I just bought a RSV mille RP from 2003. I'll pick it up next saturday. Can't wait to celebrate my midlife crisis. Had a RS125 Extrema with 33 hp abd a RS250 with slightly over 70 hp. Always felt winning the motogp everytime I was riding that bikes.... I'm an aprilia fan boy. Man, that stuff never gets boaring! All the best from Germany! Felix
RS250 with 70hp!, thats fucking insane, i hear even the mostly cowardly of comfort brakers can carry speed through corners on them almost anxiety free.
@@andyadair85 These are actually not that pricey here in Finland. You could get SP1 for 6600€ which isn't that crazy. There isn't any SP2 for sale at the moment but I haven't seen that those would been anywhere near of 10k€ yet. But it would be still pretty hard to justify to my wife after already having way too much money on toys :D
Very little in the way of electronics, carbs for nice throttle response a dangerous amount of horsepower and are actually serviceable by 3rd party garages. Yup good times which i was too young to enjoy. You can say the same for cars in that era.
More of you operating the bike then the tech doing it for you, everything I've had was carbs till my 03 Z1K, fuel injection certainly is nice and being able to tune the PC.
Link to the aerospace-grade martian rubber keyrings ➡️ www.44teeth.com/product-category/44t-merchandise/ And obviously the Aprilia wears OZ wheels, not Marchesini! This was an earlier version of the VO, which was missed in the edit 😂
I love how you guys can have a disagreement and both say your point of views and no one gets bum hurt and causes an argument, keep the great content coming !
I've got a 2002 Mille R 1060 BB with Gen2 decked heads and 57 TBs + timed cams. A keeper. A spare 1060 BB engine will be made this winter. These things benefit a lot from a slipper clutch on track. Track season is done and heading to Northern Italy in September. A do-it-all-bike.
Love the idea of these types of videos. Mille R & Sp-2 were perfect to start. Hopefully in the future we might see other comparisons such as 916 + TL1000R Speed Triple + CB1000 1098 + RC8 '98 R1 + CBR929RR Benelli Tornado + T595 ZX-7R + 851 V2 Tuono + Monster S4rs
On the wavy disk, it shudders because the slots are matching on each side. Take one disk off and rotate it one mounting hole position and that will take care of the pulsing.
@@Gobbbbb The slots can be lined up exactly on each side, or they can be staggered based on how they are bolted to the wheel. In the beginning of this video they show the discs are in sync on the Aprillia. So the pads hit the slots at the same time and that's what causes the pulsing (you get less stopping power when the pad is on the slot than when it is on the solid portion of the disc). If you take the bolts off one disc and rotate it forward one position the slots will no longer line up. It may still be pulsing but it is double the rate and not as strong so it makes it imperceptible. It works on every bike I have tried it on.
Damn the timing on this one lads! Just got myself my first RSV Mille 2 weeks ago, already put down 200 miles on it, it's just a magical bike to ride at any speed. I've found that the immense low down grunt makes you tend to short shift often because it seems logical that the power tops out higher up, but the mid/top end power is truly a surge that deserves to be explored. You start off thinking "yea this is proper fast for an older bike" then you get past the 8k rpm and it just goes like you kicked it down a gear. There is simply so much character to these older twin bikes, and most surprising of all is how bloody easy the Mille actually is to ride, and how confidence inspiring it is. And comfortable too! You are bent over properly, but no bodypart is being squashed, you just mold into a part of the bike, rather than feeling like you're squeezed into a shape you don't naturally fit. It's bloody perfect. Also gotta say, in the full red livery with dark belly pannel, the bike's looks shine much brighter than the black fuzzy variant like the one you are riding. It's imo a beautiful bike, which in the right color/livery combination is stunning to look at. And the fact that they're darn cheap and mechanically bulletproof while still oozing Italian character, it's a true gem in the modern classic bike world.
3 months ago I've bought 01 mille.My first 1000cc bike.You sad how easy is to ride that bike....It realy is,to me it feels like I've had it for years.I like that beast.
@@marioturkalj1239 Yep, nothing on the bike feels like a struggle. So confidence inspiring, doesn't matter if you're in town or on twisties. It just handles it all effortlessly.
My 2004 Tuono was my track bike. I learned how to ride on a raceway and moved on to a RSV4 RF LE from 2018. I bought them because of the frame... It's sublime!
Had a 2003 RVT100R, SP2 of course. Aftermarket bulbs, windscreen, turn signals, smooth under tail, standard mount Satos in carbon, carbon mirrors from a company in Japan, Power Commander, one tooth less and one tooth more in the front and back sprockets, reversed polarity for the radiator fans for better cooling, Metzlers Sportec M1’s, and a Thorsten Durbahn air box. Fantastic bike. Great power, torque, handling, presence. Miss that bike to this day.
I remember riding my buddies carbureted CBR 900 RR and it was Silk smooth and had instant power…I think Fuel injection helps more with starting and warmup than anything else…that and ECU flashing
@@Real_MisterSir better road bikes for sure…dad had a yellow super hawk back in the day with twin two brothers carbon slip ons. The bike looked and rode the part, had plenty of power for the street, sounded awesome, and handled very well in the corners. I only talked to previous Suzuki TL owners but they mostly felt the same. Honestly Suzuki and Honda are missing out by not making fast sport twins anymore and have Predictably lame
@@greatcornholio5541 Yea it's truly a shame that there is a lack of variety in the big cc sportsbike department. It's either standard superbike getup or nothing, and even KTM pulled out the RC8, I think they could make a great comeback with a back-to-basics analogue experience that may not be in the insane +200hp race, but what it lacks in outright speed it could easily make up for in riding pleasure and affordability.
I've ridden quite a few different bikes from all ages and types and nothing compares to my SP-1. She's an absolute doll and the most character I've ever experienced in a motorcycle. Coming from a 97 fireblade, the cornering really felt like she was on rails. Not as flickable, true, but you pick a line and she does the work for you. I never thought I'd be this struck by anthropomorphism with a machine in my life but I genuinely have a strong bond with her and I'll ride till she rides no more. //EDIT: I rode over 700km to Denmark on the SP-1 in one sitting (with breaks obviously) and I had no comfort issues whatsoever. The damn bag on the tank did prevent me from opening up completely on the autobahn sadly. I hope to pack lighter next year. Fun little fact: I get quite a few looks (as a tiny woman on a big red thumping monster, does), but it is, thusfar, a rare occasion when someone actually walked up to me to appreciate the bike for what it is, and they were almost always older gentlemen who had either owned one in their time or were avid watchers of the super bike series in those times. When they know, they know.
