Dave's 'new' SP1. Test riding the Homologation special RC51 HRC World Superbike. Road ride and setup

Dave has been hankering after an SP1 for a while and when a nice original UK bike popped up at the right price, he treated himself to a 'new' toy.
But all isn't perfect with the WSB refugee, as Dave finds out on the test ride.
obsessionengin...

[@bikefever3569]

Great choice Dave, I will never sell mine because there is nothing out there like it. Welcome to the club.

[@sjbechet1111]

So true, the way the form follows function is great - they've got real presence. Ducati tried too hard with the aesthetics and everything apart from the exhaust sounds like a dustbin full of bolts rolling downhill. I remember the RSV of the same era was touted as the better machine by the journo hacks, it looks really dated now.

[@bikefever3569]

Will you change the gearing ? I did 15/41-42 I think

[@sjbechet1111]

@@bikefever3569 It was changed when I got it, has a true speed corrector for the speedo which is affected if you change the gearing.

[@boostaholic7116]

Great memories my mate still has his SP1 we went to Brands WSB in 05 as a pillion it was the most uncomfortable bike ever! 🤣🤣 It was deceptively fast and wheelied well 2 up! Happy days! 🔥👍

[@andrewhenderson5645]

My brother went from Cumbria to Assen as a pillion on a SP1 for the 2006 MotoGP. I still don't think he's recovered 👍😁

[@stevemorris289]

I bought one 7 years ago for silly cheap money, and in excellent condition. I have fitted carbon Akra silencers and link pipes, Gilles rearsets, and had the suspension sorted by Darren at MCT. It's a really sorted bike now. A keeper. Well done for joining the club!

[@obsession_engineering]

Ohhhh, proper akra's 😍

[@andrewlucas6214]

Great vid as usual. Agree totally about track verses road.. I had one a while back and struggled compared to my previous bike (R1) but, on the road it was a joy. Nice mention of Blyton… did several track days there. Lovely simple track.. really relaxed atmosphere.

[@antonios2846]

Amazing bike and great video! To be taken thinking about the era it was born. Those machines are just what they are. A modern 600cc will run ring one on this, but they still put a smile on my face

[@cecilwilson5442]

As usual no rush quietly getting along and analysing the bike quickly adjusting stuff and bingo improves the ride,, looking forward to this one ☘️☘️☘️☘️ from northern Ireland

[@redleadervfr-v4906]

Thanks for your very interesting knowledge about the SP1 Dave. Looking forward to your next video mate and the bike dose look stunning too👍👏

[@sjbechet1111]

Awesome! I bought one with exactly the same colour scheme 3 months ago - probably from the same production run. No #67 out of Hamamatsu HRC. Details can be decoded from the VIN plate. I'm very grateful for your series on the teardown of the other SP1, helped me a lot. 195 rear over the 190 helps with turn in too. If the headlight stops working first port of call it the starter switch - its a DPDT that engages the starter relay and disengages the headlight relay at the same time. The contacts tarnish and the return spring was made lighter for racing 🙂

[@obsession_engineering]

Very useful to know, I'll definitely do some digging on the production number!!

[@paulcavacuiti4176]

There has always been a story told about the first sixty to one hundred bikes in the production run being built by HRC but this might be a bit of a red herring as each market variant / region had frame numbers that started from one onwards. The bike was developed in conjunction with HRC as it was intended to be used in WSBK but as the original press release stated, it was intentionally built to be higher volume / lower priced than the RC30 and 45 (it was nearly half the price of the RC45 new despite being launched six years later). I had mine from new in early 2000 and also struggled with the suspension. A spacer on the top shock mount did help but found that a quality replacement shock was the best solution.

[@MatelotsousMarin]

One of my bucket list bikes Dave. Looking forward to more of the SP1.

[@rafaellastracom6411]

That is a very clean example. Looking forward to seeing you put her in tip-top shape.

[@jonathanmackie4884]

Very useful to hear your thought process on how to improve this bike. I can take this and apply the logic to my own bike. Of course, with 2 or 3 inches of snow on the ground and a few more swirling in the air I may have to wait for a few months!! I suspect this was filmed a few months ago and not that Lincolnshire is THAT much further South than Scotland. 😉

[@obsession_engineering]

It wasn't filmed last week, I can promise that 😂

[@eddysobieralski8075]

I’ve had my SP1 from new for nearly 24 years. Mine still looks mostly standard because I mainly concentrated on developing and refining the ride and handling. Yeah, it's got Dymag wheels, Ti pipes and some beautiful HRP rearsets that my old body fights against these days but nothing that can't be reversed and put back to totally standard. As you’ve already noticed, the bike responds really well to suspension setup and changes. Get the forks re-valved and get a shock with ride height adjustment. As a starting point, drop the forks 5mm, raise the rear a similar amount and you will have a totally transformed SP1. Enjoy! 😎 Looking forward to the follow-up videos.

