888 501?

**stafford** · 18 Aug 08, 06:01 PM

I thought they only made 500?

Ducati 888 SP3 bei eBay.de: Unfall- Bastlermotorräder (endet 23.08.08 15:04:52 MESZ)

**Spikey** · 18 Aug 08, 07:15 PM

hope not mines 520 !!! i carnt remember the exact numbers about 530--540 i think , on another note could anyone translate it for me cause i would be quite interested in it at the right money

spike

**stafford** · 18 Aug 08, 07:31 PM

LOL that's make two of us interested.

**Spikey** · 18 Aug 08, 08:14 PM

the last trashed one i saw went for about 2 and half grand and that had no guts in the cases , what you have to take into concideration is the cost of parts to return it to a roadworthy sp3 ..... tell me about it ..... bodywork and subframes would cripple a small countries national finances let alone anything else !!

spike

**weeveetwin** · 18 Aug 08, 10:32 PM

Here are some production figures for the 851/888 series:

1988 models: = 207 (of which 54 were in the USA for the AMA challenge).
1989 models: = 751 Stradas, & 110 SP.
1990 models: = 1361 Stradas, & 380 SP2.
1991 models: = 1200 851 Stradas, & 534 SP3 (+ 16 SPS).
1992 models: = 1402 851 Stradas, & 500 SP4 (+ 101 SPS).
1993 models: = 1280 888 Stradas, & 500 SP5 (+ 290 SPOs -for the American market).
1994 models: = ???? 888 Stradas, & 100 SPOs for the American market.

All the info I have gives these figures for the '88 Tricolore:
207 Kit bikes
300 Stradas

**carbonf4** · 18 Aug 08, 11:28 PM

Interesting find stafford... The production date indicates that its an SP4, but it looks like a bit of a mixed bag cause the underslung rear caliper looks to be off an SP5. There were only 500 SP4 made + 100 SPS (SP4S) in 1992 and the SPS were numbered 001-100 whereas the SP4 were numbered 101-600. It looks like a 'bitsa' to me but could be a worthy project for someone out there. This one on the other hand is definitely sus:

kapaza.be > Motoren > Ducati > Aangeboden: 888 sp4 met 14000 kms

888 SP4 No 904?? Very rough attempt - if not outright vandalism!

SP? No. 501 may be genuine and it looks like it has some good kit on it, but you'd definitely wanna know what you're looking at. If you're interested in it try emailing the engine & chassis numbers to Ducati Technical via the ducati.com website, they are very good when it comes to getting back to you. That said, I think the factory is probably closed for Italy's summer break, so good luck with that!

**mikesps** · 19 Aug 08, 03:43 PM

I have 533, the second last of 534. It was in a lot worse state than 501 when I got it. Nothing that a couple of years on e-bay won't fix. The frame is currently holidaying with Mr Pierobon in Bologna.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spikey

hope not mines 520 !!! i carnt remember the exact numbers about 530--540 i think , on another note could anyone translate it for me cause i would be quite interested in it at the right money

spike

**mikesps** · 19 Aug 08, 03:58 PM

It isn't an SP4. The frame is the earlier SP3 type with the long footrest mounts and the straight top rails with a welded joint back from the headstock, rather than the curved top rail seen on the SP4. SP3s have 1990 World Champ plaques and SP4s have 1991 World Champ plaques.

I don't see anything to say it is not an SP3, other than some common upgrades like rearsets, radial pump master cylinder, upgraded front calipers and an underslung rear caliper. It has the twin red injectors and the adjustable rear suspension rocker.

If I didn't live half way round the world and have three SP3s to fix, I would be after this one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by carbonf4

Interesting find stafford... The production date indicates that its an SP4, but it looks like a bit of a mixed bag cause the underslung rear caliper looks to be off an SP5. There were only 500 SP4 made + 100 SPS (SP4S) in 1992 and the SPS were numbered 001-100 whereas the SP4 were numbered 101-600. It looks like a 'bitsa' to me but could be a worthy project for someone out there.

SNIP....

SP? No. 501 may be genuine and it looks like it has some good kit on it, but you'd definitely wanna know what you're looking at. If you're interested in it try emailing the engine & chassis numbers to Ducati Technical via the ducati.com website, they are very good when it comes to getting back to you. That said, I think the factory is probably closed for Italy's summer break, so good luck with that!

**stafford** · 19 Aug 08, 09:10 PM

Surely with 3 SP's you could get one one finished?