Yeah the rc are sweet until the chain comes off and wipes out the bolt holes for the sprocket cover and then you have a $7000 fucking garage decoration. Biggest piece of shit I’ve ever owned
Love those retros! I bought an 02 ZX7R shortly after BBB1. It gets more looks and compliments than any other bike I've had. I absolutely love riding it
The bit from 17:06 about Glitter is one of the reasons 44 Teeth is great, you watch for the bike content but it's also a two good friends randomly shooting the shit podcast
The TL1000R is also a very underrated super bike. The 1998 Blue/white/black was by far the best color scheme, with a full Yoshimura race system, it was such a sexy sounding beast.
The bimota sb8r is a massively better version of it, and they aren't too expensive either. $12k can get you one if you can find one, which is not bad at all given what it is.
Re the suspension on the Aprilia; I had mine fully serviced (forks, shocks, and steering damper) and it made a huge difference. People tend to neglect suspension service intervals. More retro bikes please!!!
This video has it all - great bikes, awesome banter, an intense rant, ice cream, a bit of smugness, perverted jokes, parking in non parking spots and lighthearted arcade gamba. Beautiful.
That SP2 is one of my dream rides. I remember the glory days of SBK. It was hard to pick who to root for, Ducati or the Hondas, just a great time all round.
a girfriend of mine had the aprillia and i a honda sp1, boy this girl could ride, never could really catch up, ok she was 30 kg lighter then me, but the aprillia had a little more punch anyway, but so much fun playing catch on our house track
Good video. I have an SP2 for more than ten years. The first thing I did was change the fork springs and the front master cylinder and all the brake problems were gone. This bike is pure precision and fun.
I've owned several Mille R's over the years and they're fantastic bikes but there's an RC-51 in my garage :) You're spot on about the wheels, I have Marvic mags on mine and it's super quick through the corners. Feels like a big NSR250
Brilliant mates. Was so waiting for these ones to star the show. My heart was going nuts when Chris presented the SP-2. Have mine as the "daily driver" for 10 years now and it is such a stunning bike even riding round the Alps with a topcase on. Looks rather hilarious though.
Making me want to pull my SP-1 out the garage now... Even though the weather is crap here. Chris, looks like you've had the same epiphany I had. I was running a series of modern things as my main bike - BM S1000RR, then an MV F3 to try and calm the speed a bit. Had a shot of a mates SP-1 probably 15 years ago, when they were very unpopular and worth about four grand, and it stuck with me. A dealer close to me had a minty SP-1 sitting in the window for ages and I made the mistake of arranging a test ride to see if the memory was rose tinted and that was it. Swapped the F3 for it on the spot and have never looked back - that was a couple of years ago now. You're 100% correct in that it's not perfect and that's what makes it so much more of an event. I can't see me ever selling it - I've got other stuff I'll rotate out, but the SP-1 is a definite keeper. It's the drama and the noise - and it's also the most reliable bike I've ever owned. It can sit in its big bag with the silica gel bag in it all winter in a cold garage, then when I pull it out to heat it up and change the oil, it fires first turn. Brakes are sorted with a quickly and easily "reversable-to-stock" radial master cylinder for confidence's sake. Only slight anorak chat - you mention it was the last HRC built road bike - that distinction actually belongs to the RC45, iirc. One of the hassles selling them at the time was that (even though all the cases are stamped with HRC logos) it was built on the normal road bike line, albeit designed by HRC as a complete homologation special. Even the first year SP-1 (SPY in geek circles) that occasionally gets mentioned as being HRC built, while the rest weren't - everything came off the road bike line. That, and at the same time you could buy a more powerful Fireblade for over a grand less than the SP-1 meant it just didn't sell, hence the discounting and bikes sitting around for years unsold. Enjoy it - it's a stunner.
I can remember seeing a '99 Aprilia RSV1000, for the first time. It was brand new and parked in the bus station in Abergavenny. It was painfully beautiful. I mean, it actually hurt me because I was 15 and knew I'd never be able to have anything like it. It just blew me away. So imagine my joy when I found out about the RS50 a few months before my 16th birthday!
they truly are marvelous machines but somehow so underappreciated. Love my "old" 2011 RSV4 Factory so much, its everything I want from a bike (including no electronics ;) )
Great video guys! Finally got my hands on a tidy SP1 a year ago and have to say I absolutely love it! She doesn't like doing 30mph and if by luck I find the perfect throttle position to do 29-31 without it making me look like a twunt it doesn't last as as you say, hit a manhole cover etc and the jerkyness begins again! Get her moving on flowing roads and it's heaven! I work at a Ducati dealership but would choose my SP1 every time & she gets so much attention when parked outside! P.S. The keyrings are a fair price indeed!
I raced the Honda SP-w for several seasons. It's was a heavy pig that just didn't want to turn fast. I've ridden a friend's Mille, and it is superior in almost every category, imo.
Got a 03 Mille sitting in my garage 🤩 not the R model sadly but the Showa & Sachs work perfectly fine , best bike I’ve owned/ridden… still lusting over a Mv Agusta F4 750/1000🥲🥲🥲 One day I suppose
My left Patella (knee cap) is held together by three screws and wire from an "event" on an SP-2 and I still love them beyond belief. That's the power they hold over you once they sink their teeth into you.
I bought an RC51 as my first liter bike back in 2013 and took it to the track. I was 16 at the time and have never felt s creeped out as more than a half dozen middle age men descended upon me to touch, look at, and hug the front tire of my new bike.
I've had 2 standard RSV Mille's. Still have one. Out of 60 I've owned I now only want one of these. My mate had the VTR and the mille is more comfortable and has more raw appeal.
I rode an sp2 20 years ago in the US around the Tahoe area. It was amazing, obviously I ignored speed limits and people just got out of the way. It was limited to 155, which I bumped into more than once, clearly it was gapable of quite a bit more.. It was really stable at all speeds, felt properly planted and cornered like it was on rails. Great fun, I got back with a broad grin, and no tickets,
I think that the three of you should find someone with a collection of “strokers”, RD500, RG500 and an NS400 and do a “strokers” review….😉 Unfortunately I can only dream of having such a collection😢😔
Been tuning in now for the last year and I finally took the plunge to do my full bike licence (down to u guys) I got my test end of this month wish me luck guys KEEP THE CONTENT FLOWING!!!!!!!
@@NinjaZXRR not really, Firestorm is cam chain powered but SP have cam powered by wheels. And that is the main problem of Firestorms: first you must to work at your bike is change original auto cam chain tensioners for manual ones to prevent engine failure. Its a lot common on this bike. And Firestorm is carburetor engine but SP is fuel injected engine. SP engine is just a lot upgraded Firestorm engine for racing.
I think Honda stated when the SP1 was launched that the engines were about 90% different (and further modified of course for the SP2). As noted the main changes are cam gear drive, fuel injection, larger inlets (up to 62mm on the SP2!), magnesium cases and a bunch of other stuff mainly to allow the motor to get up to WSBK power levels.
