of my chest

[dave-sp2]

strange i know but here goes.

I have a 2004 sp2, in white and it looks and sounds sublime!! i love it to bits!!!! BUT??!!!??(as there is always a but lol)

It makes me ride like a loon, not some of the time, most of the time!!! and since i have been doing the trackdays this year which may i just add are great fun and a right blast i find i have lost a lot of enthusiasm to ride the sp on the road and have done 75% of my road riding this year 2 up. (not a loon then, just on my own) but as you can imagine 2 up on the sp is't the best and riding it slow is difficult and uncomfortable after about 20 mins. hence the need for speed.

now i'd love to keep the sp forever but nothing is forever and i'm thinking of selling it and pocketing a couple of grand towards my next track hooligan weapon where it can be exploited properly and getting a more sensible road bike that is still fun but not looney fun, mayb a storm or a VFR800 but then i'm leaning more towards the naked bikes(Z1000-GSX1400-XJR1300-CB1300-fazer1000-KTM superduke etc) but then i have another problem, all the old ones are ,well, old and ugly. the new ones with there sharp lines etc are much nicer but more expensive, the Z1000 is about the best i could do with a modern one but that would't leave me much change from the sp and plus it is't a honda or a v-twin!, and then i might as well not sell sp.

little bit brain fried at the moment.

my step-dad has a ZRX1100 which is great fun to ride. grunty larger engine and fun too. but it does't compare to the SP with it's looks and sound!!!

anyway

sorry about all that, just had to get it off my chest.

would appreciate anyone's thoughts who have made a simular move!!

thanks

dave

[marlbororman]

get a storm, plenty of bargains to be had cant see me on an inline 4 ever again now

Edit:- but then again im still a loon on mine

[geoff996]

I agree storm are stormingly good fun. Had a blast on mine on the way home from nw200, took it to the tt last year comfortable enough only down side is tank range
geoff996:D

[marravtr]

ye gods man! are you mad, dont do it!!! you'll regret it, i can see where your coming from but the SP's are special, sell a kidney and get another cheap bike

[Pete.L]

TDM 900
Good for two up, not that popular so prices are cheep and still enough grunt to get you where you want....Just a thought. Personally selling a kidney still sounds better in my head

Pete.l

[Jbrebel]

In the matter of keeping a balanced opinion on this I'd like to add my ten peneth...

Fook that-keep the SP!!!

TBH I can see the arguement for both bikes having owned both (as many others have) and the Storm does have its benifits-value for money being a key.

IMO on the whole the SP is a much better bike full stop. But as with all bikes-its horses for courses. And opinions are like arsehloes-everyone has one

Having just hooned round Wales on mine a couple of weeks back I can honestly say I wouldn't have wanted to be on anything else. Making "general" comparisons between an SP and a Storm is a bit daft really...it's like comparing an Ducati 900SS to a 996.

Maybe when I'm older and I have to sh!t into a bag I'll look at a BMW or similar. For now, as the sig says, SP's rock Love mine and I know if it wen't I'd find it soooo hard to replace with anything else.

Comfort and alround ability needed? Pete's TDM idea would be my 1st port of call in your situation-my mate has one at work (900) and it's ace for the ££££. Well sorted bike that holds to all situations well. He gets about 250 miles to the tank depending on how he rides which has got to be better than anything with VTR on it

[chojindan]

IMO on the whole the SP is a much better bike full stop. But as with all bikes-its horses for courses. And opinions are like arsehloes-everyone has one

No no, I disagree.

Opinions are like the female orgasm - Mine's more important, and I couldn't give a f*ck if she has one

[dave-sp2]

Well one of the options i have been mulling over is to sell the sp and , well, get another one but for the track lol. sensible road bike, hooligan track weapon!! still get my sp fix which i feel i'm gona need forever now and yet still(within reason) hold onto my license and make the misses a bit more comfy in the long run, vtr for the road and vtr for the track, like martyn but the other way around lol.

the misses is good to me, when i was looking for a new bike we had a deal, as long as the passenger seat was flat it was all good. she does't maon about being on the back at all but there is always comments on how comfy that seat looks etc when where out, and even though i have put extra foam in the seats it is still harsh.

dave

p,s appreciate the comments so far, and just incase any ones interested, £4400 as it is and £3800 standard. no offers!!

[Jbrebel]

IMO on the whole the SP is a much better bike full stop. But as with all bikes-its horses for courses. And opinions are like arsehloes-everyone has one

No no, I disagree.

Opinions are like the female orgasm - Mine's more important, and I couldn't give a f*ck if she has one

In that case she needs a SP Dan-all will be sorted. I rest my case

[Jbrebel]

What made me a bit happier, was knowing that the SP went to a good home where it will be looked after.

Thats nice to hear Mike-and yes I promise you it is getting looked after. And used too, which is what its all about I suppose

When I do take the plunge again, it will be on another SP1, I don't want a 2.
Everyone tells you how the SP2 is much more refined etc... but I just loved the rawness of the SP1, it was barking mad and made you look like Max Biaggi in the bends. It will also be a second bike, as I'd like something for long runs and use every day, and something that I can take out for a good hooning.

I know what you mean-wouldn't mind trying a 2 for comparison though

I spent a lot of time looking at SP's and the SP1 does do more for me in that regard-I like the fact it's the "original" incarnation of the model tbh. I'm sure the SP2 is more refind though.

Gotta agree about the 2nd bike thing-I'd really like to keep this tidy so I'm quite fancying a 2nd bike to use for other aspects of riding. For me it'd be my commute in the crappy weather and hacking about.

The comfort/compromise thing regarding this bike doesn't bother me-it is what it is at the end of the day.

I love it

[Buckers]

I had a great time on my Sp2 mate. Loved it, no bike has come close since .

I only got rid when I dropped it, and being the fickle shite I am I changed to a cbr6 cos I enjoyed the revs. But I missed the grunt so much, I chopped in my commuter hornet for a a storm and now I think I have a good mix.

The storm is not a patch on the sp2 for that 'special' feeling, but the motor feels very similar. Riding position is a little more comfy but I'm not sure the pillion ride would be that much better on a storm. Handling is crap compared to the sp2 but I am on an 11 yr old tyre and need to sort the suspension.

I think if I was you I'd save up, keep the sp2 and get a 2k 4 stroke really suited to touring, or a VFR. Easy for me to say this though - if I have an itch I just scratch it - like Veruca Salt