New Bike - Honda SP-2

A little impulsive but I've been intending to get a mint, late model SP-2 (maybe not so soon), and couldn't resist when I saw this in the local dealer. They very rarely come up (especially locally), and the price was right. So the Tuono is now gone, replaced with this:









Yes, I know. Hopeless.

But I absolutely love it, despite being spoiled by a quick ride on Tom's RC8R yesterday. Now that's an awesome bike.

 

Awesome Alex, lovley bike mate :icecream:

 

Sweet :thumbsup:

 

Fucking loved it fella Sounded ace and looks good! Always been a fan of the honda SP1/2 as they are real riders bikes! Takes a fair bit to get the potential out of them.

 

Very nice mate.

 

beautifull bike mate, you did well to find one in that condition on that plate.... what was that then - 7k ish from the dealer?
last one i saw that year went for 6 1/2 private.

i'd love one myself but couldnt spend that much & cba buying a ratter.

 

Thanks all

£6,200. 1 owner. Not the cheapest SP-2 going, but not a great deal more expensive than 8/9 year old SP-2's with 30k on the clock. Hopefully a decent investment if I take care of it.

 

look after it and it will be an investment m8 - you're not using it for commuting are you???

how do you rate it over the sp1 then?
i know some prefer the 1's as they are a bit more rough & ready, brutal like, whereas the 2 is a bit more refined even with the extra few ponies.

 

Very nice... interested as to why you got rid of the Tuono?

Anything you didn't like about the Tuono or was it just that you prefered the VTR?

 

Have a car now so won't be commuting on it Martin. Unless of course it's an especially nice day and I fancy a little ride, but then my daily commute is only 2.5 miles each way and the office has a secure private car park, so a non issue, really.

Clarkey: Getting a car is part of the reason I wanted something a little more focused again. When I had the SP-1 I didn't drive a car and so tended to accumulate other bikes to cover the more practical/routine stuff. At the time, I wanted just one bike that was as good as the SP-1 but more practical. And the Tuono fit the bill and worked brilliantly as a do everything bike (shopping/commuting/long distance touring/weekend blasts): It's fast, light, engaging, comfortable, aggressive, good looking. The brakes are top notch, and the all round build quality and attention to detail embarrasses a lot of late model Jap stuff IMO.

But I got a little bored with it after 6000 miles. The performance is very accessible, which is great but means that it wasn't as much of a challenge to ride as the SP-1, and therefore not nearly as rewarding when you really work get things right. The engine doesn't feel as precise or punchy as the SP-1, and doesn't sound half as good. The flighty handling makes it a brilliantly fun bike to ride but becomes a bit of a chore on long trips. And the stock rear shock is all over the place when you push it hard. Nothing that can't be remedied (and the Factory would be much better in that respect), but not without a good bit of expense. I also prefer the look of the VTR, and the HRCness of it. Overall, the two are very similar if you look at it purely in terms of performance, but for me, the SP offers a much more intense and memorable experience.

In respect to the SP-1 vs SP-2 question: Bare in mind that I've only done about 200 miles on the SP-2 so far and haven't really pushed it yet. Given that, I'd say that the essence of the bikes (as you'd expect) is very much the same, but the SP-2 is quite considerably more refined. Not toned down or diluted, but better considered and executed (evolved). They changed/improved exactly what needed to be improved: It fuels far far better and is (in my book) genuinely smooth for an injected twin. The chassis feels more planted and stable, and gives better feedback. Can't say I've noticed the extra 4 ponies, but then my SP-1 had a mapped PCIII and this SP-2 doesn't, so there probably isn't much in it at the top end. The low/mid range does feel stronger and more consistent. Overall, I'd say it's a slightly more accessible bike to ride than the SP-1, and a more capable bike when ridden hard. The differences are distinct but do not detract from it's essential nature. I'd happily live with either as my only bike for a long time

 

Fair enough

It is a nice thing for sure

 

Very nice Alex

 

Looks stunning Alex, very nice. I don't think I've seen one in that colour before. Is it any better for pillions than the SP1? This put me off the SP1 a bit because I usually have the other half with me.

 

Nice, looks immaculate too.

 

Pillion provision is exactly the same: Useless.

 

Yummy yummy

 

nice bike,i've always loved the look of the sp1 / sp2's but never ridden one,but no doubt own one before i'm done with bikes,how do you find it when leaning in and cruising at low speeds? also i'm interested in how much it costs to fill and how many miles you get back from he. At the moment i'm comuting and so very keen to hear how you get on.

 

Nice one alex !
Did you find your fone mate?

 

sneak peak at my project bike alex

 

Nice one Alex. :thumbsup: Could do with a bit of a clean. lol.