I bought a 2000 SP1 about 18 months ago after many years of wanting one. I am 48 and have been riding road bikes since I was 17. I have owned and or ridden every GSX/GSXR ever built, 3 Katanas, 2 worked Bandits, but this Suzuki tragic always wanted a Honda from the RC lineage. The SP1 is easily the best handling bike I have ever ridden, it makes me look like I can actually ride. The power is adequate, but nothing like a K1GSXR or an R1 of the same period. This is fine because the noise and mid range torque make up for the lower top end power and then some. I don't think I will ever sell my SP1, its a classic and I love it.
Yep i have to agree i sold my SP1 in 2011 to get a GSXR1000K5, but as brilliant as the Gixer is, the SP1 was something very special, on the same road with the same rider the SP is almost as fast as the 165bhp K5, but feels so much more together, wish i still had my SP tbh
I own a VTR FIRESTORM and I will tell you for a SPORTS TOURER It is better in EVERY WAY to my buzzy CBR600F ULTIMA LIGHT LOL:) I cannot believe how fast the MPH goes up compared with the REVS, This machine also feels planted and ROCK steady at high speed (over 130mph) And the weight is also negligent/forgettable lol:) I also feel the bike has better brakes and suspension may be on the soft side, but this results in a smooth and comfortable ride on most UK road surfaces. The bike does however feel a little long in wheelbase but if you are a seasoned rider then you can predict/prepare Your route and ride and run through a bend at the correct GEAR and SPEED you can open up the AWESOME power in mid BEND and be a fucking winner! I love this engine as i can afford it ,but a VFOUR 1000cc from HONDA is my DREAM:)
Have one myself.Fettled a bit with it.Good handling,enough power.Comfy enough for a sportsbike.Its the only one I've seen in our whole area in South Africa.It hit 270kph easy enough.Great bike.Only thing is Honda should've kept kept on developing it.It would've been something like 1299 similar to the Panigale by now!! Lazy R&D at Honda.Even the Fireblade has been the same basicly since 2008!!!
Ive got a few bikes in the shed, But an SP2 in white is one of two bikes i really regret selling. The other was an ex Japan RVF 400 with Load of TSR and HRC kit parts on it.
I bought and owned an ex-racebike SP1, and it had been dyno tuned and the fuelling was great. Fantastic bike but I upgraded to an Aprilia RSVR which feels like aprilia tried to make an Honda SP-3 :)
I was able to snag one last year, right after the snow melted here in Illinois. Dealer wanted 5K. Talked him into giving it to me for 4900.....it was the principle of not paying over 5K for me. 2002 SP2 with PCIII, flapper mod, separate fan switch and front and rear sprocket change. I doubt I'll ever sell it. Now if I can just get my hands on a BMW HP2 Sport......
coolest fucking looking bike from the front. the rear is not bad too with the 2 big high up pipes. you know something's about to happen when a bike has 2 pipes.
I just picked up a 2001 VTR 1000 and I love it I have been riding sport bikes for 30 years I've never liked the bike so much but I've never owned a V-Twin before I didn't know I'm a V-Twin guy through and through love the feeling of that torque Shake Rattle and Roll.. but I just don't know what they were thinking when they gave us a hundred mile range on the gas that so unfortunate I'm in California I like to go deep into the Sierras you can easily go a hundred miles in One Direction and never see any stores let alone a gas station and I can't do that on this bike sucks bad I really don't know what they were thinking 200 miles would have been okay but a hundred miles that's ridiculous
I have had a sp1 since 2003 bought it from a guy getting a family. I might add I was a avid fan of the inline four r1's yawn yawn the usual market stuff and not very forgiving at all. MY sp1 love it so forgiving lets me off with loads of bad mistakes. low to mid as the v-twin. Friend of mine with a gsxr k2 blah blah blah left him off the line - see you pal!. love it great bike still have it and three others. Enjoy it as they don't make em like that anymore! Free riding as they say. I do 90 miles and I am done but a great 90 miles, time for zx12 which is a awesome bike not as boring as the zzr1400. Nice bike but more straight line especially with them there long things on each side, silver things. :)
It did, (although fatty Haga should have won in 2000 if he didn't fuck up and use that weight loss drink :-)) The trouble was unless you had the very latest HRC bikes the SP1 wasn't competitive. It would have been nice to have seen more on the grid.
Touch under 10 grand and that was in 2001. Today in 2021 a good condition sp1 will cost you around 8 grand or more like 9/10 grand if it’s immaculate. How’s that for depreciation - 😁👍🏻 An sp2 will cost you over 10 grand now. Genuine classic machines, wouldn't own anything else.
I bought a 2000 SP1 about 18 months ago after many years of wanting one. I am 48 and have been riding road bikes since I was 17. I have owned and or ridden every GSX/GSXR ever built, 3 Katanas, 2 worked Bandits, but this Suzuki tragic always wanted a Honda from the RC lineage. The SP1 is easily the best handling bike I have ever ridden, it makes me look like I can actually ride. The power is adequate, but nothing like a K1GSXR or an R1 of the same period. This is fine because the noise and mid range torque make up for the lower top end power and then some. I don't think I will ever sell my SP1, its a classic and I love it.