I had an SP-1 about 5 years ago that I paid $3300 for and sold it a couple years later for $6000. Great bike but they are getting expensive. I bought a 996 with the profits.
Sp2 was my dream bike. And i bought a brand new one aged just 24 back in 04. Was on a plinth in our V and J Honda dealer in Bridgwater. Broke my heart when i sold it. Best bike i ever had! One day she'll be mine again! One day!!
Andrew Pattenden, I live in the northern U.S. with short seasons; that is considered high miles for a sportbike. Also realize many people have several bikes, so the miles on each is often low.
When I was in middle school and then high school back in the early 2ks, the rc51 was my dream bike. I had tons of pics of it in my locker, I still want one.
Awesome review - love the retros I own a 06 with sato banzai exhaust - that fixes the sound. Brembo master cylinder and a set of grippy pads fixes that other issue 👍👍
Hey guys. I love the channel and especially this video. It would be great if you would start adding subtitles to your videos because it’s quite difficult to understand you when you riding. English nationals probably don’t have a problem but anyone one from outside UK (like myself) is struggling.
I've got a Jellymould CBR600F and it feels like a very happy bike. 32 years old but just like these two bikes, it starts immediately, feels great fun to ride and I feel really 'close' to the workings of it, and it's an absolute joy to ride. On the parts discussion, and for my Jellymould specifically, yes, official Honda parts are hard to come by and super expensive, but OEM parts are in good supply, even for a fairly niche bike compared to the later gens from 1991 onwards. From what I've heard when talking to people with experience in these things, what seems to happen when cars and bike hit desirable classic status is a classic parts market pops up to support them, and it then comes down to the owner to spend the money and look after the bike properly. Modern bikes can survive perfectly well on the minimal maintenance, but 30+ year old machines will not survive without a lot of love.
This really highlights how new Ducati twins have lost their aural mojo. It's most likely regs related, but they not just have a one note generic noise, compared to the multi layered symphony of these bikes.
Highly recommend BeMoto easy to deal with and you can change bikes on a whim with no fuss or charge 🏍💨 Quarter of a million subs doing well👍On that note could you lend me a tenner
16:14 - good to see it isn't just me that gets angry when, what seems to be a completely serviceable piece of road, gets a thick layer of pea gravel badly glued to it. Why does this happen?
Tell me about it. Can not fling it down fast enough here in central Scotland. One of the many reasons i rarely venture out now. The best roads are horrendously busy with tourist traffic too. I think it would be a safety factor also, more grippy winter time. But surely the rougher a surface the quicker it breaks up.
Yes sorry my bad, it was an old version of the VO and got left in... so you're gonna have to deal with the knowledge that you were right 😄👍they are, as you can see in the vid OZ's
The later RSVR Factory models had the same forged wheels, but without the O.Z. branding, as the OEM supply contract ceased. these later wheels were made by Malgatech, to an identical specification.
@@BaronVonGrumble As you seem to have a weakness for noughties V-Twins, you ought to be buying my very last outgoing TLR, to stick along side these, Chris... www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-TL1000R-Project-TLR-Only-17k-miles-Please-read-full-description-/144145122420?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
Do a Buell!! My favorite sports bike I ever had was an 05 XB12R. Definitely not the fastest but the low tourqe made it the best highway/in town/ twisty ripper I ever rode
@@andyboyd7511 the 1125s are ugly but I had the one with the beautiful fearing and upgraded Harley engine. Look up the XB12R and tell me you if you think it’s ugly.
21 years on and I am still in love with my sp1,nothing out there comes even close, I prefer riding mine rather than talking about it. And as for country lane's twisty bends nothing come's close.
Love the superbike twins. Shame they've had their last hurrah. I've ended up on a 1290 Superduke, mostly because KTM is one of the few manufacturers still making an open class twin sports bike (even if it's a Super Naked).
@@Bugside The 1199 and 1299 panigale were replaced by the V4 leaving only the panigale v2 as a 2 cilinder sportbike. (Not counting the "soft" sport bikes like the rs660, r7 and Ducati supersport)
@@Bugside Can you really call a 950 low displacement lol. I ride a Monster 1200S, more or less for the same reasons as the dude above ^ But i would freaking love to own a 1299S one day.
@@sjaakvandam2170 crap, I thought I was talking to him, wondering why he picked the superduke instead of the Panigale, if he bemoans the choice because it's a naked I was wondering why he didn't consider the Panigale v2
I had the good fortune to own an SP2 from 2003 until 2008. At the time I bought it, I had actually already signed the order form for a 900 Fireblade (954, yellow/blue). I had seen a tiny picture on the internet of what I eventually found out was the SP2, and was blown away by it's looks. Nobody could tell me what bike it was. That weekend, my best mate arrived out of the blue and told me he was taking me to look at bikes. This was a "cunning plan" to get me out of the house so my wife could prepare for a surprise birthday party for me. Anyway, I rode pillion on his GSX750R with him and we eventually landed up at a Honda Dealership. As I got off the GSX, I saw the "white beauty" inside the Honda Showroom, and literally screamed at my mate, THERE IT IS!!! ...I ran inside to go and look at the masterpiece, still not knowing what it was. Long story short, after realising it was a Honda v-Twin, I absolutely HAD to sit on it. (I also had a Honda GL500 Silverwing in 1982-1986 and loved the Honda V's, even though the CX500 motor was prone to all sorts of problems) So, I asked the sales lady if I could sit on the bike, which she said was fine. Lifting the bike off the side stand, it just felt surreal with the wide tank, low bars, digital clock ... I was mesmerized. I still had NO idea what the bike was (a pukka racebike designed/built by HRC and then detuned for the road so they could sell enough of them to qualify to race it in the WSBK). Whilst I was in "fantasy land" sitting on the SP2, the sales lady walked up and said, would you like to hear it? ... and before I could answer, she turned the key, pressed start, and the engine roared to life. That was me finished!! I HAD to have this machine, but in 2003, it was very expensive. She told me that they could work out a deal for me ...so I took a chance and told her that if they could give me the bike, 2 decent helmets, a decent jacket and a pair of gloves for slightly less than the price she had said they could give me the bike for, I would take it. She went and spoke to her manager, and came back and said it was fine. I ran out into the bank next door to the showroom, drew out the funds needed for a deposit, and that was that. Three days later, I came through with a bank guaranteed cheque for the balance and collected the bike. In late 2007, due to unforeseen circumstances, I was forced to sell the SP2. BY that time, I had ridden over 130 000km on it. I had done the famous "Iron Butt Rally" and ridden 1000 miles in 24 hours and done many many track days. It was/is the most uncomfortable bike I have ever ridden on the road, with my palms/wrists being sore all the time from the pressure of riding on public roads, but put it on the track, and everything changes, it is 100% neutral, and Chris saying it feels like you can take your hands off the bars is 100% accurate. In the "racing position" crouched behind the screen on the bike, you realise that this is what it was designed/built for. It was stock standard with the exception of aftermarket cans. As heavy as it was going into corners, my best mate (who purchased an ex race bike GSX600R with full Ohlins suspension and all the other tricked out parts, booted with Michelin slicks, could not get away from me in the corners and obviously could not keep up on the straights, even tough I was using Michelin Pilot Powers (the first version) It was a very very sad day when I had to let the bike go, but, believe it or not, it was my best mate that bought it. He kept it for years, and the main reason I have written this "book" was actually only to say what I am about to, to Chris ...storage of the bike and draining ALL fuel ... but I could not resist telling the story of the bike, one which I still consider to hold it's own look's wise today, 20 years after it first came out as the SP1. Chris, if you are going to store the bike for more than a few weeks at a time, please drain ALL the fuel out of the entire system. My mate kept the bike in storage for over a year without draining the fuel, and when he went to start it, the fuel pump was knackered and had to be replaced. To give you an idea, it cost around (equivalent, bike not in the UK) £850 for the fuel pump. To make matters worse, he did not realise the faulty pump was caused by the fuel being left in the bike, and stored it again for an extended period, even though not as long as previously, had to replace the fuel pump a second time!!.
