| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
Went riding with a couple of friends today. I had my Buell 1125R, my friend Barry had his KTM SuperDuke and my friend Jim had his BMW HP2 Sport. Cutting to the quick: The HP2 Sport is &^%#ing AWESOME!! Holy crap, I couldn't believe this was a boxer twin. Now I understand the premium price. Besides the all-carbon fiber bodywork, all of the controls looked to be made out of billet. The brakes were nothing short of phenomenal, it wouldn't surprise me if you could stand it on its nose with just one finger (provided the ABS would let me). The thing has unbelievable power right off idle, just like my old XB12Ss. The difference is, the power doesn't sign off at the top end... this thing accelerates like an out of control freight train. Reminiscent of my 1125R, but a lot more "brutal" in feel. It's shod with Metzeler Racetec tires and it takes nothing to drop this thing into full lean and back up. I told my friend this bike is a waste on the street, it needs to live on a race track. I did find ONE thing to criticize, though. Just about every sport bike I've ever ridden (including Buells) come equipped with rearview mirrors that are almost useless. This bike does them one better... the standard rearview mirrors are absolutely, positively, COMPLETELY useless. No matter of twisting my body or moving my arms would reveal ANYTHING useful behind me. The SuperDuke (to me) feels like what you'd get if you took the engine from my 1125R and somehow shoe-horned it into my old XB12Ss Lightning Long. Same comfy riding position, same easy handling as the Lightning, but with the power characteristics of the 1125R. Softer on the bottom than either the HP2 Sport or the XB12 engine, but with the same top end rush of the 1125R. My friends have all ridden my 1125R before and they all comment on how it is one of the EASIEST bikes to ride fast that they've ever ridden. I have to agree. When I think of how great this bike is, and what Erik had in store, I get pissed off at the Harley Board all over again. Can't wait to see what happens with the 1190RS and hope Erik is in full road bike construction again soon. (Message edited by jaimec on October 03, 2010) | ||
| Nillaice |
and that HP2 sure is a 'looker' | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
Noice! I've always wondered what the HP2 is like to ride, sounds like a LOT of fun. I'm jealous! Whatdya need mirrors for anyway?!  There were a couple of new ones still available here, not sure if they've been sold or not. A friend owns a Supadook and *loves* it. He lives in Tasmania which is an ideal place for things like streetfighters and motards  (Message edited by lemonchili_x1 on October 04, 2010) | ||
| Strokizator |
The Superduke has edgier styling but gives up about 25 horsepower to the Buell. There are a few cool videos on youtube of the HP2's going up Pike Peak. Here's one from 2007. That engine sounds way better than any boxer has a right to. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnkoc9RbW4Y | ||
| Jaimec |
That would be the original HP2 (the enduro bike). The HP2 Sport is the track bike used primarily for endurance style (24-hour) events.  By the way, everything that LOOKS like painted plastic is really painted carbon fiber... | ||
| 86129squids |
There's a Boxercup replica on sale locally. I own an R65. It'd be fun to ride/compare both. | ||
| Nillaice |
okay, that's it. i'm buying an HP2 this weekend. from the walmart toy aisle | ||
| Skinstains |
That HP2-Sport was the only model my local dealer wouldn't let me test ride. I'll never give him one red cent of my hard earned cash ! I probably would have bought one too... | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I came up behind an HP2 when I was riding back across france from Geneva last week. The first thing you see is a fat back tyre & a pair of boot soles, it looked way too uncomfortable to me. This was at Bourges, lots of dual carriageway with roundabouts & traffic, we were both lane splitting & I was loaded up with luggage too. Don't think the guy was trying either, as I got fed up waiting for him to go & hoiked it round him on the inside of the island & blasted off in front of him, he never caught up, but it looked pretty new so he may have been on a demo or running in. | ||
| Jaimec |
It is actually surprisingly comfortable. It is a bit of a reach to the bars (more so than the 1125R) but not nearly as extreme as some Ducatis I've ridden. The legs are in a surprisingly relaxed position too... definitely nowhere nearly as kinked up as they are on any Buell I've ridden (save the Ulysses or my old Cyclone). |
