[RC51DRAG]

Often when I've run into people who like the HP2 the next comment I get is that they wanted it but the R12GS suited them better. The other comments are why the same money (HP2) or in the case of the HP2S, these days, twice the money for the same performance?

This is often the case with flagship/special models. Ducati sells more monsters than they do the 9 and 10 series superbikes but its the superbike that often gets people in the door.

The HP2 and HP2S filled the same role for BMW - get people in the door and interested in BMW even if they ride out on another model.

The HP2S is closer to the R12S than the HP2 is to the 12GS and that's always been an issue for me when considering the HP2S but bottom line if you want the ultimate boxer sportbike its got to be the HP2S.

I've read on a Canadian racing forum for the Thunder series where the R12S and HP2S are raced that the lap time differential between them is likely 1-2 seconds. That is common among specials when they have an excellent base model. The R1LE was less than a second faster than the R1 at 2.5 times the price. It wasn't until TC on the 1098S that there was a significant performance differential ( a few more seconds in hand) over the base model and specials but look at the price you pay for that!

I'm considering the RC8R (BTW iirc I read on another site that the guy riding the RC8R in the same race(s) as Nate took the lap record), a used HP2S with more CF and full Akra (reduced by 10K) and a stock R12S. The R12S is also reduced by 10K and is the best deal but there is something about an exotic like the HP2S that might make me spring for it. I keep my bikes so a bookend set of HP models will look quite nice in the garage and living room today and tomorrow when they are really rare on the roads.