2000 honda vtr 1000 sp1

Year: 2000

Make: HONDA

Model: VTR 1000 SP1

Engine Capacity: 1000cc

KMS: 8500

Rego: none

In the early 2000s, Honda grew frustrated with seeing their 4-cylinder 750s getting outclassed by larger-displacement Ducati V-twins in the SBK Championship so they went and made a big bore V-twin of their own.

Christened the VTR1000 SP-1, it had little more than a passing resemblance to the existing VTR1000 Super Hawk (or Firestorm) and was to be the last of the true homologation special motorcycles before competition rules changed.

Not only did both the SP-1 and later SP-2 defeat the Ducatis on track, but they outsold them too, largely thanks to the fact that they treated this machine like a large volume superbike, not a one off homologation bike. As a result, they were only slightly more expensive than the existing Fireblade.

It is a very different bike to pretty much anything Honda were making back in the early 00s, but that was more or less where the usual Honda traits ended. That means these bikes are true-blue race machines, not really intended for public consumption, the fact that they sold rather well was more a testament to how affordable they were at the time.

It was enough for Honda, as they had achieved what they had set out to do, to beat the Italian marque at their own game on what was now an even playing field. For the fans, they provided serious entertainment, bringing the curtain down on the era of Ducati dominance and wild homologation specials.

For the moment these bikes are pretty affordable, if not cheap, they will only appreciate with time. If you are looking for an unusual track machine, then a banged up one will be affordable and fun, too.

Buyer pays stamp duty.