The History of the Ducati 955SP (aka 916SPa & 955SPA)

**955SP** · 03 Dec 07, 12:36 PM

I fell in love with the 955SP in 1996 when I was at the tender age of 16.
I was in college at the time being told to study for stuff that I didn’t particularly care much about and like every teenager my mind would wonder off. When it didnt wonder towards women (rarely) I would imagine owning that bike in Fast Bikes article that was gracing my walls and ofter this encoraged me to get my head back down and study.

This is a scan of the pages than I had on my wall 11 years ago which I hid away for years but which I promised I wouldnt throw out.

Back then I was already a huge fan of the 916 and the 916SP and had read many articles and cut out the relevant pages and filled them in my “916” folder. The thing about these Ducatis was the pure style which surpassed anything else I had seen in the bike world. Sure the RC45 had the single swing arm but the design wasn’t quite right, to my eye the tail was heavy and too long overshooting the wheel and the can was a big pipe on the side (Im still a fan of the RC45 though). The 916 had it all, that deep red, the single swing arm the under seat exhaust and the lines..wow!

When I saw this bike in that article my mind nearly popped! The 916 were exclusive enough anyway and the only way you were going to own one was if you were pretty rich. Even more so with 916SP being rarer still so the thought of a Ducati of this beautiful shape, with a bigger capacity, only 50 made and of which Ducati were pretty much denying the existance of, in the UK anyway, well this was the makings of an icon for me.

HISTORY OF THE 955SP

There isnt a lot written about the 955 and what I have found is quite often wrong. Take for example a book that I had always liked and is a reference for many The Ducati Story by Ian Falloon. In this book he writes:

To homologate the 955 Corsa for AMA Superbike racing, 50 955SPs were also constructed for the United States only. Regulations required that racers and production bikes must share the same engine capacity, so these Sps came with a 955cc engine (with 96mm pistons) and a special number plaque. While essentially similar to the 916SP3, they were easily recognisable by the white front number board and and a 955 fairing decal.

Whilst it is very true that the 955SP were built to homologate the 955 Corsa for the AMA Superbike series they didnt come with a special number plaque these were added by Eraldo Ferraci (Fast by Ferraci), aslo they never had any 955 fairing decal this was one of the quirkiest things about the bike it would arrive to its new owner with a 916 decal on the side!

The 955SP was basically a 916SP with the following changes according to the owners manual:

Your motorcycle differs from the 916SP model in the following technical features:
-Bore:mm 96
-Cylinder head gasket for 96mm bore
-Crankshaft - Main transmission- lighting

One thing I found on the internet while searching for 955SP, 916SPa & 955SPA was a personal website of a couple, Adam & Amanda where they have documented some of their travels. It appears from the text that they ordered a 748 in Dec 1995 for delivery April 1996, the bike got delayed... suprise suprise and they went to Bologna for a factory visit and to my eternal joy exactly when the 955SP engines were being made! How lucky is that. Here is an extract from their site and some pictures:

Walking back to the car, a red bike popped out of one of the open doors. A 916SP with a Dainese-clad rider rode alongside the building and out of sight behind it. A minute later we saw him pull up at the traffic lights ahead of us.

As we walked into the site, Eng. Zaché explained a little about the history of the company and the site. I asked about the bike we'd seen on the road and he said that only the R&D machines are ridden on the road (there's a small internal road for other use), so I guess it was a 955SP or a new engine in a 916 chassis ... and then we entered the engine-making room.

We saw working at all stages from the rough castings to the finished objects, and we were free to take photos. My first photo was of a big basket of 4-valve cylinder heads, and the second was a trolley of completed engines labelled "955 S.P.".

(Images and picture taken from http://www.adamanda.org/bikes/ducati-visit/)

To be continued....... I will keep adding more as I have time

**Jrfurank** · 04 Dec 07, 12:03 AM

Excellent pics and comprehensive background info. Well worth the effort and perseverance. Thanks Hugh

**ripper996** · 28 Dec 07, 06:16 AM

Does anyone know why the 955 forum was moved from Ducati Superbikes to Ducati Exotica recently?

**PTG** · 02 Jan 08, 12:34 AM

Here's one I saw at Tecmoto last year. A rare opportunity...

