New to forum - 888SPO issues.

Elcondor

Hello everyone,

I am new to this forum and thought I would introduce myself. I'm Mike from NZ. I already own a couple of Ducati's and, after looking for a 888 for few years have recently purchased a 888 Strada and then an 888SPO turned up so I bought that as well.

The SPO has a few issues but the most concerning is the front tyre seems to rub on the horizontal head, just at the front edge of the exhaust valve cover and the cam cover. The fairing is also extremely close (12mm) to the front tyre where the 2 sides join at the bottom.

I have checked everything against the manual and the Strada and it seems the SPO is 30mm shorter in the wheelbase (1400mm) than the Strada (1430mm). Swingarm, frame etc is the same. Suspension settings, fork height and the triples offset are standard on both as per the manual.

The manual lists the wheelbase as 1430mm for both Strada and SPO but the overall length is 30mm shorter on the SPO dimensions, which cannot be.

I have done approx. 500 miles on the SPO and must admit I didn't notice it from a handling perspective.

Are SPO's shorter wheelbase?
Why?
Does anyone else have this issue?

Any help or general info/chat is much appreciated.

My other Ducati's are MKIII and MKIV Superlight's and two 900 S2 bevels, one dressed as a SS so it seems everything comes in two's!

mikesps

Hi Mike,

Hopefully not this serious, but I had an SP3 with a similar issue.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fK8kh2TH5q9915dq6

Mike

marvin

It may have been in a front end hit. If the tubes are bent like in MIke's pic I would bet that is the case.

P.S. I once had a frame that had been in a head on , bent llike MIke's pic. I fixed it by putting it in my frame jig, cutting the headstock off, replacing the bent tubes.

Elcondor

Thanks guys.

The frame looks straight with no bent tubes. I'll find a digital level and check the steering angle.

FYI the bike was "backed into while stationary" by a truck very early on in life (in the USA) and has all fiberglass fairings so there is that possibility.

On a side note does anyone know where to get the 2 air box clips for the lid? They are different to 900 SS/SL. I can't seem to find them anywhere, even on Stein Dinse.

Thanks for your help.

stiglarsenDK

Hi mike, welcome to the wonders of the 8 series..

The 888 SPO, strada and SP5 has an identical frame, swinger and fork geometry.

Only explanation I can think of is shorter fork legs (check that)
25 mm offset vs factory (30mm) , unlikely some one has made that on a street bike, and parts hard to find)
Bend frame ( hope not )

stiglarsenDK

Let's see it

Please upload some fotos.. let see that kiwi spo

Can’t be many around

marvin

Or someone has moved the fork legs up higher in the triples

Elcondor

Forks are set up as per manual (263mm from bottom of triple to top of fork cap) with spring preload at .71 inches high.
Triple clamps are the same offset on both SPO and Strada.

I'll take a few photos this weekend and post them.

I think it may be the only SPO registered in NZ according to the NZTA database.

stiglarsenDK

Check length of fork tubes and total

Check and compare w strada

griff851

Could also be shagged springs or they have been replaced with light weight ones. Check your preload travel with a tie wrap.

sagot

OK, dumb questions.
Are the rear wheels set the same when you are checking wheel base?
Are the forks slightly bent?
Also, because it's a 90's Ducati, are the adjuster slots at the same position between Strata and SPO?

I have a 93 SPO and I'll try to remember to check wheel base tonight.

Elcondor

Looks like the frame steering tube is bent. 20.7 degrees vs 24.5 degrees stock.

The diagonal brace tubes are bent slightly (as per MIKESPS's photo but not as bad).

The forks, triples etc all look and measure straight so hopefully were repaired/replaced at the time.

Now the fun begins........

Elcondor

Photos of my STRADA with angle reference.

econti

That's a really really unfortunate thing to find.
Hell of a bike though, good to see some down south, can't let the northern hemisphere have all the fun 😝

griff851

Um, just noticing your digital readings there. Is on bike on a lift and another on a paddock stand? If so the rear wheel is some what higher which is going to change the fork angle.
Of coarse a muted point if you can see the frame tubes bent.

Elcondor

Both bikes measured on the bike table. They have the same forks with the same settings, give or take.

griff851

Cool, just checking.

Elcondor

sagot wroteOK, dumb questions. Are the rear wheels set the same when you are checking wheel base? Are the forks slightly bent? Also, because it's a 90's Ducati, are the adjuster slots at the same position between Strata and SPO? I have a 93 SPO and I'll try to remember to check wheel base tonight.

Sagot, did you manage to measure your SPO?

My wheel base measurements were bike upright from front axle to center of adjustment slot in swingarm.

Just talked to previous owner and he was told the SPO had a shorter wheelbase and was renowned for rubbing? Sounds like bull@#$% to me as the SPO is just the "superlight" version of the Strada and this rubbing would be unacceptable on a production bike?

Although the steering angle is 4 degrees out and the diagonal tubes are slightly bent (as are the Strada's, slightly) there is no paint flaking or stress marks/damage that I can see.

As per the photo attached from my manual the wheelbases are the same, only the overall dimension is shorter by 40mm on the SPO. It is the same pictures with the same dimensions in the Italian section as well.

I'm just looking for more info before committing to a full strip down and possible frame straightening.

Thanks all for your info.

Elcondor

Oops! No attachment. Here it is.

sagot

Hi there, sent a PM but also here:

56.25" or 1428 with axle 60% forward...
So front axle to center of swing arm slot would be right around 56.3" or 1430mm and right on spec.