[@Speedtriplejim]

I’ve got a sp1 and I can’t get rid of it every time I ride it puts a smile on my face

[@obsession_engineering]

And that's why we love bikes!

[@Skid2933]

Nice one Wavey, looking forward to a back-to-back-back with our bikes and Henry's too. Roll on warm dry roads!

[@stevemorris289]

I also have some alloy Microns plus the standard pipes, but the Akras make such a lovely, deep booming sound they are staying! Plus, they're not annoyingly loud.

[@bikeserv]

Had one.One of the best looking bikes for me.High consumption, getting hot, beeing heavy and very expensive to tune.I sold it after about riding 50k with it,and a customer of mine has it ever since.

[@paulcavacuiti4176]

Looks a nice bike and you were wise to get one with original parts like the exhausts and undertray. I had one from new in early 2000 but sold it a few years ago and have had a few SP2’s since. I still have one of the 250 laser etched glass blocks though that came with the first bikes (or were given to some journalists at the bikes launch).

[@AnonAmouse-em4mf]

i think i will enjoy this upcoming mini series! cheers.

[@MrBoama]

Dave , well done , about time you got the old girl out , you did promise you would ride it more than me , so get some miles done lol , glad you are making suspension better .

[@stephenbooty3773]

When I test rode an Sp1 when it got released I personally found the seat itself so uncomfortable and the rear to hard but that was coming from a gsxr750 and weighing only 68kg. I would love a “garage” tour vid of bikes owned. 👍🏻

[@franklinwilkerson2061]

Perfect timing as I'm down to only one bike at the moment which is a Nicky Hayden SP-2 so if I wanna do any canyon blasting it's on the ole Thunder Pig! Mine sits low and level as well so I'm keen to try your adjustments to get a little more snap in the old girl's step. Thanks mate, cheers 🍻.

[@alvindavenport5657]

Had an SP-2 Nicky Hayden version. Owned it for a few years. Being from Kentucky in the US, and being a Hayden fan, I was happy when I was able to buy the bike. It belonged to a Honda dealer who had passed, and I bought it from the estate. The engine would rev faster than any V-twin I’ve ever owned, and with the Yoshimura exhaust would rattle windows (not that I’m advocating loud exhausts). A neck issue ultimately led to my selling it (ironically to another Honda dealer) when I just couldn’t ride it comfortably any more. I miss the bike, but I don’t think the dealer plans to sell it anytime soon. I may eventually convince him to sell it back to me.

[@obsession_engineering]

Even the honda dealers know they were a special bike!

[@bigjam8429]

Absolutely love the early naughties bikes davey 👍

[@pokechopracing8862]

Great job Dave I know you will Sort it out and can’t wait to watch the progress. I actually felt the same way when I bought my SP2 I was looking at an 1198 Ducati but kinda got sentimental and bought the 2 instead and the racing history that comes with the bike as well. Hope all is well from California!

[@obsession_engineering]

Both great bikes, I've always liked the 1098 but the hrc link swayed me

[@charleswinter1335]

Nice, congrats! I have a SP-2, I did add a PC3, Sato's low mounts and a Durbahn air box. I would like to do a suspension upgrade as well.... Enjoy your ride.

[@liambuckley9772]

You need to put a 5mil spacer on the top of the rear shock , I have my sp1 since 2002 and I love it , I have changed the rear swing arm to the sp2 one and it’s class and I will never sell it 👍

[@984francis]

I put a 5mm spacer under the shock top mount. Much better. A 55 rear tyre helps too. I tried dropping the front end down and it would then weave in turning in. So yes, my experience is to set it up on its tip toes as you say. Interestingly, the first thing I noticed on mine is the excellent low speed handling and tractability. Doing U turns, even tight ones, it just lets me ride it round. No fuss or ‘moments’ and no need for complex techniques. It simply behaves.

[@obsession_engineering]

Good to hear I'm heading in the right direction

[@984francis]

@@obsession_engineeringIt’s good to know from a chap such as yourself that I headed in the right direction😅

[@Vtwin_Superbikes]

190/55 looks good and is tippy. Noticed Dave doesn’t have a hugger so heaps of room.

