Here in Aus I got my VTR1000F brand new for almost half the price of a new SP... thats major incentive when you cannot really afford the $$$ for the RC... also leaves a bit more cash in the back pocket to get the Superhawk up to performing at an acceptable standard.
The end of year runnout on the 04 Firestorm/superhawk was $12,999 ride away... the 05 model two months later was $15,900 + on road costs... what changed ?? not much.. except that here in Aus, they dont provide the rear ducktail cover anymore !!!!
A new RC51... about $22,000+ on road costs....

So take the standard Superhawk and drop a tooth at the front, new fork springs and valves, rear spacer, (mine came with remus highmount pipes brand new from shop) which means i have spent $230 AUD and you have a bike that will hold its own on most of the roads we ride against just about any of the superbikes... (track is a different story)

Would i like an RC... damn straight... can i afford it.. nope

 

Hehe! I must admit that I had the same thinking before to buy my Wilbers shock and my CBR1000RR front end for my swap!!

I was asking me: Why not buy a RC instead of putting again 2000$ on the VTR!? I must say that it was also the reflexion of my girlfriend!! She's still finding me crazy to put as much money on this bike but I love it ( the bike!! 8) ) and also my girlfriend of course even she's thinking that I'm crazy!!

So, my two choice was:

1- Buy a RC51 (SP1) for almost 9000$ and have no more money to put on it and have a bike like any other RC51.

or

2- Continu to put money on the VTR! ( initial price paid 5000$ current money put 2000$ and to come: wilbers shock 900$ and front end swap evaluation 900$ for a final price of also 9000$ ) But at the end I will have my own bike! A bike that I will have done with my hands and that will not look as any other ( or almost, you guys have also great VTR )!

The choice was not too hard to make. For more I've also think about the insurance, the VTR ( standard class ) cost me only 500$ FULL ( 300$ next year as I will hit 30 years old ) and a RC ( full sport ) will have cost me 600$ for the others only!

So, the VTR story continu... I'm supposed to have my Wilbers shock next week and the CBR1000RR front end is now on my kitchen floor ( no garage for the moment, my girlfriend find this very decorative!! )

A lot of job are still waiting me, but I'm now addict of this bike

 

Icebud, let us know how the Wilbers shock turns out. One of my buddies ordered one for his Yamaha FJR1300, waited 6 months for delivery, and I helped him install it. It made a very nice difference in the ride and handling of that barge, which definitely impressed me.

Inderocker, my story is similar to others'. I was poised to buy an '05 RC51, using my g/f's employee discount at the Honda dealership where she works. The day before I planned to write the deposit check to order it in, the used bike shop up the road called me to tell me about this Superhawk they had. I went to check it out, and ended up buying it for $3500 cash right then. The motor was already built to full Stage 2 race specs, how could I say no at that price? And here's a well-kept secret: almost a third of parts from an RC51 will interchange with the Superhawk with minor mods, but parts for the VTR cost much, much less. Plus, the VTR starts out, from the factory, 8 lbs lighter than the RC-51 (not that significant, but it's a start). The RC-51 may make more peak power, but it's higher on the tach, making it less accessible on the street. On my top secret testing road, I've had mine up to 150 mph (indicated on my GPS; the speedo was showing 175 or so). It may go faster, but not on public roads with me piloting it. I like the way the RC looks, but I can't imagine needing any more power than I already have, on the street. That leaves the chassis and bodywork, which I'm happy to upgrade to RC-level specs. Some people smoke crack, some people philander around on their spouse, some people become alcoholics...my hobby is wrenching on my beloved VTR.

 

Adam we have so much in common now if I just had your money!!

 

I have bad habits too, I scubadiving and motorcycle.

Departing for St Lucia Sep 27 getting married (eloping) on Oct 3rd, then honeymoon. Oct 7 departing St Lucia.

Now you all know where my money goes

Could I pick more expensive hobbies.....

......well at least I dont have a private pilots lisc. and fly all the time. :wink:

 

Yeah getting married is an expensive hobby. Just hope you don't go through the more expensive part like 50% of us married people what's that called again.....Oh yeah devorce!!

Luckily I haven't experienced that part,(yet)!!