@@splodge57 On prestige sure. My bruv had a TL1000, easy a match for a 916, but cheaper. On the open road my ZX was just as fast but out of tight corners the V twins were more grunty than a herd of pigs.
I just bought a RSV mille RP from 2003. I'll pick it up next saturday.
Can't wait to celebrate my midlife crisis.
Had a RS125 Extrema with 33 hp abd a RS250 with slightly over 70 hp. Always felt winning the motogp everytime I was riding that bikes....
I'm an aprilia fan boy. Man, that stuff never gets boaring!
All the best from Germany!
Felix
RS250 with 70hp!, thats fucking insane, i hear even the mostly cowardly of comfort brakers can carry speed through corners on them almost anxiety free.
Well done finally somone realised we all want to see some cool older bikes. Thankyou
Pop
Yes.
they've done lots of videos with their budget bike challenges with old ZX7R and SRAD GSX-Rs already, too
I have been wanting to buy SP-2 for 10 years but for some reason never have bought one, maybe after watching this video :D
Iltaa.😂
Get ya money out then ££££
@@andyadair85 These are actually not that pricey here in Finland. You could get SP1 for 6600€ which isn't that crazy. There isn't any SP2 for sale at the moment but I haven't seen that those would been anywhere near of 10k€ yet.
But it would be still pretty hard to justify to my wife after already having way too much money on toys :D
Please don't put it in the press... ;)
Hard here in the states. Not to find one clapped out.
I did however find plenty to swap the 5 spoke wheels from the RC onto Newer Fireblades
SP2 still looks as fresh today as when it first hit the streets.
Looks better than most moderns out there.
Four videos in one week!? Doesn't get any better than this!
The most accurate comment of the week
Five ?
Late 90’s / early 2000’s was the golden age of sports bikes. I had a lot of fun back then that’s for sure!
Very little in the way of electronics, carbs for nice throttle response a dangerous amount of horsepower and are actually serviceable by 3rd party garages. Yup good times which i was too young to enjoy. You can say the same for cars in that era.
More of you operating the bike then the tech doing it for you, everything I've had was carbs till my 03 Z1K, fuel injection certainly is nice and being able to tune the PC.
Makes sense in some ways when the highest hp bike was the busa with like 187 or whatever and superbikes were mostly around 150 until like 2005 ish
This is good content - love these bikes. More of the older stuff!
"The gearbox is like a swiss watch" yes perfect description! I've had my SP1 for 10 years now and she's a keeper
I wish I could have kept mine! Never sell it!
Japanese Swiss watch.
The boys push their bikes 2 meters, “heavy breathing has entered the chat” 😆 let’s go eat some fish and chips. Brilliant
Aprilia Tuono Rotax also amazing.
There’s a reason this vid has nearly 400k views, bikes were just cooler then…
Loving the new series, More Retro rides please chaps, the original R1 and R7 would be a cracking choice..
R7 🤤
@@dbk81 yes R7. OW-02
@@iandocherty5278 what my early 20’s wet dreams were made of!!!
@@dbk81 the only bike I don't think I've ever seen in the flesh of note.
@@dbk81 there was a ronax 500 at a track day last year. Couldn't believe it
Link to the aerospace-grade martian rubber keyrings ➡️ www.44teeth.com/product-category/44t-merchandise/
And obviously the Aprilia wears OZ wheels, not Marchesini! This was an earlier version of the VO, which was missed in the edit 😂
Key rings for all my bikes and car. Love the Retro Ride concept, should have plenty of models to choose from. Keep it up! 👍👍
Great to see these. I've owned three Aprilias, starting with the 250 two stroke back in the 90s, and loved them all.
I love how you guys can have a disagreement and both say your point of views and no one gets bum hurt and causes an argument, keep the great content coming !
I've got a 2002 Mille R 1060 BB with Gen2 decked heads and 57 TBs + timed cams. A keeper. A spare 1060 BB engine will be made this winter. These things benefit a lot from a slipper clutch on track. Track season is done and heading to Northern Italy in September. A do-it-all-bike.
V2 Aprilias were awesome. The 2008 RSV 1000 Factory with a proper growler was the most fun bike I've ridden so far.
Love the idea of these types of videos. Mille R & Sp-2 were perfect to start.
Hopefully in the future we might see other comparisons such as
916 + TL1000R
Speed Triple + CB1000
1098 + RC8
'98 R1 + CBR929RR
Benelli Tornado + T595
ZX-7R + 851
V2 Tuono + Monster S4rs
On the wavy disk, it shudders because the slots are matching on each side. Take one disk off and rotate it one mounting hole position and that will take care of the pulsing.
Wow, how interesting, if you don't mind explaining how that would fix it, that would be much appreciated.
My dumb 4am brain can't work it out 😆
@@Gobbbbb The slots can be lined up exactly on each side, or they can be staggered based on how they are bolted to the wheel. In the beginning of this video they show the discs are in sync on the Aprillia. So the pads hit the slots at the same time and that's what causes the pulsing (you get less stopping power when the pad is on the slot than when it is on the solid portion of the disc). If you take the bolts off one disc and rotate it forward one position the slots will no longer line up. It may still be pulsing but it is double the rate and not as strong so it makes it imperceptible. It works on every bike I have tried it on.
@@smoke05s I'm with you now, thanks for taking the time to explain. I'm trying to learn as much as possible, so it's much appreciated! 🙂
Great advice mate!
Damn the timing on this one lads! Just got myself my first RSV Mille 2 weeks ago, already put down 200 miles on it, it's just a magical bike to ride at any speed.
