MASTERING THE TECH

If you’re familiar with the R1M, you’ll know how intuitive the bike’s dash and menu options are to control. If you’re not, then trust me when I say navigating the SP’s tech on its fancy TFT display is a doddle. On the right handlebar is a scroll button that allows you to change everything from the style of the dash to the info displayed.

It’s also where you can alter the setup of the new Ohlins Electronic Racing Suspension (ERS), across its five modes. Two of the setups automatically adjust the suspension every hundredth of a second, according to feedback passed to its Suspension Control Unit (SCU) from several sensors, with A1 being the sportiest and A2 being slightly less firm. The other three manual modes are completely customisable and allow you to add or reduce compression and rebound damping as needed.

Other tech you need to get your noggin around includes three levels of traction control (level 1 being least intrusive), and three different throttle maps (power 1 is the most aggressive). Just like the suspension, via the menu button, it’s possible to customise and memorise the power mode, traction level and suspension characteristics you’re after.

From there, it’s just a case of toggling through your pre-set options using the mode selector on the left side switch gear to alter the setup on the fly – providing you’re off the throttle. Unfortunately ABS is mandatory, with no provision to switch it off, but Fagan discovered that wheelieing the SP for over a mile tricked the sensors into disengaging the aid. Alternatively, you could just remove the system’s fuse.