[@malcolmdonohoe9388]

Will be watching this with interest. Have had my SP-Y for 5 years or so, doesn't get a lot of miles as I have other stuff I'm not so wary of piling miles on, but I love the thing and it'll take a disaster to make me sell it. I've done all I need to with brakes (already got braided hoses and good sintered pads and I stuck a radial M/C on the front as I'm a picky git with brakes) but I've been round the houses a bit with suspension. Gone high and it's felt a little slappy to me, although I think the front was probably too low, gone low and it feels like it doesn't want to turn at all. Will be trying what you've done in this vid and keen to see where you go with it in further ones...

[@THE-APEX]

Always look forward to your videos. Bravo!

[@henrytuthill2366]

Looks stunning mate and the mileage and to find an SP-Y you knew what you wanted and found it 👍 And no crash bungs

[@obsession_engineering]

Definitely no crash bungs 😂

[@Motobikereviews]

I love this bike it wheelies at 130mph 5th gear!

[@Motobikereviews]

That is an incredible bike it was a the honda that put ducati to shame! It has an unbelievable torque!

[@brechtvanryckeghem9243]

I bought mine 04 I was 19y old and drive the 💩 out of it and still going Now full racebike full ktech Pvm wheels Kyle link Sp2 throttle body’s ,ecu and swingarm Hon21 cams Airbox All titianium hardwear All brembo Full 60mm rp exhaust (2-1-2 sbk replica) …. If you want you can take it for a ride (in Belgium) Love my sps never want other bike (I putt almost new bike in it on parts 😊)

[@obsession_engineering]

That sounds like one hell of a bike now!!

[@presstodelete1165]

Early October I bought myself an early 60th Birthday Present, it needed a little sorting out and MOT but the big delay came due to much fannying about by the DVLA. I didn't get the V5 in my name untill the cold snap mid December, then I could finally get some Road Tax! So I missed my big day an have only managed a couple of quick spins on it. Since then I have been glued to the doom and gloom weather forcast and cursing the road gritter bastads. Roll on spring before I do domething I will regret.

[@obsession_engineering]

I'm sure it'll be worth the wait

[@bigjam8429]

Love to hear this old beast flat out down the bottom of brayhill

[@obsession_engineering]

Oh, that would be a treat

[@Vtwin_Superbikes]

Brilliant, Dave. Very tidy 👌🏼

[@MichaelSmith-mc8bd]

Great review once again Dave! A very understandable insight into the black art of suspension setups. . The only problem I could see with the bike is that the speedo seems pixelated at high speed’s 😊

[@obsession_engineering]

That is a problem, I'll just have to guess how slow I was going 🙄

[@grahamsmith2022]

Let us not forget that Honda is a gigantic corporation next to '90's Ducati, let us not forget that Colin Edwards was a brilliant rider,let us not forget that other than having 2 wheels and 2 cylinders the road going SP1 has nothing in common with the WSBK version Edwards rode.

[@alanoswin8827]

Keep them coming Dave but please update your helmet cam 🤣 rode that same road yesterday and it was covered in shite 🤣

[@robertwhite7906]

Excellent behaviour Dave 😁

[@stephenlebillon3066]

Your rear problem sounds like my nc30 and rc36 race bikes. Ended up moving the rear bolt hole on the dog bone linkage to raise rear. Aaron slight had to jack up the rear on his rc45 to get it to turn.

[@gonzosk8966]

Magnificent machines! I've geared my SP1 to 15-43 much better around town! Tops out at 130 (don't need that) But 60 to 90 is a hoot!

[@obsession_engineering]

I bet that revs a bit faster 😂

[@984francis]

Err. It should be much quicker even on that gearing. A calculation using the tyre rolling circumference (I run 190/55) and internal ratio fir 6th (0,963) for 15/43 gives 140 at 9000 or if you do the stock soft limiter defeat, 158 at 10200.

[@vendy4625]

Mega Dave Have always lusted after one of these 😊

[@ManxAndy]

Evening Dave…..ooh the SP1……👍😉🇮🇲👌. Ps, just needs a No3 on the front….😉

[@stuwhite1969]

Yaaaaassss! Been looking forward to this one!!

[@peterferguson7679]

I had one did over 45,000 on it love it but you are correct the rear shock needs more travel I put an Olins on it and Olins springs on the front end, also put a power commander best handling bike I have owned loved the engine breaking and the over run from the gear driven cams. I would love to see what you think of it if you compared it to a modern bike suspension?

[@jdahack7367]

Gorgeous bike.