I've found that the immense low down grunt makes you tend to short shift often because it seems logical that the power tops out higher up, but the mid/top end power is truly a surge that deserves to be explored. You start off thinking "yea this is proper fast for an older bike" then you get past the 8k rpm and it just goes like you kicked it down a gear. There is simply so much character to these older twin bikes, and most surprising of all is how bloody easy the Mille actually is to ride, and how confidence inspiring it is. And comfortable too! You are bent over properly, but no bodypart is being squashed, you just mold into a part of the bike, rather than feeling like you're squeezed into a shape you don't naturally fit. It's bloody perfect.
Also gotta say, in the full red livery with dark belly pannel, the bike's looks shine much brighter than the black fuzzy variant like the one you are riding. It's imo a beautiful bike, which in the right color/livery combination is stunning to look at. And the fact that they're darn cheap and mechanically bulletproof while still oozing Italian character, it's a true gem in the modern classic bike world.
3 months ago I've bought 01 mille.My first 1000cc bike.You sad how easy is to ride that bike....It realy is,to me it feels like I've had it for years.I like that beast.
@@marioturkalj1239 Yep, nothing on the bike feels like a struggle. So confidence inspiring, doesn't matter if you're in town or on twisties. It just handles it all effortlessly.
Please do more.. RC30, OWO1, first R1, first blade, RG500 + RD500, RGV250 + KR1 all the icons 👍
I'd love to add a T595 to that glorious list, got one myself and definitely is a special bike to ride
Add an oil-cooled GSX-R1100 as well, just for the lols
Love to. Finding them isn't too hard but finding owners who'll let us ride them is another task altogether 😂
@@FortyFourTeeth Good point. Now, I'm not suggesting you should steal them but... steal them. And if they turn out to be crap you can give them back.
@@FortyFourTeeth no owo1 but got a 87 fzr 750 USA import. Close enough
Had the stock Mille from 2002. It's soooooo much fun to ride..... It's one of the coolest bikes ever.
My 2004 Tuono was my track bike. I learned how to ride on a raceway and moved on to a RSV4 RF LE from 2018. I bought them because of the frame...
It's sublime!
I just bought an 04 tuono 😁 what a bike 👍
In December I bought a 2021 V4 Tuono, last week I bought two Tuono track bike a '03 Gen 1 & '08 Gen 2 th-cam.com/users/shortsRO2s2tz3QoM?feature=share
Had a 2003 RVT100R, SP2 of course. Aftermarket bulbs, windscreen, turn signals, smooth under tail, standard mount Satos in carbon, carbon mirrors from a company in Japan, Power Commander, one tooth less and one tooth more in the front and back sprockets, reversed polarity for the radiator fans for better cooling, Metzlers Sportec M1’s, and a Thorsten Durbahn air box. Fantastic bike. Great power, torque, handling, presence. Miss that bike to this day.
I'd love to see a real world comparison of carb vs injection bikes in this retro bike series, like a 98' 918 blade vs a 02' 929 etc.
I remember riding my buddies carbureted CBR 900 RR and it was Silk smooth and had instant power…I think Fuel injection helps more with starting and warmup than anything else…that and ECU flashing
929 awesome engine
Maybe the old VTR Firestorm and Suzuki TL1000 would compliment the 2000ish Twin superbike experience
@@Real_MisterSir better road bikes for sure…dad had a yellow super hawk back in the day with twin two brothers carbon slip ons. The bike looked and rode the part, had plenty of power for the street, sounded awesome, and handled very well in the corners. I only talked to previous Suzuki TL owners but they mostly felt the same. Honestly Suzuki and Honda are missing out by not making fast sport twins anymore and have Predictably lame
@@greatcornholio5541 Yea it's truly a shame that there is a lack of variety in the big cc sportsbike department. It's either standard superbike getup or nothing, and even KTM pulled out the RC8, I think they could make a great comeback with a back-to-basics analogue experience that may not be in the insane +200hp race, but what it lacks in outright speed it could easily make up for in riding pleasure and affordability.
Damn that SP-2 is a thing of beauty, what a treat. Love the new series
I've ridden quite a few different bikes from all ages and types and nothing compares to my SP-1. She's an absolute doll and the most character I've ever experienced in a motorcycle.
Coming from a 97 fireblade, the cornering really felt like she was on rails. Not as flickable, true, but you pick a line and she does the work for you. I never thought I'd be this struck by anthropomorphism with a machine in my life but I genuinely have a strong bond with her and I'll ride till she rides no more.
//EDIT: I rode over 700km to Denmark on the SP-1 in one sitting (with breaks obviously) and I had no comfort issues whatsoever. The damn bag on the tank did prevent me from opening up completely on the autobahn sadly. I hope to pack lighter next year.
Fun little fact: I get quite a few looks (as a tiny woman on a big red thumping monster, does), but it is, thusfar, a rare occasion when someone actually walked up to me to appreciate the bike for what it is, and they were almost always older gentlemen who had either owned one in their time or were avid watchers of the super bike series in those times. When they know, they know.
Yeah the rc are sweet until the chain comes off and wipes out the bolt holes for the sprocket cover and then you have a $7000 fucking garage decoration. Biggest piece of shit I’ve ever owned
Can’t use the clutch without the sprocket cover
Love those retros! I bought an 02 ZX7R shortly after BBB1. It gets more looks and compliments than any other bike I've had. I absolutely love riding it
The bit from 17:06 about Glitter is one of the reasons 44 Teeth is great, you watch for the bike content but it's also a two good friends randomly shooting the shit podcast
If this is going to be a regular thing this would rival BBB. Always wanted you to start featuring older bikes. Its a yes from me!!!!
The TL1000R is also a very underrated super bike. The 1998 Blue/white/black was by far the best color scheme, with a full Yoshimura race system, it was such a sexy sounding beast.
The rear shock sucks.
@ definitely the front and rear stock setup left allot to be desired.
The bimota sb8r is a massively better version of it, and they aren't too expensive either. $12k can get you one if you can find one, which is not bad at all given what it is.
Great engine but that is were the great stops, the chassis and suspension were frankly rubbish.
@@georgebarnes8163 Chassis was fine, stock suspension was absolutely trash, easily replaced with Ohlins to cure that.
A White SP-2! Dreambike of my youth!
And the RSV. Had a Tuono RSV 1000 RR. Stil in my dreams!
What a combo! Two really brilliant and somewhat legendary bikes.
Re the suspension on the Aprilia; I had mine fully serviced (forks, shocks, and steering damper) and it made a huge difference. People tend to neglect suspension service intervals. More retro bikes please!!!
Chris is literally living out ride 4 & buying all the classic dlc can’t fault you 👍
Crackin game, m8
21:36 this epitomises the cutting edge in-depth analysis of any motorcycle we absolutely love on this channel.
