If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. So said Honda at the end of 1999 when it unveiled the VTR1000 SP-1.
Back in the day, World Superbikes was a race series between 750cc fours (made by the Japs) and the 1000cc V-twins favoured by the Italians. With only four titles from 1988 to 1999, it was clear the inline and V-fours were struggling.Thus, Honda made this: the SP-1, a 999cc, liquid-cooled four-valve per head 'Japcati' that looked great, oozed class, was finished superbly and about as practical as a 996. It was cheaper though, being under £10K. It won WSB first time out with Colin Edwards, but on the road this thing had more snatch than a porn library and was almost as hairy if you gave it a handful. Thankfully new injector bodies on the SP-2 gave the roadbike a major leg-up on the ease of use scale, and helped Colin to a second title. Still officially on sale, the SP-2 is now an over-priced, under-powered V-twin alternative to the raft of 1000cc fours (oh, the irony) but as a used bike, it's a much better bet.
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