Honda SP1/2 (2000-current)

I bought my SP2 last spring after riding a FZR400RR for a year. This is my first "big" bike and it's sooo easy to go fast on, instant pull out of the corners plus you get to feel like colin edwards everytime you go down the gears on the brakes! Only two suspension settings, hard or really hard, and can't really go much further then 95 miles on a tank. don't expect a rear to last too long either!

Managed to get my paws on a 2001 SP1 just after Christmas 09. After a string of different bikes from 2 strokes to big twins. These included a TLS, VTR1000F and a Buell XB. The SP is ace, completely fallen in love with this bike and I've only managed to cover about 350 miles so far. Popped over 160 on it this past weekend. Compared to my previous bikes it's very different-the only thing similar is the V-twin engine configuration. The Buell was a hoot but was likely to cost me a lot at some point or eat itself. The VTR1000F was well made but felt more like a tourer-it lacked any poise. The TL was, well, a TL. Good engine-pants handling and build. I'll leave it at that :) The SP is quality-it's well made, excellently finished and the engine is the best V-Twin I've ridden. Plus the chassis can handle the power which makes corner exit drive breath taking. It also has kudos which I feel a lot of modern bikes lack. I'm just in the process of sticking a pair of cans on it-apart from that it's staying standard. Only thing I think it’d benefit from is some suspension tweaks. Tank range varies depending on how you use your right hand and the gearbox. I've never owned a V-Twin that offered brilliant fuel economy tbh. Prices are at the best they’ll get to atm imo so if you see one in the right condition grab it! I can only see the value of these bikes going up in coming years. I'm pretty sure any recent IL4 would hammer this bike on paper. Most will leave it in a straight line drag on the road. It is a riders bike so therefore requires a little more input to get the best from it. I find this style more satisfying :)it does hold a line lovely too. So, 1000 IL4 or SP? After running a 929 Blade for a lengthly period some years back I can give an opinion... Surfice to say I know which I'd rather be opening my garage upto for a ride out :) and I know which I'd rather be on :) Keep your Blades, GSXR's and big bang R1's-park em next to the rest :)…yawn… Sell this? I'd rather lose a kidney. If you want a bike that’s not ten a penny, goes like stink, sounds awesome, keeps with anything modern, handles beautifully and has a sprinkling of HRC magic walk this way. SP’s rock!!! :) And that’s why I bought one :)

Recently sold a two stroke (see Blade reviews for explanation)09 Fireblade and bought one of my all time favourite bikes the SP2. Ducatis look sublime but after a ride out i want to come home on a bike and not sat in the cab of an AA vehicle (obviously not all Dukes are like that ;-p). The SP does not mess about, its 40 HP down on my Blade but it is a very fast road machine. Where the Blade was easy the SP is challenging. Where the Blade wanted to wheely the SP just squats down and rockets fwd. Cr8p in 30 mph zones but get to your favourite A-road and life doesnt get much better. Yes I would'nt be able to beat a similar skill level of rider on my 09 Blade but my satisfaction of ownership and the feeling when I push the starter more than makes up for it. Dont be put off by horror fuel stories I rode to North Scotland and back in a weekend and managed 141 miles from a tank (Scotch Corner to LN4. If you are on it you can get the light on before 100 miles but who cares. This bike oozes quality. How many 1999-2000 bikes are worth 3K? Not too many I'll wager.

Had an SP1 for about three years now and wouldn't change it for the world. I've owned a succession of various in line 4's (CBR's etc) and this thing blows them away. Thought long and hard about what I ACTUALLY wanted a bike for and at the end of the day it was for head turning fun. If this is what you're after, then look no further. Believe me, you can get the most jazzed up, tarty looking Blade, R1, GSX etc turn up at a meet and they'll be appreciated - when you role up on an SP1/2 with your blueflames burbling away, everyone starts looking your way. Ride is hard but liveable (I went across France on mine without any issues), fuel economy is pants (the main review states 30mpg - I get closer to 20mpg) and they can be demanding on tricky roads. All in all though, I lurve it and can't wait for the sun to shine!!

i've owned my sp2 for 3 years. love it. at first it was a snatchy sod at low speed, now great after fitting blue flame cans (sorted fulling no end). sounds like the devil with indigestion...love it. handling is great on the twisties, heavy on wrist through town, but hey... if you wanna commuter buy a cbf. looks differant and sounds it too. honda should be updating it but no change for a while now... nowt out there that takes my eye so i'll be sticking with it (no complaints there)

i've owned my sp2 for 3 years. love it. at first it was a snatchy sod at low speed, now great after fitting blue flame cans (sorted fulling no end). sounds like the devil with indigestion...love it. handling is great on the twisties, heavy on wrist through town, but hey... if you wanna commuter buy a cbf. looks differant and sounds it too. honda should be updating it but no change for a while now... nowt out there that takes my eye so i'll be sticking with it (no complaints there)

i've owned my sp2 for 3 years. love it. at first it was a snatchy sod at low speed, now great after fitting blue flame cans (sorted fulling no end). sounds like the devil with indigestion...love it. handling is great on the twisties, heavy on wrist through town, but hey... if you wanna commuter buy a cbf. looks differant and sounds it too. honda should be updating it but no change for a while now... nowt out there that takes my eye so i'll be sticking with it (no complaints there)

i've owned my sp2 for 3 years. love it. at first it was a snatchy sod at low speed, now great after fitting blue flame cans (sorted fulling no end). sounds like the devil with indigestion...love it. handling is great on the twisties, heavy on wrist through town, but hey... if you wanna commuter buy a cbf. looks differant and sounds it too. honda should be updating it but no change for a while now... nowt out there that takes my eye so i'll be sticking with it (no complaints there)

I ve been riding an SP2 for 3 years now and it,s not the fastest ,most powerful , or most compliant handler, but every time the Akrapovic ,s wistle a tune you don,t want any other bike. The harder you ride it the better it works. Only Honda with HRC on the engine. I ve even considered buying a new one from england . Its much more satisfiying rocking up at the cafe on a bike that stands out among the eleventeen Blades and 43 R1s. Besides that it,s never gunna be the old modle is it. It,s THE modle. The best Honda money can buy. What do you really want out of a bike. After all we are only riding on the road and any modern sports bike will more than outperform most of our capabillity,s in road conditions. I hit a bouncing rabbit ( kangaroo) once that tames you down a bit. ( livin the dream in oz, We won the Rugby world cup too did ya hear.

Uncomfortable, poor range? Who cares, this bike was not made for shopping,and the seat is not really for sitting in, it's a track bike and a hoot into the bargain. Hello Honda, are you there? You should have kept on with this bike, it leaves a gaping hole in you product range.