I’ll admit I haven’t ridden the SP2 but for me there is little good to say about the SP1′s that I have tried so even though fanboys and Honda will claim how sorted these are I’d try before you buy. At prices starting from £3500 I fail to see how these are any sort of good value bargain. Any half decent four cylinder bike from 600cc up will slaughter it on the road or track. They lack the exotic nature of an Aprilia or Ducati and don’t really bring anything apart from Honda build quality and reliability to the table, which all the other Honda’s do.
As far as it’s superbike success goes bear in mind that only Colin Edwards and Nicky Hayden managed to do anything with it, other riders didn’t do anything amazing aboard what is a very average bike even for it’s time. If it had been that great Honda would have stuck with it rather than opting to race the Fireblade in the superbike series.
For me the SP1 is the closest I’ll probably get to riding a Moto GP Ducati, in that the front end inspired little confidence, getting on the power and holding a decent line mid corner has never been so difficult and feel on the brakes was non existent.
There was a couple lining up on the grid with me when I raced pro-bike in 2006 but like all the V-Twins they just ran at the back along with the Fireblades and ZX9′s. Without lots of money thrown at them they have no business on a race track unless they are running in some lame class for twins only.
How this bike ended up at no 6 as a best value bike is totally beyond me and if was in charge of Ride magazine someone would be getting the sack. This is only a good value if you are a collector or can’t ride well enough to know the difference between good bike and something mediocre that just makes a lot of noise.
It’s saving grace is that it is really good for massive wheelies and it will pull hundreds of them before it begins to sound like a washing machine. Then you can sell it to a collector.
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