Motorcycle specifications HondaVTR SP-2 RC 51 2003 Extra potato

sP-1 goes; long live SP-2. Its predecessor was much talked about, not least because of certain ambiguities. In competition, pampered by HRC, the VTR SP-1 won Endurance and Superbike races. The VTR you'd find at your dealer's proved imperial on the road, but paled when it arrived on the track: heavy and physical, it was capricious when entering corners - the rear swept the track under heavy braking and the insufficient ground clearance caused half the machine to scrape the tarmac... not very efficient. A pity, given the machine's price (100,000 Frs). The SP-2 cleans up the mess. The front end has been tightened up, the masses refocused, and the swingarm changed for a lighter, stiffer, even classier model.

The engine has also been slightly revised. Result: +4 hp, -5 kg, but above all, the machine has become much more rigorous and agile. The front axle perfectly guides this civilized Superbike, which faithfully obeys the rider's commands. Traction is excellent, enabling you to throw yourself out of a bend while already concentrating on the next one. As the machine obeys your every command, the pace picks up and the SP-2 now lets you improvise, ideal for blind corners. Ground clearance is finally adequate, and braking is phenomenal. The engine is more expressive than on the SP-1, powerful and even nasty from 8 to 10,500 rpm. Honda made no mistake in revisiting the VTR-SP-1, but your wallet will be less enthusiastic. Despite all these improvements, it's worth noting that the SP-2 came bottom of the ranking in Moto-journal's 2002 and 2003 "special sports bike" comparisons. The fact remains that it's an exhilarating, reassuring ride, not to mention an image: the SP-2 HRC shares domination of the Superbike championship with (and against) Ducati.

M.B - manufacturer's photos