Anyhow, anyone know the frame/engine number ranges as I have been given the numbers.

**carbonf4** · 20 Aug 08, 08:30 PM

Nice post mikesps. A lot of info & good to know. Obviously, I know its not an SP4, cause it would defy logic to sell an SP3 as an SP4, when there's (presumably) a plaque saying one or the other! (The average SP4 also tends to sell for more than an SP3)

You obviously know a bit about SP3s (more than me anyway!), so my question is: when did they stop producing SP3s? According to Ducati Technical my SP4 was produced in 01/1992. I know that other Ducatis have overlapped in terms of production (eg 998 & 999) - its the Bologna way! - but does anyone know if the SP3 was produced as late as 04/1992? What is the production date on your SP3 No. 533 (the second last SP3 produced?) Alternatively, is 04/1992 the date of first registration as opposed to production??

Stafford: going back to your original question...it looks like SP3 No. 501 is a genuine number anyway. Mikesps obviously knows more about it than me, but I'd be interested in the production date. I had a quick scout around to see what I could dig up, but couldn't find the 'ranges' as such. What I do know is that frame & engine numbers do not match (ie not the same number), with the possible exception of US spec ducs with matching VIN numbers, but I dont know enough about it to say for sure.

Here's a coupla links (I hope I'm allowed to post them!) to info on frame numbers etc. (and a decent translation of the German ebay ad). Not the holy grail or anything but I hope it helps:

How to recognise 851SP3 - Ducati 851 and 888 Forum
Frame numbers SP4 and Sp5 - Ducati 851 and 888 Forum
SP3 No. 501?? - Ducati 851 and 888 Forum

As for havin 3 x SP3s to fix mikesps?? All I can say is: save some for the rest of us mate!! You're a lucky man - good luck with your projects!

**stafford** · 20 Aug 08, 09:39 PM

Thanks for the info carbonf4 and others, I'll have a punt later in the week. I'd quite enjoy a jolly to Germany.
I'd already done the translation thing, although babelfish is only OK, you can still read between the lines as it were.
Just spent 4 hours cleaning and refitting fairing to my Strada for hopefully a ride to Hunters Lodge with two SP5's and one of those common Desmosedici things on Thursday night. Praying for good weather.

**mikesps** · 21 Aug 08, 02:24 AM

SP3s were only manufactured in 1991. As the SPs are homologation bikes, I imagine they would have been made in a single annual batch early in the year to homologate for that year, but as this is Ducati in the 1990s who knows. :-). According to Ian Falloon's numbers some SP4S were built in 1991 but all are considered to be 1992 bikes.

533 was manufactured in 1991 as were the others I have. One of them was not registered on the road until 1994. In Malaysia registration documents show both date of manufacture and date of first registration.

Engine and frame numbers do not match, and plaque numbers are not neccesarily an indication of where in the batch the bike was made. Ducati can confirm engine and frame numbers but have no record of what plaque number each bike had. It was just a lucky dip which plaque went on each bike, allegedly.

You have to be careful with these bikes, they seem to suck you in! One was in the back of a shop and is now running but is still a bit cosmetically challenged, the second had been crashed and repossesed then left under a tarpaulin for almost 15 years and needed new crankcases and the frame straightened plus all the bodywork and a tank, the third sat outside in the rain after the owner became more interested in MV Agustas and needs servicing and repainting and a few little bits he took off which are now very hard to find. Here older bikes are not appreciated by most people, thay are treated like old fridges or washing machines. If I hadn't bought them, they would have rotted away as no one is interested in putting money or time into fixing them up. I couldn't let that happen, so suddenly I have three and a not very happy wife.

I'll post some pictures once I get back from my trip home for more parts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by carbonf4

SNIP..

my question is: when did they stop producing SP3s? According to Ducati Technical my SP4 was produced in 01/1992. I know that other Ducatis have overlapped in terms of production (eg 998 & 999) - its the Bologna way! - but does anyone know if the SP3 was produced as late as 04/1992? What is the production date on your SP3 No. 533 (the second last SP3 produced?) Alternatively, is 04/1992 the date of first registration as opposed to production??

SNIP..

As for havin 3 x SP3s to fix mikesps?? All I can say is: save some for the rest of us mate!! You're a lucky man - good luck with your projects!

**stafford** · 22 Aug 08, 08:56 PM

As I mentioned that we'd hope to get out on Thursday here's a pic of the defeated by weather mob. A phone call confirmed it was pi**ing down at our planned destination so only a cup of tea behind the garages for us.