Motorcycle specifications HondaVTR SP-1 RC 51 2001 Fiery and passionate

forget the RC 45. From now on, to beat Ducati, Honda will use the same weapons: a V2! And not just any V2: a concentrate of Honda know-how with a H.R.C. sauce. This 999 cm3 twin features magnesium crankcases, electronic fuel injection and a forced-air intake system - all of which contribute to the SP-1's identity. The gaping triangle between the bike's eyes feeds directly into the airbox via a duct running through the steering column. Amazing! And what's more, this VTR looks good too. Its magnificent red paintwork is all the glory of the winged manufacturer. There's no link with the standard version, which is intended to be a good sports bike for the road. No, the SP-1 is pure competition. And at 100,000 francs a piece, it's not for amateurs. On the other side of the Atlantic, it's called the RC 51, and it's taking the fight to the Ducati Superbikes. In competition, it's a formidable weapon, but very different from the dealer's existing model. In order to become the machine to topple the 996 SP, the VTR underwent a number of modifications and benefited from a copious (and costly) H.R.C. kit.
On the racetrack, the beauty lags behind competitors with less demanding geometry. And yet, the chassis is no slouch: aluminum perimeter frame and huge swingarm. No, something's wrong with the damping. The suspension is too soft, and risks disuniting the bike when the track becomes bouncy. Not really dangerous, but very detrimental to the lap time. The bike throws itself into the bend with exemplary ease, unless you're still holding it on the brakes. Here, the bike is much more (too?) physical to place. The braking is a marvel, with nothing to reproach it for, even if you can't really take advantage of it. The fork can be adjusted in all directions, but its excessive suppleness makes it all too easy to hit the limit. Out of the box, it's not really a track bike.

On the road, the SP-1 is much more interesting. Its 136 hp engine blends smoothness and power with great charm. It comes into its own at 4,000 rpm, and delivers furiously after 5,500 rpm. Its power curve is less expressive than that of a 996, but it's far more energetic than the 4-legs. Impeccable roadholding, an ideal attack position and a concerted gearbox make for a real treat on serpentine roads. In fact, the machine only suffers when used in extreme conditions. That's when we give it a bit of magic potion and it becomes formidable. As proof, it won the 24 hrs of Le Mans on its first appearance - that's a good one!

M.B
(inspired by Moto-journal - manufacturer's photos)