[@nathanhardcastle8767]

I love that road your riding (Bardney to Wragby)I actually prefer wrag to bard direction. and when you sell me your zx10r (first gen) I will compare to my little b1h….Great vid of an awesome (old) proper bike. The sp1 is on my garage list but not on my bank account list. You’re a lucky one Dave enjoy.

[@obsession_engineering]

Sell a bike you say... That doesn't sound right 🤔🤣

[@metalheartmachine]

Big factor might be the rear swing arm; the SP2 one is longer and shaped differently ( I have an SP2)

[@paulblackwell1485]

Great vid lovely looking bike pure hrc no good for my knacked old wrists though so I will have to stick with me firestorm.

[@miguelcarvalho906]

congrats... it is super beautiful this babies

[@bananabrooks3836]

Edwards won on it in 2000 when Haga had his medical test troubles with ephedrine.

[@JayandSarah]

Had an SP2 that was done up quite nicely. End of the day, these bikes are okay - but not that good compared to modern stuff. Nostalgia I think at best. The oem bikes were nothing motor wise like the factory bikes anyways. Way underpowered.

[@morri03]

Totally agree had an SP2. Quite a disappointing bike really, heavy, pretty slow and surprisingly peaky for a twin. Ran very hot in Sydney summers. Great front end was the high light. Well built and pretty looking but not a patch on a Ducati when I bought one later

[@patkawasaki771]

And now Ducati wallop Honda with V4s! 'Revenge is a dish best served cold'.

[@984francis]

Superb bike❤

[@simonmallia2051]

you say that about ducati and elastic bands . honda race the bike with engine bolts missing to try and get it to flex as it was way to rigid . The sp2 with a different chassis is the bike you should of bought fyi 190/50/17

[@kevinbaker26]

"Nearly" at the speed limit! Ha ha!!😂

[@lewifive0]

Love it. Always had a soft spot for these bikes and would love to own one. Anything to look out for if purchasing?

[@obsession_engineering]

The finish on the frame, and especially the swing arm, is prone to corrode so always worth a good look. No major gremlins, so it's condition to look for. Original pipes and under tray are worth having!!

[@lewifive0]

@@obsession_engineering thanks Dave

[@kevinslater150]

Hi Dave great vlog again , get the bike in castrol honda colours , i no just the guy to decal it up mint !!!! Watching an been wearing ur obsession engineering gear here in ten Bob reef ( I want some commission, lots of interest!!!) but lots of plumbing work to boot !!! 😂. Keep vids up Dave ace , see u in pre season kev

[@obsession_engineering]

Get those pipes lagged Kev 😂

[@bigal5895]

Great vlog. Would luv an SP1. Nitron shock and fork internals..or too pricy??

[@obsession_engineering]

Do it!!

[@jamesgarrard4361]

She is Pretty i envey you ,i have a 04 Blade she is a lovely bike , awsome SP1 well done

[@motorcyclegarage2307]

I liked my sp1 rather than a sp2. It was harsher and had rough edges.

[@obsession_engineering]

More character some would say

[@livetoride2993]

Gotta wonder where abouts you're based mate, we find ourselves on the same ride every week or so over Summer towards Rasen via Potter to Bardney and so on. Nice roads

[@obsession_engineering]

You know almost where I am then 😁

[@livetoride2993]

@@obsession_engineering swear when you had your ZX10R I may have seen you wheelie towards Potterhanworth. Could have been you, maybe not. Passed me down Metheringham way on my Daytona

[@okenshield]

Still torn over getting one of these or a 749s

[@obsession_engineering]

Oh, that's a tough choice, I really liked the 749 I had briefly

[@ducatimale]

T-shirt and sunny weather in January?

[@obsession_engineering]

Might not have been shot last week 😂

[@motorcycleadventuresofamor476]

Same as mine :)

[@brechtvanryckeghem9243]

Putt some lighter wheels in (sp2) and it transforms ;)

[@BIBIWCICC]

I have it’s rival at home a 916, I’ll be honest, riding it the UK was bloody awful, the roads are crap and your concentrating on police 90% of the time. The country is simply too crowded. I moved to France/Spain and the abilities of the machine are 90% more than anything I ever felt in the UK. Get abroad and unleash that beautiful bike. Riding in the UK is like having stabilisers on!

[@THE-APEX]

Interesting take. Who knew? The roads are tight in England, that’s for sure. 👍

[@obsession_engineering]

That's partly why I have to get on track regularly, so I can ride 'properly'

[@adampug206gti]

Hi Dave can I send you a message but I need to send you a video it's about my sp2 Thanks 👌🏼😎 great video & bike

[@obsession_engineering]

[e-mail]