• Original condition
• Low mileage
• Very collectable and very fast
• Recent  MOT

This is the bike that Honda built to knock Ducati off their V-twin dominance in World Superbike Racing. Honda gave their specialist Racing Division the brief to build a racing version of their VTR1000.

The result was the SP1, also known as the RC51, which actually owed hardly anything to the previous VTR. Using hi-tech race developed components to deliver a state-of-the-art racing motorcycle, it went on to win virtually every race and series that it entered straight out of the crate at the hands of riders like Colin Edwards and Nicky Hayden.

Limited numbers of these race machines were sold through Honda Dealers during its short production run of only 2 years, (2000-2001), and only around 1,200 being road registered in the UK.

The current owner bought this SP1 back in 2004 from Len Motorcycles of Manchester with around 5,000 on the clock.

In the first few years of his ownership it was used on sunny days and an annual trip to the Isle of Man TT races. Since then and for the last 11 years or so, it has been kept garaged and declared SORN. It was used on occasion during this time but mostly it’s been kept in dry storage.

It’s been well serviced and looked after while on the road but because of the years kept off road there are no service records during these times.

Recently recommissioned and serviced this lovely original SP1 is now up for auction and ready to go.

The V5 is present and correct showing only one previous keeper and the current MOT is valid until 22.09.2022

The bike comes complete with its original owner’s manual, service book and complete toolkit together with two sets of keys and various MOTs together with service receipts.

Overall this VTR1000 SP1 is in excellent original condition and ready to be enjoyed by a new owner.

If you study the photographs, you’ll find a few imperfections - mostly surface corrosion to the alloy surfaces like the wheel rims, the front fork legs and the odd screw or nut that has rusted but all the important stuff like the paintwork and the frame itself all look fantastic.

The bright red paintwork and racing decals scream ‘race bike’ leaving everyone under no illusion of what it was built for. 

There are minor blemishes and the odd scratch, but all of these pale into insignificance when you look at the bike for what it is, an SP1 Honda racer in good original condition with extremely low mileage.

It’s not showroom condition, but some light restoration work here and there could easily bring it up to that standard if so required.

The motorcycle has recently had a full service and checked over thoroughly and is ready to go, having had a new battery, fuel pump, fuel regulator and spark plugs.

With only having covered around 8,500 miles the undisputed reliability and durability of Honda engines and motorbikes generally should give the next owner very little to concern themselves with.

There weren’t that many of these SP1s produced so it’s a rare beast with famed Honda Racing pedigree so it’s likely to attract considerable attention from both keen riders and collectors alike.

There’s little doubt that the SP1 is a special bike that earned its reputation the hard way, on the race track, and it’s possibly the last race developed bike that the Honda Racing Division had a direct influence on.