The Final Evolution of Honda's Legendary World Superbike Champion

A True Homologation Superbike. Built To Beat Ducati. Born To Win.

KEY FACTS

• Model: 2006 Honda VTR1000 SP2 (RC51)

• Model Code: SC45

• Production Type: World Superbike Homologation Special

• Engine Capacity: 996cc

• Engine: Liquid-Cooled 90° DOHC V-Twin

• Maximum Power: 136 hp (100 kW) @ 9,500 rpm

• Maximum Torque: 105 Nm (77.4 lb-ft) @ 8,000 rpm

• Transmission: 6-Speed Manual

• Fuel Type: Petrol

• Mileage: 17,027 km

• Exterior Colour: Black

• Emission Standard: Euro 2

• Front Suspension: Showa 43mm HMAS Inverted Cartridge Forks

• Rear Suspension: Showa Mono-Shock with Integrated Remote Reservoir

• Bodywork: ABS Plastic

• Factory Wheels: Honda Lightweight Alloy Wheels

• Tyres: Metzeler

• Front Tyre: 120/70 ZR17

• Rear Tyre: 190/70 ZR17

• Location: New Zealand

WHEN HONDA DECLARED WAR ON DUCATI...

The late 1990s belonged to Ducati.

Their booming V-Twins dominated the World Superbike Championship, while Honda searched for a weapon capable of ending the Italian manufacturer's reign.

Honda's answer wasn't an evolution.

It was a revolution.

The Honda VTR1000 SP1, known in North America as the RC51, was created for one purpose and one purpose alone...

To win the World Superbike Championship.

Developed by Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), the VTR1000 SP project was unlike anything Honda had produced before. Every design decision centred around defeating Ducati on the world's most demanding circuits. It featured a compact fuel-injected 90-degree V-twin engine, race-developed aluminium twin-spar chassis, and uncompromising chassis geometry that sacrificed nothing in pursuit of outright performance.

The result became one of the most iconic homologation superbikes ever produced.

THE EVOLUTION OF A CHAMPION

Following the incredible success of the original SP1, Honda engineers returned to the drawing board.

Listening to factory riders and incorporating lessons learned on racetracks around the globe, they produced the definitive version.

The VTR1000 SP2.

Everything was refined.

The frame became stiffer.

The swingarm stronger.

The suspension more compliant.

Fuel injection was improved.

Cooling efficiency increased.

Weight distribution perfected.

Throttle response sharpened.

Every modification made the SP2 faster, more stable and even more capable under race conditions.

Many enthusiasts and journalists still consider the SP2 to be the finest V-Twin superbike Honda has ever built.

THE MOTORCYCLE THAT BROUGHT HONDA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GLORY

Few production motorcycles can genuinely claim they changed racing history.

The VTR1000 SP2 can.

The RC51 platform delivered Honda one of its greatest World Superbike victories, ridden by some of motorcycle racing's most legendary names.

Colin Edwards

In one of the greatest championship battles ever witnessed, Colin Edwards rode the Honda RC51 to victory in the 2000 World Superbike Championship, ending Ducati's dominance and announcing Honda's return to the top of production-based motorcycle racing.

Colin Edwards Again

He repeated the feat in 2002, defeating Troy Bayliss in one of the most dramatic championship finales ever contested.

Other Legendary Riders

The RC51 platform was also campaigned by world-class riders including:

• Aaron Slight

• Nicky Hayden

• Tadayuki Okada

• Ben Bostrom

• Miguel Duhamel

• Kurtis Roberts

• Jake Zemke

Its racing pedigree extends beyond World Superbikes into endurance racing, AMA Superbike competition and countless national championships around the globe.

Very few road motorcycles can claim such an extraordinary competition record.

A GENUINE HOMOLOGATION SPECIAL

The VTR1000 SP2 wasn't built simply because Honda wanted another sports motorcycle.

It existed because World Superbike regulations required manufacturers to sell production versions of their race motorcycles.

Without the road bike...

There could be no race bike.

Every SP2 sold represented Honda's commitment to international motorsport.

Unlike conventional sports motorcycles, the RC51 was engineered from the outset as a race-winning platform before being adapted for public roads.

That philosophy is immediately evident every time you see, hear or ride one.

This is not merely another litre-class sports bike.

It is a homologation machine.

THE SOUND OF A LEGEND

Press the starter.

The massive 90-degree V-Twin erupts into life with a deep mechanical pulse unlike anything produced by an inline four.

Every throttle input delivers immediate torque.

Every gear change reminds you why V-Twins dominated superbike racing for so many years.

The induction roar.

The booming exhaust note.

