Honda VTR1000 SP-1

Very nice Alex, are you planning on keeping them both?

 

Not sure at the moment Ian. I'd love to keep both, but can't really afford to.

The Blade is such a complete all round, do everything sports bike. It's lighter than the VTR, just as fast in a straight line and easier and more forgiving to chuck around wrecklessly. It's also bigger, considerably more comfortable, offers a smoother ride and very good weather protection. If I could keep both I'd use it for all my commuting and long distance riding. It manages to be both thrilling and unintimidating. And very versatile.

From 100 odd miles, the VTR seems much trickier to master and requires your undivided attention at all times, but is all the more rewarding for it: Firing it up and hopping on brings a great sense of trepidation and occasion. The chassis, brakes and suspension are just utterly sublime, hold rock solid lines and tell you everything about the road surface and traction. The engine especially is truly special and much more fun than an IL4 IMO. It's all so finely tuned and focused that it's the first stock Honda I've ridden that makes me think it might be very wise to be more than a little careful. Although I'm sure in time I'll become properly atuned to it.

As sports bikes go, I think they're both fantastic but at the same time very different in the way they're designed and the way they need to be ridden.

The only real performance niggle of the VTR is very snatchy fuelling at low RPM (which is a well known trait, so rather expected), but a PCIII should sort that. I'll then give it a few weeks, and if everything goes to plan, I'll be selling the 'blade. I just hope I'm 'hard' enough to stick with the VTR as my one form of transport.

 

awesome

 

Didn't colin Edwards ride one. Sure he did wat back when awesome bike mate the sound they make is pure joy to my ears

 

i know which one i would keep the SP-1 :thumbsup:
looks mint in the pics alex

 

Yup, Honda built it as theit first v-twin superbike in order to beat Ducati in World Superbikes, and Edwards won on it in it's first year in 2000. Some epic races too.

 

cooool
i want a go !

 

My mate Mark Heckles rode an sp in the world superbikes too!! looked identical to colin edwards but was 40+bhp down! managed a 6th in the wet at brands though! boss bikes...every mornong in work I hear one thundering down to the traffic lights....so it can be a commuter bike!!

 

Mmmmmmm

I'm jealous :w00t: i need one now.

 

SP1 - a proper bike. Very very nice indeed.

Will the PCiii sort the fuelling, some stock chips are locked below 4k as the bike has to meet emmisions targets so run lean etc. You may need an new ECU but I may be talking through may ass as I know fook all about Hodna's

 

Just arrived back from having the PCIII fitted. Complete transformation - the fuelling is now very predictable, smooth and controllable right through the range. And it's added a fair bit more grunt in the lower/mid revs too, and the fitter reckons about 10bhp up top. By far the most effective modification I've had done. Great ride home, it's definately a keeper

PDL: I think the SP-1 was designed before the emissions regs became quite so restrictive. I haven't ridden enough miles to really find out, but PCIII or not, it's far from frugal.

 

that looks awsome

 

Some daylight shots:

 

Very nice! I want one!

 

Very nice. Welcome to the world of the big V twin. You will love it. I do.

 

that looks well nice mate, wanted one for years............then forgot about them! hmmmm get's me thinking again............... :slap:

 

very,very nice,you taking it around 3 sisters on 13th october?

 

Joey Dunlop won a TT on one too sponsored by Vimto

 

looks a lot better in daylight the 1st pics dont do it justice, really like them bikes. always have done!