V-Twin WSBK Heros

HONDA VTR SP2 vs DUCATI 999R

We recently had two special bikes through the workshop. These beautiful machines were created in an era when big V-Twin superbikes ruled the international racetracks of the World Superbike Championship (WSBK), local race series and the all important sales charts.

Ducati 999R

The 999 was always going to have it's work cut out in terms of popularity amongst bike fans and enthusiasts. It had to to follow the drop dead gorgeous Ducati 916,996 & 998 series, one seriously hard act to follow!

The 999 had big shoes to fill, not only in terms of beauty, but also in sales and success on the race track.

Truth be told, the 999 missed the mark with he wider community in terms of it's looks. It was labeled a bit of an ugly duckling when it was released in 2003. As a result it also suffered in terms of sales volumes compared to the previous 916-998 beauty's. This eventually prompted Ducati to rush in the replacement 1098 and 1198 models.

However, in terms of race track success, the 999 was dominant! Winning the WSBK championship back to back when it was released and winning a total of 3 championships from the 5 years it competed in WSBK. On top of that, the 999 one countless domestic series across the globe.

22 years on, the 999 is a bit of a better looker than it was in the day. Maybe it was a case that it's looks were a little too radical for the ear it was released. In terms of ride, the 999 is a beautifully balanced bike, so much more than both the 916-998 variants that proceeded it and the 1098/1198 variant that followed it. The 999 is a much nicer bike to ride in the real world. The 999 is a wonderful bike to ride, giving the rider so much more confidence and feedback than it's prettier siblings.

Fan fact! Daz actually had a beautiful 999S back in the day, however he ended up selling it to help fund his racing efforts that would eventually lead into the creations of Race Center itself. This beautiful 999R brought back some very fond memories.

Honda VTR SP2

Honda's answer to the Ducati was their own V-Twin Superbike, it started as the VTR SP1 and evolved into the SP2 ( which you see here). It was piloted by Colin Edwards to 2 x WSBK championship victories in 2000 and 2002, (competing against the 996 and 998, not the 999)

A beautifully built bike with the handling and build quality/attention to detail that Honda were renowned for. This 2005 SP2 is in beautiful condition.

Both of these bikes are very special in not only in the way they look but the way they ride and handle. The booming sound of big bore V-Twins that once ruled the ractracks, along with their beautiful power delivery adds immensely to the riding enjoyment.

It was great to have these 2 wonderful bikes in the workshop at the same time.

Which would you choose? Why not leave a comment, if it was up to us, we'd have both!