Honda VTR1000 SP2

I have owned my VTR sp2 for 7 years now, and she still gives me the same thrill now as she did the day that I took her for my first test drive."Hooked" She came quite well set up,with rear shock shim and micron high pipes,no rear footpegs.Started on bridgestone 015's dodgy for this bike,moved to 016's and had a massive improvement on feedback and handling,response,much better feel,but still a bit slow from left to right.After a little research I have just fitted a set of s20's and jacked the back to a 55. What a difference,a completely new experience.........a lamborghini Gallardo on 2 wheels.

Had my first SP2" in 03, brand new but I sold it to purchase a Blade, well what can I say "Big Mistake", nothing wrong with the blade just too light and flighty for me, luckily was riding out to Branson Honda Yeovil (Nice bunch of guy`s there) and had a 04 on sale, test road it and swapped then and there, sold that one after a while to go live on a boat, phew! I missed that bike, anyway off the boat now and just picked up a 07 plate A1 condition and believe me "Life`s good" these bikes really get into your soul, OK you have to ride them and they are a bit clutch hungry round town but there are not many around, they look and sound stunning, they may not be the fastest out there but unless you are Colin Edwards or the fantastic Joey Dunlop it really is not going to bother you that much. I am 6ft 1" and have done Europe on one with a tank bag and tail pack,if you want a special V-twin with character then do not let people put you off if you don`t then go buy a Ducati.

As other reviewers have mentioned, this bike is not for the faint-hearted. Mine is not a daily ride. It gets used in the way it was designed to be used; on the track and on quiet winding back roads where it can be opened up with a minimum of risk to life and licence. Commuting is possible on an VTR1000SP-2, but would you do it? Would you get Claudia Schiffer in to do the housework?

The stunning 1000cc V-twin motor with its stonking, flat torque curve, the top class Showa suspension, the fantastically modulated brakes, the responsive chassis and the symphony of exhaust note and induction roar combine to make every outing on this machine an experience that stirs all the senses.

I found it hard to believe the SP-2 is a mass-produced item when I first saw my machine prior to purchase. The build quality exceeds the standard normally expected of any of the Japanese manufacturers, giving you the impression it was put together in a race workshop, an impression that is reinforced when the fairing is removed and you see the HRC logos on the engine.

Do I need to mention Honda reliability? No, I didn't think so. I've only done about 3000kms on this machine, but I expect it will be a repeat of my experience the many other Japanese bikes I've owned or own. I don't expect that reliability will be an issue.

If you're accustomed to modern four-cylinder sportsbikes, don't expect the SP-2 to deliver the same degree of smoothness, manners or dare I say, rider comfort. You will find that in order to get the best out of her, you must take charge of this bike. Riding her fast requires total committment. The pilot's seat of a speeding SP-2 is no place for a passenger. When it's on the gas, your margins for error are very slim.

The SP-2 is quite a thirsty machine when pushed hard. And don't expect tyres to last too long either! But then, you wouldn't buy any sportsbike to save money would you?

From my perspective this machine has no faults. What others call faults, I prefer to call idiosyncracies; all part of the experience of owning this amazing bike. But a word of warning! If you think you want a VTR1000SP-2, don't ride one unless you are serious, because if you ride it, this bike will take possession of your soul, and you won't have a peaceful moment until it's in your garage.

The SP 2 is a riders bike-be warned, it is not for the novice!

It's potentially brutal, its certainly uncompromising but if you get it right- it's amazing. In many ways the SP2 is a 1000cc two stoke and to get the most out of the bike you must ride it that way. The SP2 has to be ridden, you cant just sit on it and expect to go a long for the ride. Liken to power band ( two strokes) once you are on the gas the steering lightens, it becomes precise and predictable, the bothersome lumpy fuel delivery at low revs smoothes out and the power on tap is instant and delightfully ( but predictably) brutal.