The relentless drive out of every corner.

The VTR1000 SP2 doesn't just accelerate.

It attacks.

Even by today's standards, few motorcycles deliver such an engaging and visceral riding experience.

AN APPRECIATING MODERN CLASSIC

As manufacturers moved toward increasingly complex electronic superbikes, motorcycles like the RC51 became relics of a golden era.

No traction control.

No riding modes.

No electronic intervention.

Just engineering.

Just rider.

Just machine.

Collectors around the world are increasingly recognising the significance of homologation motorcycles from this period.

Alongside icons such as:

• Honda RC30

• Honda RC45

• Ducati 916 SPS

• Ducati 996R

• Ducati 998R

• Yamaha OW01

• Suzuki GSX-R750RR

• Kawasaki ZX-7RR

• Aprilia RSV SP

…the Honda VTR1000 SP2 has firmly established itself as one of the defining homologation superbikes of the modern era.

Excellent original examples are becoming increasingly difficult to source, particularly low-kilometre motorcycles retaining factory specification.

For enthusiasts seeking a machine that offers exceptional riding enjoyment while continuing to gain recognition among collectors, the SP2 represents one of the most compelling opportunities available.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Engine

• Capacity: 996cc

• Configuration: Liquid-Cooled 90° V-Twin

• Fuel System: Electronic Fuel Injection

• Fuel Type: Petrol

• Maximum Output: 136 hp (100 kW) @ 9,500 rpm

• Maximum Torque: 105 Nm (77.4 lb-ft) @ 8,000 rpm

• Emission Standard: Euro 2

Transmission

• Close-Ratio 6-Speed Manual

Chassis

• Twin-Spar Aluminium Racing Frame

• Aluminium Swingarm

Suspension

Front

Showa 43mm HMAS (Honda Multi-Action System) Fully Adjustable Inverted Cartridge Forks

Rear

Showa Fully Adjustable Mono-Shock with Integrated Remote Reservoir

Wheels & Tyres

• Honda Factory Lightweight Alloy Wheels

• Metzeler Front Tyre – 120/70 ZR17

• Metzeler Rear Tyre – 190/70 ZR17

Bodywork

• ABS Plastic Fairings

• Factory Black Finish

Odometer

17,027 km

CONDITION

This Honda VTR1000 SP2 presents as a highly desirable example of one of Honda's most historically significant homologation superbikes.

Displaying just 17,027 kilometres, it remains an exceptionally appealing motorcycle for collectors who appreciate originality, engineering excellence and proven racing heritage.

Whether preserved within a private collection, displayed alongside other homologation icons, or enjoyed on open roads where its charismatic V-Twin engine can truly be appreciated, the SP2 continues to deliver the authentic analogue superbike experience that modern motorcycles simply cannot replicate.

WORLDWIDE SHIPPING AVAILABLE

This exceptional Honda VTR1000 SP2 is offered for sale by Eastern Auto Services Co., Ltd., the international sales division and head office supporting our New Zealand company, Toro Dorado Limited, where this motorcycle is currently located.

Our specialist export team can professionally arrange:

• Fully enclosed international timber crating

• Single motorcycle shipments

• Multiple motorcycle consignments

• Worldwide sea freight

• Air freight solutions

• Export documentation

• Customs clearance assistance

• Delivery to virtually any destination worldwide

Whether you are purchasing a single collector motorcycle or building an international collection, we have extensive experience delivering premium motorcycles safely and securely across the globe.

OWN THE MOTORCYCLE THAT ENDED A DYNASTY

Some motorcycles are fast.

Some motorcycles are beautiful.

Only a select few redefine an era.

The Honda VTR1000 SP2 (RC51) is one of those extraordinary machines.

Born from Honda Racing Corporation's determination to reclaim the World Superbike Championship, refined through relentless competition, and ridden by legends such as Colin Edwards to championship glory, the SP2 stands as one of the greatest homologation motorcycles ever to wear the Honda wing.

Its thunderous 996cc V-Twin, race-developed chassis and unmistakable presence continue to captivate enthusiasts more than two decades after its introduction. As surviving original examples become increasingly scarce, the SP2 has earned its place among the world's most collectible modern superbikes.

Opportunities to acquire a genuine, well-preserved Honda VTR1000 SP2 are becoming increasingly uncommon. For the discerning enthusiast or serious collector, this represents far more than a motorcycle—it is a tangible piece of Honda's racing heritage, built in an era when championships were won through engineering brilliance and rider skill alone.

If you have been searching for one of Honda's greatest homologation masterpieces, this outstanding 2006 VTR1000 SP2 deserves a place at the very top of your collection.