One of the best video's so far!!! Dream machines!! The rsv, one of the most exciting bikes I've ever had!!!
Proud owner of a 2000.5 RSV Mille R.
Thank you for the video.
Love my SP1, such a unique blend and still a great looking bike!
This video has it all - great bikes, awesome banter, an intense rant, ice cream, a bit of smugness, perverted jokes, parking in non parking spots and lighthearted arcade gamba. Beautiful.
That Honda RC-51 still looks good after all these years. Timeless design.
Back when riding a bike was about riding the bike. Not about how many things we can "add" (take away) from the rider and the experience.
That SP2 is one of my dream rides. I remember the glory days of SBK. It was hard to pick who to root for, Ducati or the Hondas, just a great time all round.
a girfriend of mine had the aprillia and i a honda sp1, boy this girl could ride, never could really catch up, ok she was 30 kg lighter then me, but the aprillia had a little more punch anyway, but so much fun playing catch on our house track
Good video. I have an SP2 for more than ten years. The first thing I did was change the fork springs and the front master cylinder and all the brake problems were gone.
This bike is pure precision and fun.
I've owned several Mille R's over the years and they're fantastic bikes but there's an RC-51 in my garage :)
You're spot on about the wheels, I have Marvic mags on mine and it's super quick through the corners. Feels like a big NSR250
I just love the old Aprilia dashboard, so offical.
Brilliant mates. Was so waiting for these ones to star the show. My heart was going nuts when Chris presented the SP-2. Have mine as the "daily driver" for 10 years now and it is such a stunning bike even riding round the Alps with a topcase on. Looks rather hilarious though.
I think the sp2's were one of the most beautiful bikes ever made....period!
Making me want to pull my SP-1 out the garage now... Even though the weather is crap here.
Chris, looks like you've had the same epiphany I had. I was running a series of modern things as my main bike - BM S1000RR, then an MV F3 to try and calm the speed a bit. Had a shot of a mates SP-1 probably 15 years ago, when they were very unpopular and worth about four grand, and it stuck with me. A dealer close to me had a minty SP-1 sitting in the window for ages and I made the mistake of arranging a test ride to see if the memory was rose tinted and that was it. Swapped the F3 for it on the spot and have never looked back - that was a couple of years ago now.
You're 100% correct in that it's not perfect and that's what makes it so much more of an event. I can't see me ever selling it - I've got other stuff I'll rotate out, but the SP-1 is a definite keeper. It's the drama and the noise - and it's also the most reliable bike I've ever owned. It can sit in its big bag with the silica gel bag in it all winter in a cold garage, then when I pull it out to heat it up and change the oil, it fires first turn. Brakes are sorted with a quickly and easily "reversable-to-stock" radial master cylinder for confidence's sake.
Only slight anorak chat - you mention it was the last HRC built road bike - that distinction actually belongs to the RC45, iirc. One of the hassles selling them at the time was that (even though all the cases are stamped with HRC logos) it was built on the normal road bike line, albeit designed by HRC as a complete homologation special. Even the first year SP-1 (SPY in geek circles) that occasionally gets mentioned as being HRC built, while the rest weren't - everything came off the road bike line. That, and at the same time you could buy a more powerful Fireblade for over a grand less than the SP-1 meant it just didn't sell, hence the discounting and bikes sitting around for years unsold.
Enjoy it - it's a stunner.
This reminded of the old ‘fast bikes’ VHS days, great video guys more oldies please 👍
My two dream bikes from when I was younger. Great video. I love these ones where you two just go ride.
I can remember seeing a '99 Aprilia RSV1000, for the first time. It was brand new and parked in the bus station in Abergavenny. It was painfully beautiful. I mean, it actually hurt me because I was 15 and knew I'd never be able to have anything like it. It just blew me away.
So imagine my joy when I found out about the RS50 a few months before my 16th birthday!
What about the sound tho they sounded so good and the sp
@@anthonygibbo1881 my dad almost bought an SP. He decided against it because my step mother didn't think it was comfortable enough.
I've an 06 aprilia rsv1000r with the marchesini & ohlins pack. Bike is mega its a keeper 👍
Love Aprilia! have a 2004 tuono had a rsvr 2007 and now have a 2019 tuono v4 factory 🥰
Fuck yes 🤘🤘🤘
they truly are marvelous machines but somehow so underappreciated. Love my "old" 2011 RSV4 Factory so much, its everything I want from a bike (including no electronics ;) )
Gen 2.2 Tuono, 5/5!
@@factoryrider9537 people just don’t know how good they are! Reliable too!
Great video guys! Finally got my hands on a tidy SP1 a year ago and have to say I absolutely love it! She doesn't like doing 30mph and if by luck I find the perfect throttle position to do 29-31 without it making me look like a twunt it doesn't last as as you say, hit a manhole cover etc and the jerkyness begins again! Get her moving on flowing roads and it's heaven! I work at a Ducati dealership but would choose my SP1 every time & she gets so much attention when parked outside! P.S. The keyrings are a fair price indeed!
Lol, my 2002 fireblade is exactly the same, basically a four cylinder sp2.
I raced the Honda SP-w for several seasons. It's was a heavy pig that just didn't want to turn fast. I've ridden a friend's Mille, and it is superior in almost every category, imo.
Got a 03 Mille sitting in my garage 🤩 not the R model sadly but the Showa & Sachs work perfectly fine , best bike I’ve owned/ridden… still lusting over a Mv Agusta F4 750/1000🥲🥲🥲 One day I suppose
Loved seeing some old retro stuff. The bikes weren’t bad either 👍
My left Patella (knee cap) is held together by three screws and wire from an "event" on an SP-2 and I still love them beyond belief. That's the power they hold over you once they sink their teeth into you.
I bought an RC51 as my first liter bike back in 2013 and took it to the track. I was 16 at the time and have never felt s creeped out as more than a half dozen middle age men descended upon me to touch, look at, and hug the front tire of my new bike.
😂
Love this. These bikes are from the era that I started riding, and I still lust over them.
I've had 2 standard RSV Mille's. Still have one. Out of 60 I've owned I now only want one of these.
My mate had the VTR and the mille is more comfortable and has more raw appeal.
I rode an sp2 20 years ago in the US around the Tahoe area. It was amazing, obviously I ignored speed limits and people just got out of the way. It was limited to 155, which I bumped into more than once, clearly it was gapable of quite a bit more.. It was really stable at all speeds, felt properly planted and cornered like it was on rails. Great fun, I got back with a broad grin, and no tickets,
F**KING BRILLIANT !!!! ABOUT TIME SOMEONE GAVE THESE BIKES MORE CREDIT ....FANTASTIC VID LOVE IT ....