She is both compliant and responsive. But once again remain mindful; because you have to ride her so hard your margin for error decreases- which is why the SP2 is not for the novice! You cant afford to make a mistake when she's on tap.However, if you do not use the revs accordingly ( even with the power commander) the compliant and responsive machine becomes heavy, ridgid and unpredictable. Having read all the other owners comments i agree and confirm that the delight in owning and riding an SP2 is due to the fact that the bike is uncompromising, unyeilding, and raw. And THIS is the attraction. In a world full of sterile, homogenized, , empty, impotent mass produced consumerable this bike stands alone -uncompromising and raw. It takes the riding of many bikes over many years before you gain the riding experienceto get the most out of this bike and this is Honda's reward to you for doing so-the SP2.

After months of searching I have found and bought an immaculate, low kilometre VTR1000 SP-2. And was it worth the effort of travelling from WA to Qld to search this beauty out? Damned right it was! In 45years of motorcycling, this is one of the few bikes I've owned that has its own individual personality. The SP-2 doesn't pretend to be smooth, or comfortable, or the fastest sportsbike on the road. It's none of those. What it is, is a balls-out, no-compromise machine with a stonking motor, fantastic brakes and top class suspension. The SP-2 goes very fast my friends, not like a fizzy in-line four (I've already got three of those!), but in its own idiosyncratic way. You can feel and hear every firing impulse (ahhh - V-twins!!) as the landscape becomes blurred and your eyeballs flatten; the induction howl is addictive and to top it all off, the SP-2 sounds the way a motorcycle should sound, with all that lovely mechanical noise that lets you know you're on a real bike, rather than something the backroom boys thought we might like to ride.

My SP-2 and I are still getting to know each other, and we're still a bit shy with each other after only one month. I have a feeling this relationship will last quite some time. With me in my 7th decade, maybe she'll outlast me! I hope so.

I'm in love again, friends. Can you tell?

I have owned my SP-2 since April 2010, having previously owned a 929cc FireBlade, a CBR600F4, a Triumph Speed Four and an Aprilia RS-125 GP-1. I can safely say the SP-2 is the best motorcycle I have ever owned & will probably ever own....it is truly something special and a future classic without a doubt.

The only slight niggle I have had with it is intermittent starting problems which I think I have nailed by buying a larger-capacity battery (Yuasa YTZ14S) - don't scrimp & throw a cheap chinese-made version in make sure you get the real McCoy.

Looking forward to many years of proud ownership ahead, all the current crop of Japanese 1000cc bikes leave me cold....none of them are as special as my SP-2 is.

Re guest 8th Feb. Shame you didn't persevere with the setting up, obviously it was too firm for road riding but the beauty of this machine is that you have every conceivable combination of damping and pre-load to adjust to your own weight, road conditions etc. Sure it takes some time but the end results give you a once in a lifetime riding experience, simply the finest motorcycle ever to come out of Japan - it's no longer the quickest but that becomes irrelevant when you have the advantage of such a beautifully made machine. Had mine since 2002, will NEVER sell it!

yes as many before I was an inline four man (gsxr1000/R6) This machine woke me up to a really riding a superbike. The power and handling of this machine is a force to be reckoned with. I am 5'2" and 10st so had to get used to the different style of riding. I have spent many hours setting this bike up to suit me,at no extra cost. I ride it, IT DOES NOT ride me. The Sp2 buts a big smile on my face every time I see it. The slick sexy styling and the wonderful sound that the reliable V twin lump gives is worth every penny spent. Honda well what can you say. If you have a chance buy one you won't stop smiling.

My experience with my SP2 seems to be very different from the other reviews. I had it from new and it is without doubt a very impressive looking machine. However its handling is no way near my other bike (TRX850) and the difference in power for spending all that money seemed a waste. The std tryes were ok not great. The suspension is initally set up for someone who is gonna trailer it to a track, then trailer it home - completely unforgiving on modern day roads. Turn in was impossibly slow though didn't drop the yoke. I ended up getting rid and using my much better and faster (corners) Yam TRX850.

future classic prices will start to level off.

excellent bike my only fault is lumpy feuling at slow speed.

Dont be fooled into needing sticky tyres (most people put them on for pub bosting)i've got michelin pilot road on and i have'nt had them step out except when cold.they warm up faster than sport tyres and last longer.put good quailty cans on(mines got arrows)as oe's are heavy.if like me you like to ride fast and dont wont to be highsided into next week than try a twin.