desmophil
I recently made a U turn on some 996 project and decided to sell many RS parts and move on to bikes I can ride and enjoy easily. Though I was drawn to Ducatis in the 1990s from the 900ss and then the 916 series, I always wanted to have an 851/888. I have decided to reserve a SP3 that was advertised for some time. I verified a number of details all looking as a very original SP3 though in need of some light refurb. I cannot wait to collect the bike once the lock down will be over.
One slight issue is that the plaque has been removed from the top yoke (it actually still has the holes of the rivets). I am not so bothered because it is the bike underneath that matters after all, but it would be obviously nicer if I could reunite this bike with its identity tag.
Apparently Ducati did not keep any record of matching the bikes to the plaque numbers though I would assume that it could probably be narrowed from the VIN serial (000937).
Please let me know if:
- You have ever come across a spare SP3 plaque that I could aim to track down
- You have a spare SP3 plaque or top yoke that you would be willing to part with
- You have an SP3 with a near enough VIN (000937) to see if I could imply the bike number from this
Please PM me. thanks
p
rodericb
Could you get one 3D printed? printed with metal sinter.
stiglarsenDK
Repro
These have been made as reproductions for sp4 and sp5 (fake in some people's perspective) Not sure if done for sp3, anyone knows? I have originals on the SP's in the stable, but did buy a few reproductions.. you can tell the difference 2 meters away if you know what to look for ..
desmophil
I am in 2 minds about a repro especially as I would need to know the plate number which Ducati has not registered to the VIN. So I would need to track VINs that are near enough to see if there is a sequence number that could be assumed.
Finding somebody that got a spare plate would be best, especially if it is the ones from that bike!
Finding the one of a bike that no longer exist as one would be the next best I would guess.
If you know somebody that can 3D print on Metal, I would be looking into this but need to estimate the right number plate. So help would be appreciated to aim to match VINs to plates.
RWG
How do you aim to ensure you have not duplicated a number already out there?
Considdering Ducati do not have specific allocation to vin numbers
desmophil
Exactly - hence why preference to either track the number that it should be or have a genuine plate of a bike that is no longer.
Else I may as well not have the plate anymore.
900SL
Would be good to try and track it down.. Original owners?.. Shops?.. Owners groups etc...
desmophil
Indeed - will do when I will get all the paperwork.
For now I am starting here.
Will try the DOC Uk as well.
stiglarsenDK
Just a heads up for all : the rivets used for the badges are not 100% secure, hence glue underneath will be a good thing !
dudlington
Just my twopennyworth
There is no way of knowing what plaque went with a specific frame number.........I,ve tracked hundreds of SP3 and SP4 bikes for years trying to find a pattern................all I can say is ITALIAN, DUCATI, 90,s. Before the Americans bought the factory the place was a mess as I visited the before and after and saw a big improvement in quality and build sequencing.
Buy a fake SP3 plaque and engrave 851 in it, that way you will not upset anyone who has that plaque number on the original Silver Metal Plaque..........or nothing.
RWG
Exactly, That the is my point.
stiglarsenDK
Well put Paul..
Not Sure I have seen fake sp3 ones ? Yes bang in some number or intials .. (anything but 0-500, or whatever quantity the sp3 was made in.. 👍
dudlington
Yes there are also fake SP3 plaques out there....... it makes you wonder why they were made in the first place ??????.
The modified Plaque seems to be an original SP3 Plaque but someone has tried to remake it into an SP4 001 plaque. A couple of differences give it away (1991 and SP4 is engraved and not proud).The engraving of the number 001 is also the wrong text This modifed plaque originally was on the Desmophil forum members SP3 that he is trying to find the original plaque too as I called the dealer about the bike, this is where I got the photo of the plaque from. The dealer later changed this photo so that the plaque was not visible on the advert Who made these modification is anyone,s guess and exactly what were they trying to do ?????, shame really as that is one original plaque less on the planet.
I put on a modified plaque on my Thome 888 SP4 that had its original plate lost. I do not think it will upset anybody as everyone in the know will know that the highest number for an SP4 is just over 600. The higher number that I have found is number 609 that was for sale a few years ago in Italy.
stiglarsenDK
Wow, SP4 001 😏, yes it's very obvious but only when side by side...
Take care out there...
dudlington
Stig The plate is clearly from an SP3 Plaque as the proud lettering type matches the SP3 type and is slightly different to the SP4 letter type. It is slight but it can be seen if you look hard enough. Now here is a story that is somewhere on this forum. There was an original SP4 with the number 001 but that was involved in an accident............making SP4 002 the earliest example. This motorcylce resides in a Dutch dealer and I have seen this bike with my own eyes. As mentioned on a previous old thread..........is it really, it sure looked a genuine plaque to me. The modified plaque is clearly a fake. So if the new owner Desmophil could get the plaque from the dealer (I am nearly sure the dealer still has this plaque as I spoke to him about it a few months ago) then he will have mated the original plaque with the motorcycle. Shame the number is not known.
tubbylad
on the same subject - but different
Has anyone restored an original plaque with the green leaves and correct patina?
I've seen some almost black with age and others almost bright yellow with polish.
My SP4 plaque is missing the green laurels and I was hoping to return it to its original glory - any advice?
Thanks, Martin
Mr.R
I know that we've covered this at length quite a few times over the years but...
You don't think that anyone would want to create a fake SP do you?? 😏
Steve R
dudlington
mmmmmmm
RWG
Just a reference point, I understand the desire to Create our own bike sure we or most of us have done so or wish to do so.
I currently have a bike on the bench, recently 80% dry assembled from parts I have gathered for 20 years or so. The Bike is an 851 Engine and frame, however I then bought. A St4s just recently to build my own special 851.
When I assembled the bike to see what fitted and How it looked, I fitted a triple clamp I had one of two. This one had a Carbon Top stuck to it so I removed it to find it had two holls where a plaque would have been fitted??
Now my point would be when I do get to finish this bike, I woulld not be fitting this top yolks as I do not want it to portray something it is not, I would be much more happy to tell any one interested enough to ask that it is a bitza 851 with a kick in it's Tail.
My personal point of view only, I only Hope we all continue to build our special, the perfect example of this is our own Steve R 851, having seen it and know How it is used, perfect.
Mr.R
Hi Paul,
I fully agree with your sentiment here, owners can all build whatever we want and more power to their elbow to those that do.
I've never to my knowledge called my 851 a Steve R 851, I usually refer to it as "My old Nail", "My 955 851" or at a push "Clint the bike with No name".
On another note my '92 851 came with the top yoke drilled for a plaque???
Steve R