Brilliant blast from the not too distant past…
Cheers gents, brilliant retro review👌🏽
I think that the three of you should find someone with a collection of “strokers”, RD500, RG500 and an NS400 and do a “strokers” review….😉
Unfortunately I can only dream of having such a collection😢😔
I’ve been waiting a very, very, very long time for this
Been tuning in now for the last year and I finally took the plunge to do my full bike licence (down to u guys) I got my test end of this month wish me luck guys KEEP THE CONTENT FLOWING!!!!!!!
Just bought Titanium Scorpion Exhaust slip on for my VTR Firestorm, absolutely epic sound!
Yeah they have the same engine.
@@NinjaZXRR not really, Firestorm is cam chain powered but SP have cam powered by wheels. And that is the main problem of Firestorms: first you must to work at your bike is change original auto cam chain tensioners for manual ones to prevent engine failure. Its a lot common on this bike. And Firestorm is carburetor engine but SP is fuel injected engine. SP engine is just a lot upgraded Firestorm engine for racing.
I think Honda stated when the SP1 was launched that the engines were about 90% different (and further modified of course for the SP2). As noted the main changes are cam gear drive, fuel injection, larger inlets (up to 62mm on the SP2!), magnesium cases and a bunch of other stuff mainly to allow the motor to get up to WSBK power levels.
I’m so grateful for modern fuel injection, easier diagnostic work, and how much easier it is to get parts these days but I also love these older bikes
I had an SP-1 about 5 years ago that I paid $3300 for and sold it a couple years later for $6000. Great bike but they are getting expensive. I bought a 996 with the profits.
I had a sp1 red and black paid £4000 in 2007 from a mate sold it in 2012 for £2100
:( ☹
I sure do hope (for your sake) that you meant a Honda Superhawk/Firestorm.... and NOT a, ewwww, Ducati when you said '996'!
Sp2 was my dream bike. And i bought a brand new one aged just 24 back in 04. Was on a plinth in our V and J Honda dealer in Bridgwater. Broke my heart when i sold it. Best bike i ever had! One day she'll be mine again! One day!!
Love how a 18 year old bike with 28k on the clock is high miles!! it's literally never been anywhere
Apart from further than complete circumnavigation of the globe 🌎
Andrew Pattenden, I live in the northern U.S. with short seasons; that is considered high miles for a sportbike. Also realize many people have several bikes, so the miles on each is often low.
Superbike Surgery just rebuilt an engine on a 100k GSXR 1000 thing was not far off new internally still he was amazed at the condition of it.
I have Colin Edward rep. with 79000 km and i live north Finland at arctic circle .
Lmao my 2016 mt03 has 29,000 on the clock
2003 Honda RC51 my favorite bike I never should have gotten rid of. Thanks for the memories. Awesome video!
Fannie batter everywhere 🤣🤣🤣
FBE T-shirt with an RC51 in the background 😉
Loving the retro rides, with British seaside resorts thrown in, great idea 💡
Epic content lads, please keep more of this coming, exploring the classics is infinitely more interesting! 🙏
Completely agree with the observations about valuation. They will always drop, very few will gain in value and if they do you're onto a winner!
NICE!!! Finally get to see my Aprilia getting the appreciation/recognition it deserves, Rs660 is crap compared to the MILLE
rsv1000r factory 2005 ftw
When I was in middle school and then high school back in the early 2ks, the rc51 was my dream bike. I had tons of pics of it in my locker, I still want one.
I would love to see a comparison between the RSV Mille and the GSX-R 1000 K1
Wanted an sp2 when it was new. Definitely still want one now. Lucky blokes those are who have one in their garage.
Awesome review - love the retros
I own a 06 with sato banzai exhaust - that fixes the sound.
Brembo master cylinder and a set of grippy pads fixes that other issue 👍👍
Hey guys. I love the channel and especially this video. It would be great if you would start adding subtitles to your videos because it’s quite difficult to understand you when you riding. English nationals probably don’t have a problem but anyone one from outside UK (like myself) is struggling.
We tried the YouYube subtitles but they just weren't reliable. Hopefully we can find the time to do them manually in the future
I've got a Jellymould CBR600F and it feels like a very happy bike. 32 years old but just like these two bikes, it starts immediately, feels great fun to ride and I feel really 'close' to the workings of it, and it's an absolute joy to ride.
On the parts discussion, and for my Jellymould specifically, yes, official Honda parts are hard to come by and super expensive, but OEM parts are in good supply, even for a fairly niche bike compared to the later gens from 1991 onwards.
From what I've heard when talking to people with experience in these things, what seems to happen when cars and bike hit desirable classic status is a classic parts market pops up to support them, and it then comes down to the owner to spend the money and look after the bike properly. Modern bikes can survive perfectly well on the minimal maintenance, but 30+ year old machines will not survive without a lot of love.
This really highlights how new Ducati twins have lost their aural mojo.
It's most likely regs related, but they not just have a one note generic noise, compared to the multi layered symphony of these bikes.
I saw a new Duke Panagale twin. The owner said it didn't run well at low speed. He took off and it fluffed and fluttered. Euro 5 compliance!
@@humandroid53 I think you'll find that's more to due with it being a Ducati than Euro 5 compliance. 😂
My 2020 beemer runs great at any revs.
I bought a mint RSV this year. The sound is epic and the ride is sublime. My 1st and only bike
Highly recommend BeMoto easy to deal with and you can change bikes on a whim with no fuss or charge 🏍💨
Quarter of a million subs doing well👍On that note could you lend me a tenner
F****cccckkkkk yeeeaahh boooiii! I would love me more retro rides!
16:14 - good to see it isn't just me that gets angry when, what seems to be a completely serviceable piece of road, gets a thick layer of pea gravel badly glued to it. Why does this happen?
The reason is stupid it’s the most cost effective way to maintain the longevity of the road? I ask them whilst they was putting the shit down
Tell me about it. Can not fling it down fast enough here in central Scotland. One of the many reasons i rarely venture out now. The best roads are horrendously busy with tourist traffic too. I think it would be a safety factor also, more grippy winter time. But surely the rougher a surface the quicker it breaks up.
Love this concept! The bikes we longed for as kids are now desirable classics. Really enjoy these modern reviews of these gems.
OZ wheels on the Edwards RSV, none of them came with marchesini wheels.
Yes sorry my bad, it was an old version of the VO and got left in... so you're gonna have to deal with the knowledge that you were right 😄👍they are, as you can see in the vid OZ's
@@BaronVonGrumble eddies never had 147 bhp
The later RSVR Factory models had the same forged wheels, but without the O.Z. branding, as the OEM supply contract ceased. these later wheels were made by Malgatech, to an identical specification.
@@BaronVonGrumble As you seem to have a weakness for noughties V-Twins, you ought to be buying my very last outgoing TLR, to stick along side these, Chris...