Yep i have to agree i sold my SP1 in 2011 to get a GSXR1000K5, but as brilliant as the Gixer is, the SP1 was something very special, on the same road with the same rider the SP is almost as fast as the 165bhp K5, but feels so much more together, wish i still had my SP tbh
razorback0
I own a VTR FIRESTORM and I will tell you for a SPORTS TOURER It is better in EVERY WAY to my buzzy CBR600F ULTIMA LIGHT LOL:)
I cannot believe how fast the MPH goes up compared with the REVS, This machine also feels planted and ROCK steady at high speed (over 130mph) And the weight is also negligent/forgettable lol:)
I also feel the bike has better brakes and suspension may be on the soft side, but this results in a smooth and comfortable ride on most UK road surfaces.
The bike does however feel a little long in wheelbase but if you are a seasoned rider then you can predict/prepare Your route and ride and run through a bend at the correct GEAR and SPEED you can open up the AWESOME power in mid BEND and be a fucking winner! I love this engine as i can afford it ,but a VFOUR 1000cc from HONDA is my DREAM:)
Absolutely gorgeous, still today.
Agreed!
Have one myself.Fettled a bit with it.Good handling,enough power.Comfy enough for a sportsbike.Its the only one I've seen in our whole area in South Africa.It hit 270kph easy enough.Great bike.Only thing is Honda should've kept kept on developing it.It would've been something like 1299 similar to the Panigale by now!! Lazy R&D at Honda.Even the Fireblade has been the same basicly since 2008!!!
An iconic bike a must have
Ive got a few bikes in the shed, But an SP2 in white is one of two bikes i really regret selling. The other was an ex Japan RVF 400 with Load of TSR and HRC kit parts on it.
I bought and owned an ex-racebike SP1, and it had been dyno tuned and the fuelling was great. Fantastic bike but I upgraded to an Aprilia RSVR which feels like aprilia tried to make an Honda SP-3 :)
You mean downgraded to an Aprilia. But keep drinking the Kool-Aid though.
I was able to snag one last year, right after the snow melted here in Illinois. Dealer wanted 5K. Talked him into giving it to me for 4900.....it was the principle of not paying over 5K for me. 2002 SP2 with PCIII, flapper mod, separate fan switch and front and rear sprocket change. I doubt I'll ever sell it. Now if I can just get my hands on a BMW HP2 Sport......
coolest fucking looking bike from the front.
the rear is not bad too with the 2 big high up pipes.
you know something's about to happen when a bike has 2 pipes.
I just picked up a 2001 VTR 1000 and I love it I have been riding sport bikes for 30 years I've never liked the bike so much but I've never owned a V-Twin before I didn't know I'm a V-Twin guy through and through love the feeling of that torque Shake Rattle and Roll.. but I just don't know what they were thinking when they gave us a hundred mile range on the gas that so unfortunate I'm in California I like to go deep into the Sierras you can easily go a hundred miles in One Direction and never see any stores let alone a gas station and I can't do that on this bike sucks bad I really don't know what they were thinking 200 miles would have been okay but a hundred miles that's ridiculous
One of the best bikes I've ever ridden.
I have had a sp1 since 2003 bought it from a guy getting a family. I might add I was a avid fan of the inline four r1's yawn yawn the usual market stuff and not very forgiving at all. MY sp1 love it so forgiving lets me off with loads of bad mistakes. low to mid as the v-twin. Friend of mine with a gsxr k2 blah blah blah left him off the line - see you pal!. love it great bike still have it and three others. Enjoy it as they don't make em like that anymore! Free riding as they say. I do 90 miles and I am done but a great 90 miles, time for zx12 which is a awesome bike not as boring as the zzr1400. Nice bike but more straight line especially with them there long things on each side, silver things. :)
lol...one of the best bikes I have ridden. Bought my new one in 2000 has 13k miles on it and love it.
I would like an rc51 in that color however it was never available in the U.S. so I'll have to modify in order to have that particular bike.
dang, I really want to get my hands on this bike! This is my dream bike, even though the front light is ugly.
Fucking love this bike. Wish they made more V-Twin sportbikes.
This, and the Aprilia RS250 hve always been my dream bikes to own one day
It just LOOKS sexy
I've ridden the normal VTR, it was sweet, but it felt that there's nothing happening under 4000 revs
i have one behind me but have not discovered it yet. i am in a 748r 916 cbr1000f phase at the moment coz it is summer.
The sp2 is even better than the sp1 but both are legend 😊
Buy one now and keep it.
Hey. Glad to see it draconian animal What's your opinion about 11
This guy knows his onions not like today's university qualified no common sense bullshitters.
i thought that too.
and earn that elusive glamour it did!
It did, (although fatty Haga should have won in 2000 if he didn't fuck up and use that weight loss drink :-)) The trouble was unless you had the very latest HRC bikes the SP1 wasn't competitive. It would have been nice to have seen more on the grid.
Gear driven cams?! Must be very reliable and maintain free
Was thinking the same, I heard a smaller gear driven Honda in person before it sounds like a triple cylinder engine with a slight whine
A lot of Honda bike engines had this feature especially Japanese market 250s and 400s inline fours.
VFR's, most reliable bikes ever build, 5th gen 800 will do over half a mil, wreckers known to never sell engines because bike owner engines never fail
nice, check out mine on the racetrack =) love that bike
I need one
Touch under 10 grand and that was in 2001. Today in 2021 a good condition sp1 will cost you around 8 grand or more like 9/10 grand if it’s immaculate. How’s that for depreciation - 😁👍🏻 An sp2 will cost you over 10 grand now. Genuine classic machines, wouldn't own anything else.
Have one myself
Luckily for me, i have an SP!.
Gear driven cams? you sure? thought they had cam chains
Dave S. Gear
That's where that buttery engine whine comes from.
The audio is too soft
rubbish audio,,,had to use headphones to hear review properly sorry guys