I don't think the bike is a flop as such,but it's not a bike that would make it a collectable just because it has limited numbers,it's not that special or differrent.thats like saying the HP4 would be a collectible bike,which it isn't,it's just a good bike (better than the SP but hats another story )
I have not ridden the SP but I think the extras that are on it offer good value for money. As for rider aids, I think most people on here know my views on those. Whilst I have enjoyed modding my RR6 it has been at considerable expense and some trial and error, which also added to the cost, plus of course all the hassle of insurance companies and mods. The SP makes sense to me, but bit is of course a personal choice. I would pitch my modded bike against many of the techy bikes, it may not have the power of some but the way it releases it's power, it's weight, suspension and braking makes it a very usable bike and although I am a street rider I feel confident it could embarrass some of the techy bikes on track, especially on tracks where corner speed is crucial. If you want an SP, go for it, you can always change again if you want, but I would definitely have one.
on track it's very rarely the bike(well upto say top club end),99% of the time it's the rider that's just better regardless of what bike they have (techy or not)
Dunlop might have won the TT on the beemer but it was still a Blade sp that got the quickest lap so can't be to shabby
But didn't they fit ktech suspension to it though? I'd have an sp all day long though, think they are lovely bikes. And as op says not sold too many so plenty about, my local dealer offered me one recently at way lower than list price.... Was tempted indeed. But tbh, if I were going new sports bike on the road and for similar money is get something else just as I'd fancy a change
They might have changed the suspension jimbo as although ohlins I think honda limited the adjustment to 10 clicks like the std shock unlike the ttx which has 24 or so clicks of adjustment, reckon Dunlop would have won on the blade also but he has the bee in bonnet still about being second fiddle to John mcguiness
I bought my SP in May, and back then ABS models were very thin on the ground, with no discount to be had. I was offered a non ABS model at £1,000 discount back then, by a dealer that had sold his ABS allocation.
Tbh mate, top spec race bikes are so far away from our road bikes I think it's all a bit pointless trying to compare them.... But obviously you need a good base and the blade chassis and handling with smooth power delivery gives you that. Think the sp is lovely and no doubt an improvement on stock So would be incredible to own and ride.
I had the fantastic opportunity of having a 2014 demo blade for a month because my garage damaged my bike while it was in for a service. When they let me try the SP I couldn't believe how much lighter the SP feels to ride after the stock blade. I know it is lighter, but not significantly. If you can afford it I recommend going for it.
When I was looking to change , the dealer had an sp I was looking at , but he recommended th Kwak over it
I've got one, done 7k miles since March on it (track & road). I bought it because I knew I wanted a blade and when the opportunity to buy one fully loaded with trick bits and the blueprint engine it was too good to turn down. I have put a QS on it, few bits of carbon, PC5 & Full Akra system. When I was doing the rounds taking bikes out on test drives (I tried everything apart from RSV4) I never found anything that was as good fun and user friendly (even without tc and active suspension) as the standard blade and now having owned the SP it pisses all over that. I genuinely feel that I own one of the best bikes on the road at the minute and given that quite a few S1000rr's and ZX-10's have seen nothing but my back tyre disappearing over this summer I dont think they have anything on it until very high in the rev range.