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-TL1000R-Project-TLR-Only-17k-miles-Please-read-full-description-/144145122420?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
@@Tomorrow-will-be-less not quite the same, almost identical to look at but cast and also heavier than the original brembo cast wheels to.
1st bike I ever rode was a rc51, 19 Years ago. I picked one up 5 years ago at a really good price, so glad I did.keeper forever
Do a Buell!! My favorite sports bike I ever had was an 05 XB12R. Definitely not the fastest but the low tourqe made it the best highway/in town/ twisty ripper I ever rode
Such a nasty engine. Also heavy. The EBR and the last 1125s had a very similar V-Twin to this Aprilia. Both made by Rotax anyhow but SO ugly.
@@andyboyd7511 the 1125s are ugly but I had the one with the beautiful fearing and upgraded Harley engine. Look up the XB12R and tell me you if you think it’s ugly.
@@andyboyd7511 buell was actually very lightweight!
21 years on and I am still in love with my sp1,nothing out there comes even close, I prefer riding mine rather than talking about it. And as for country lane's twisty bends nothing come's close.
Love the superbike twins. Shame they've had their last hurrah. I've ended up on a 1290 Superduke, mostly because KTM is one of the few manufacturers still making an open class twin sports bike (even if it's a Super Naked).
I don't know much, but doesn't ducati still have a twin? Or is it too low displacement?
@@Bugside The 1199 and 1299 panigale were replaced by the V4 leaving only the panigale v2 as a 2 cilinder sportbike. (Not counting the "soft" sport bikes like the rs660, r7 and Ducati supersport)
@@sjaakvandam2170 is the Panigale v2 I was referring to. Low displacement for you, right?
@@Bugside Can you really call a 950 low displacement lol. I ride a Monster 1200S, more or less for the same reasons as the dude above ^ But i would freaking love to own a 1299S one day.
@@sjaakvandam2170 crap, I thought I was talking to him, wondering why he picked the superduke instead of the Panigale, if he bemoans the choice because it's a naked I was wondering why he didn't consider the Panigale v2
I had the good fortune to own an SP2 from 2003 until 2008. At the time I bought it, I had actually already signed the order form for a 900 Fireblade (954, yellow/blue). I had seen a tiny picture on the internet of what I eventually found out was the SP2, and was blown away by it's looks. Nobody could tell me what bike it was. That weekend, my best mate arrived out of the blue and told me he was taking me to look at bikes. This was a "cunning plan" to get me out of the house so my wife could prepare for a surprise birthday party for me. Anyway, I rode pillion on his GSX750R with him and we eventually landed up at a Honda Dealership. As I got off the GSX, I saw the "white beauty" inside the Honda Showroom, and literally screamed at my mate, THERE IT IS!!! ...I ran inside to go and look at the masterpiece, still not knowing what it was. Long story short, after realising it was a Honda v-Twin, I absolutely HAD to sit on it. (I also had a Honda GL500 Silverwing in 1982-1986 and loved the Honda V's, even though the CX500 motor was prone to all sorts of problems)
So, I asked the sales lady if I could sit on the bike, which she said was fine. Lifting the bike off the side stand, it just felt surreal with the wide tank, low bars, digital clock ... I was mesmerized. I still had NO idea what the bike was (a pukka racebike designed/built by HRC and then detuned for the road so they could sell enough of them to qualify to race it in the WSBK). Whilst I was in "fantasy land" sitting on the SP2, the sales lady walked up and said, would you like to hear it? ... and before I could answer, she turned the key, pressed start, and the engine roared to life. That was me finished!! I HAD to have this machine, but in 2003, it was very expensive. She told me that they could work out a deal for me ...so I took a chance and told her that if they could give me the bike, 2 decent helmets, a decent jacket and a pair of gloves for slightly less than the price she had said they could give me the bike for, I would take it. She went and spoke to her manager, and came back and said it was fine. I ran out into the bank next door to the showroom, drew out the funds needed for a deposit, and that was that.
Three days later, I came through with a bank guaranteed cheque for the balance and collected the bike.
In late 2007, due to unforeseen circumstances, I was forced to sell the SP2. BY that time, I had ridden over 130 000km on it. I had done the famous "Iron Butt Rally" and ridden 1000 miles in 24 hours and done many many track days. It was/is the most uncomfortable bike I have ever ridden on the road, with my palms/wrists being sore all the time from the pressure of riding on public roads, but put it on the track, and everything changes, it is 100% neutral, and Chris saying it feels like you can take your hands off the bars is 100% accurate. In the "racing position" crouched behind the screen on the bike, you realise that this is what it was designed/built for.
It was stock standard with the exception of aftermarket cans. As heavy as it was going into corners, my best mate (who purchased an ex race bike GSX600R with full Ohlins suspension and all the other tricked out parts, booted with Michelin slicks, could not get away from me in the corners and obviously could not keep up on the straights, even tough I was using Michelin Pilot Powers (the first version)
It was a very very sad day when I had to let the bike go, but, believe it or not, it was my best mate that bought it. He kept it for years, and the main reason I have written this "book" was actually only to say what I am about to, to Chris ...storage of the bike and draining ALL fuel ... but I could not resist telling the story of the bike, one which I still consider to hold it's own look's wise today, 20 years after it first came out as the SP1.
Chris, if you are going to store the bike for more than a few weeks at a time, please drain ALL the fuel out of the entire system. My mate kept the bike in storage for over a year without draining the fuel, and when he went to start it, the fuel pump was knackered and had to be replaced. To give you an idea, it cost around (equivalent, bike not in the UK) £850 for the fuel pump. To make matters worse, he did not realise the faulty pump was caused by the fuel being left in the bike, and stored it again for an extended period, even though not as long as previously, had to replace the fuel pump a second time!!.
Welcome to ride my modded SP-1. I won a charger on show us your growler.
I like this bit.
Baron walking face first into that Fagan response . . "Do u got a tool?" LOL
Good stuff guys
How about finding a good Suzuki TL 1000 S or R. Both flawed diamonds but they did worry Ducati.
Was the TL really that flawed, apart from the rear shock? I reckon the TL S was a better bike than the Firestorm
Friend had the S and I experienced the 100 mph speed wobble firsthand. Spooky!!
@@rwd323 My brother and a workmate both had them, without issues.
Worried Ducati? Don't think so.
@@splodge57 On prestige sure. My bruv had a TL1000, easy a match for a 916, but cheaper. On the open road my ZX was just as fast but out of tight corners the V twins were more grunty than a herd of pigs.
A number of years ago, I was riding with a guy who had an RSV1000R with an exhaust on it. One of the best sounding bikes I've ever heard.
I love this series. I am 40 and think about all those badass bikes when I was too broke to buy and now I’m still too broke…. Wtf!