Ducati 888 SP4 - For Sale

"...any of the Sport Production 888s with Öhlins forks have to be considered among the best street bikes ever produced by the factory. They were produced in limited numbers with the most expensive proprietary components, and even though they were very expensive to buy, they offered exceptional value." -- Ian Falloon

Box stock and brand new!

Much like the 996 SPS, R and current 999R relates to the 996 and 999, the '92 888 SP4 was built to homologate the 888 for World Superbike and AMA Superbike competition. As such, there are many mechanical differences which distinguish it from the '92 851. Here are some of the major upgrades...

Displacement - 888 vs. 851cc.

Compression - 11.0 vs. 10.5.

Twin injectors per cylinder.

Full Termignoni Farne exhaust system.

Max revs - 11k vs. 10k.

More aggressive cams.

External oil cooler.

Close ratio transmission.

Aluminum rear subframe.

Öhlins fork & shock.

Added suspension linkage adjustability.

Current pics...

Upgrades...

Magnesium Marchesini wheels.

Brembo adjustable levers.

Barnett Dryflex clutch.

Carbon fiber Termignoni mufflers.

Brembo stainless clutch & brake lines.

Late model aluminum sidestand & bracket.

One of four or five known to exist in the States, this is arguably the nicest example to be found anywhere. It was purchased new in crate from the factory and imported by a collector to be kept on indoor display. I adopted it in 1999 for similar purposes and it's lived in our den ever since.

Misc...

Worth mentioning is that these were race forks and to minimize stiction back then, fork seals were run very loose. As a result, temperature changes could see some fork oil seepage, so it could use a fork service and a new set of front brake pads if road miles are in the picture. Öhlins specialists (such as Stig over at PPS) can substitute tighter seals for someone wishing to do away with the factory originals, but I didn't buy the bike to flog, so I never dealt with it.

The SP4 comes with a full Termignoni Farne exhaust system with very open (and VERY loud) aluminum mufflers. I like the looks of the carbon fiber race mufflers of the era and was lucky to find a pair available at a shop over in the UK. They're a rare find and specific to this exhaust system, with its large headpipes.

The Marchesinis are 6" rear, 3.5" front. Tires are 120/70 and 180/55, Michelin Hi-Sports (period). Wheels are a bolt-in swap and the stock Brembo wheels still even have the original tires mounted. Rear rotor is machined and is a donor rotor. The original is intact and still mounted on the stock wheel. Front rotors are original and can simply be mounted back onto the stock wheels if need be. Chain is D.I.D. X-ring on a hardened/anodized aluminum Sprocket Specialists rear sprocket.

This SP4 has an actual 2,275 kilometers on the clock, is legally licensed, registered and runs perfectly. All stock pieces (wheels/tires, mufflers, etc, etc.) are boxed and included.

$28,000
Click here to request further info.

Other miscellaneous pics...

A neat old postcard from FbF...

Giancarlo
Falappa
& SP4...

How dominant was the 888?
The 1991 Season
04/01/91	I race (Donington, GB)	1	Polen
04/01/91	I race (Donington, GB)	2	Mertens
04/28/91	II race (Jarama, E)	1	Polen
04/28/91	II race (Jarama, E)	2	Polen
06/09/91	IV race (Brainerd, USA)	1	Polen
06/09/91	IV race (Brainerd, USA)	2	Polen
06/30/91	V race (Osterreichring, A)	1	Mertens
06/30/91	V race (Osterreichring, A)	2	Polen
08/01/91	VI race (Misano, I)	1	Polen
08/01/91	VI race (Misano, I)	2	Polen
08/11/91	VII race (Anderstop, S)	1	Polen
08/11/91	VII race (Anderstop, S)	2	Polen
08/25/91	VIII race (Sugo, J)	1	Polen
08/25/91	VIII race (Sugo, J)	2	Polen
09/01/91	IX race (Shal Alam, MAL)	1	Roche
09/01/91	IX race (Shal Alam, MAL)	2	Roche
09/14/91	X race (Hockenheim, D)	1	Polen
09/14/91	X race (Hockenheim, D)	2	Roche
09/29/91	XI race (Magny Cours, F)	1	Polen
09/29/91	XI race (Magny Cours, F)	2	Polen
10/06/91	XII race (Mugello, I)	1	Polen
10/06/91	XII race (Mugello, I)	2	Roche
10/19/91	XIII race (Phillip Island, AU)	2	Polen

The 1992 Season
04/05/92	I race (Albacete, E)	2	Roche
04/20/92	II race (Donington, GB)	1	Roche
04/20/92	II race (Donington, GB)	2	Fogarty
05/10/92	III race (Hockenheim, D)	1	Polen
05/10/92	III race (Hockenheim, D)	2	Polen
05/25/92	IV race (Spa, D)	2	Polen
06/21/92	V race (Jarama, Andorra)	2	Polen
06/28/92	VI race (Zeltweg, A)	1	Falappa
06/28/92	VI race (Zeltweg, A)	2	Falappa
07/19/92	VII race (Mugello, RSM)	1	Roche
07/19/92	VII race (Mugello, RSM)	2	Roche
08/23/92	VIII race (Jahor, MAL)	1	Roche
08/23/92	VIII race (Jahor, MAL)	2	Polen
08/30/92	IX race (Sugo, J)	1	Polen
08/30/92	IX race (Sugo, J)	2	Polen
09/13/92	X race (Assen, NL)	1	Polen
09/13/92	X race (Assen, NL)	2	Falappa
10/18/92	XII race (Phillip Island, AU)	2	Roche
10/25/92	XIII race (Manfeild, NZ)	1	Polen
10/25/92	XIII race (Manfeild, NZ)	2	Falappa