Honda VTR1000 SP1

Had this just over 3 years now and I love it.

Found it a little difficult to ride at first so I took it to Brands Hatch to see what I and the bike could do. It performed as I'd been told and the day really did improve my experience of this great machine. Would recommend that all owners try the track at least once.

BIT LATE THIS REVIEW,HAD MINE 12 YEARS NOW,THE CRITICS THAT PUT HER DOWN CAN'T RIDE ,THEY MOAN ABOUT CLITCHY POWER IN TOWN AND HOW HARD IT IS TO RIDE IN TRAFFIC,WHAT ARE THEY DOING IN TRAFFIC,IT DO NOT LIKE TRAFFIC SO GET OUT IN THE LANES OR BETTER STILL GET ON THE TRACK.MINE STILL LOOKS BRAND NEW,IT IS BY FAR THE BEST V TWIN IN THE WORLD,IT IS A BETTER RIDE THAN THE SP2 NOT SO TAME,SO IF YOU CAN FIND ONE GET IT,BUT BE WARNED I DOSE TAKE TIME TO TAME HER NOT IN A BAD WAY. RESPECT HER ,SHE WILL LOVE YOU BACK.SMALL TIP IF YOU DRILL A SMALL 3MM HOLE NEAR THE EXAUST OUT LET IN THE PIPES YOU ONLY NEED ONE HOLE .THEN TAKE HER OUT AND LOVE THE SOUND OF THE POP POP BANG AS YOU WORK HER ROUND THE BENDS,FANTASTIC.TONY

I've had my SP1 from new for 10 years. Now I keep it as a track day bike and, despite its lack of power against the latest thousand fours it is more than capable of holding its own. Other people have commented on its stability in the turn, I find I can lay the bike on its side and it will track exactly where I want it to with no fuss, it turns as quickly as I want and I can ride around the outside of most big bikes. Just back from a 3 day track session in Southern Spain (Cartagena) and it was awsome for what is a stock bike, the only mods are crash protection. Highly recommended.

This has to be the phattest, coolest V-Twin ever! I just got mine, did 600km in 2 installments, and just can't keep my hands off it. Except for the carbon Leovince exhaust, it's standard. As others have pointed out, fit and finish is first rate. The gearbox is fantastic, the brakes are still first league, and in general, all peripheral equipment is top notch. I can't say anything about reliability yet (which is why I have rated this 4 stars), but I expect few surprises here. Some users have pointed to the on/off throttle response. I agree it's bad, but it's not all that bad! I also have a 2002 BMW 1150 GS, and that's not much better. OK, it's less powerfull, and less liable to produce an unexpected wheelie, but if you're not careful, it'll surprise you just as well. The same for the suspension: it's pretty bad when you ride slowly, but once you get to 120km/Hr or more, I find that the ride becomes quite pleasant and confidence-inspiring. Riding the SP1 in town or early morning traffic is sheer murder though: the bike just doesn't like it. It hates riding at low revs: under 2000 rpm, you can almost physically feel the big pistons and conrods wince every time they go round, and its relatively high weight makes itself feel. But of course, you buy the SP1 for riding fast, and for going fast through the bends. Which is what it was designed for, and which is what it does extremely well, and quite comfortably! I was amazed how serene and laidback the machine feels, even at high speeds, and how easy it all goes, without back aches, cricks in the neck, sore wrists etc. I'm 1.80m tall, and the SP feels like it was custom tailored for me. Speaking of bends: some apparently use a 180 tyre on the back, instead of a 190, to make it more chuckable. Personally, I feel OK with the 190 (I have Michelin PPs), and I like the feeling of having to lightly push the bike into the turn. It makes me feel more in control. Anyway, it just zips round on the roundabouts, great fun. Now for me, riding a bike like this is a Zen experience: it's about controlling myself through controlling the bike. It's not about silly speeds, or scaring other road users, or leaning out in rush hour traffic. I see the SP1 as a precision tool: it's about skills, and control. And it has everything to allow you to do that. Great bike!

I absolutely love the SP! One of the best handling v twins I ever ridden.Mine is 10 years old now and a classic icon. With Hi level pipes it sounds brilliant and everyone turns their head when they hear you comin! Build quality is fantastic and would put a 2010 bike to shame.Every day I ride her I come back with flies in my teeth from the grinning! I was thinkin about a Duke but decided NAH my SP1 is for keeps.If you've never ridden one take one on a test ride and I bet you'll be hooked.An HRC bike for the road ..........AWESOME!

THIS BIKE IS THE BEST BIKE I HAVE EVER HAD THE PLEASURE TO OWN BETTER WITH POWER COMMANDER ONBOARD BUT STILL EXCITING ON WET ROUNDABOUTS SOUNDS GOOD LOOKS GOOD WILL DEFINATLEY BE A FUTURE CLASSIC ICAN HONESTLY SAY I WILL NEVER SELL IT

This is the first twin I have ever ridden and I must say after getting used to the throttle, I think its a fabulous bit of kit. It is so planted round bends there are no dramas when you hit uneven road surface, it looks terrific and sounds great. If you want a bike that gives you confidence then buy an SP

I've owned countless inline fours, from a YZF750, R6, ZXR750, CBR900RRV, CBR1000RR4, CBR954RR2 and now recently the Honda VTR1000 SP1, and having looked at a few other V-twins, notetabtly the RSVR Mille, which just didn't handle well enough to my liking , this SP -1 is head and shoulders above the other offerings currently available, in my view.

People talk about Ducati having Character, but the SP has real soul, as anyone who owns and rides one will tell you, and with a set of race cans you can hear and feel that soul on every rideout.

I'm totally in awe of the SP-1 and wish i'd made the move sooner to this amazing bike.

Only slight critisism if there is one and it is slight is the long distance comfort can be a little painful, but then it is a sports bike, so all in all 98/100.

Ive owned a couple of Suzuki TL1000's a black bird a gixxer . and a few others.. this Honda VTR1000 SP1 really stands out ., you can tell the build quality straight away . and the bike does have a presents that the other bikes in the car park dont have . i think that goes back to the reason why the bike was designed and built in the first place .. its a ducati beater !! thats what it was built for thats what it did ... a little heavy but still gives fantastic handling . and the v- twin lump gives great performance and once yopu get it singing past the 5k rpm it comes into its own ... very impressive bike .. my advise .. if you have a clean standard tidy one ..KEEP IT its only going to go up in value and you will always wish you didnt sell it no matter what you replace it with .

when you get on the Honda VTR1000 SP1 bike you just want to ride and ride some more and the rides in south wales are second to none good twistys and the bike just handles it with ease more than the average rider can needs but it inspiers confidence in the rider.