**ripper996** · 03 Jan 08, 06:17 AM

That's awesome. Was it for sale? What was the history of the bike?

**PTG** · 04 Jan 08, 12:18 AM

Not sure on the history. It was just in for a service, so wasn't for sale. First one I've seen in the metal, and just happened to have my camera! Mitch might remember more about it, next time I'm in I'll ask. If I get any further info I'll post it.

**final_edition** · 04 Jan 08, 12:45 AM

I like the what you aspired to thread,
I was a Ford Motor Company Engineer Apprentice back in the late 80's and lusted after a Honda RC30. I had so many pics of it on my wall at work whilst others had page 3 chicks on their wall, they thought I was a poofta.

I then admired the 916 when it came out, again wanted one of those. Many years later, after owning many bikes and working hard, I saw the very same 998FE, that I now own at the Aly Pally show for sale, (3X) Due to the fact that I had lusted, although never ridden the bike, I bought it.

Now fast forward three years nearly, I bought a RC30 as well. I have MY perfect garage.

The other up-side of the story is, while they ogled page three pictures, they now have minging GF/wifes, where I have a beautiful lady who loves my bikes as much as me

I used to build/test development/prototype engines for FMC, it was great to see the factory shots, cheers!

**955SP** · 08 Jan 08, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by final_edition

I like the what you aspired to thread,
I was a Ford Motor Company Engineer Apprentice back in the late 80's and lusted after a Honda RC30. I had so many pics of it on my wall at work whilst others had page 3 chicks on their wall, they thought I was a poofta.

I then admired the 916 when it came out, again wanted one of those. Many years later, after owning many bikes and working hard, I saw the very same 998FE, that I now own at the Aly Pally show for sale, (3X) Due to the fact that I had lusted, although never ridden the bike, I bought it.

Now fast forward three years nearly, I bought a RC30 as well. I have MY perfect garage.

The other up-side of the story is, while they ogled page three pictures, they now have minging GF/wifes, where I have a beautiful lady who loves my bikes as much as me

I used to build/test development/prototype engines for FMC, it was great to see the factory shots, cheers!

How true! Im not quite near my perfect garage but I feel I have the main part and that everything else would be a bonus. I really want an R7 also a ZX7R (I know two Japs in a row). I also wouldnt mind a nice MV Agusta F4 oro and a 1098R would be nice and a 998R and a.............................

oh dear how the list grows!

**955SP** · 08 Jan 08, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ripper996

Does anyone know why the 955 forum was moved from Ducati Superbikes to Ducati Exotica recently?

I think cause they are very rare, I think only 11 in the UK and 50 in the world. Theyre like really pretty rocking horse poo that you can ride!

**ripper996** · 09 Jan 08, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 955SP

I think cause they are very rare, I think only 11 in the UK and 50 in the world. Theyre like really pretty rocking horse poo that you can ride!

54 world wide was a quoted production number, I think?

**955SP** · 09 Jan 08, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ripper996

54 world wide was a quoted production number, I think?

So I have heard but who quoted that? I will start saying it when I see it somewhere...

Do the extra 4 make it less rare

If I burn mine then there will be 53 and they will be even more rare

**portocruz** · 27 May 08, 12:34 PM

Hi there just found this forum and thought i would add alittle to it, ive got an original factory 955sp sitting in my living room, i bought it about 7 years ago from pro twins and used it for only a year as it cost the earth to insure, then it became my piece of art to enjoy, ive been told that theres only 9 in England, most are crashed or modified, mines totally standard straight from the factory (has anyone else out there got a totally original as ive been told its probably the only one left in its original state)

**MarkG** · 27 May 08, 05:44 PM

I also have an original and un-modified 955 in excellent but not showroom condition. Maybe a 9/10. It's engine number 004. I keep it in the garage though, and do ride it occasionally. Insurance is $300/year as long as I don't ride it over 2000 miles per year.

It would be interesting to find out how many are still around and original. The thread attached was posted on an MV forum. Read through to page 3 to 4, you might find it interesting. Depending on who you ask, these bikes could be worth a decent amount.

Ducati 996, 998, 996R, 998R - MVAgusta.net