be a bit snatchy down low but it was not designed for poodling around town much improved by the SP-2 with more holes on the injectors. Easily fixed with a power commander. If you still find it snatchy another easy fix was to trade it in for a 50. The motor is strong all round but really gets going after 8000rpm. The bike is very over geared 6th being like an over drive. I would recommend a sprocket change. The SP-1 will now be much happier and show this by lifting its front end in appreciation...you will now need a steering damper(no joke!!!). Last thing here the motor is bomb proof just change the oil and listen to the gear driven cams whirrr.
4-The brakes are great EBC HH pads work very well on these rotors and there is a lot of feel as well. You will need this as the bike is almost 200kgs.
5-Build quality is great and the HRC sticers are on it because HRC designed most of it and built some of it. You can still get some of the HRC bits if you have very deep pockets, hi comp pistons and race cams seem to have been popular for a few extra ponies(quite a few extra ponies). You dont have to do much to this bike as its so right out of the box.
6-It has shocking mpg i think about 30mpg hmmm, the power commander helps but its still bad as is the riders position. Weight is on the wrists and tight on the knees. With almost zero wind protection from the screen on the SP-1. The SP-2 had a taller screen but not much better.
Thats about the size of it not a bad bike for what it was designed for i.e to beat Ducati 916 superbikes which it did frst time out with Colin Edwards onboard. Its nearest Jap rival was the TL1000R and its a nice bike but do test ride one as they are very different beasties. The SP pretty much outperforms it in all areas apart from not having a nice blue and white paint job.
I wont be selling mine for a very long time, the red ones go faster and keep in mind this is all from a vee twin perspective.(you cant compare them with the fours). I think you should buy one now, this instance.....

[Marmoot]

congratulations. Just in time for annual thread revival.