SP???

freqrider

Well... It looks like I finally have enough 'bitsas' to put the old 888 SP??? 😳 back together. 😄 (well... almost!) It's been in boxes way too long! (10 years!)

I'm sure all you 'puristas' will shun me for it, but I promise to only upgrade and remove superfluous items from the build. After all, these bikes were meant to be racebikes, 1st and foremost.

Thanks to the forum for all the help, both directly and indirectly! I'm sure I'll be picking brains in the near future 😄

Ciao,

FreQRiDeR

851 tricolore

That looks like the best construction kit in the world, excellent : )
Why it was dismantled?
Ian

Lawson SP3

"puristas" - don't worry. there's only so much you can do with bits and pieces. at least you saved all the pieces and are going to make a whole bike again. keep us updated with progress and photos. always interesting.

Mr.R

"Puristas"? That won't be me then chap there's hardly anything left of the original bike on my '92 851/916cc and that's just the way I like them, a personalised machine that's an improvement on the OEM article.
Although I do like to keep the updates to period parts, so no 1098 frontends with radial brakes for me.
But each to his own...So we've seen the pic's of your construction kit SP??? Hours of fun there with the big boys Meccano kit. 😎

So what have you actually got in the kit.
What's the state of tune of the motor is it standard US market 888 SPO? The same as the rest of the Worlds Strada motors or has it been tuned, big bored/stroked, ported, hot cams etc...
Is that a BBB Fabrications alloy front sub frame in the pic's, have you got upgraded suspension for it etc??

Steve R

RWG

Wow Steve, there a few questions there mate. Anyhow freqrider go for it pics please.
Regards
Paul
RWG

freqrider

to Ian

Hit something on the road causing a front flat. Slow speed high side (after bouncing off a parked car, (can't steer with a front flat!!)) caused the battery to explode, mostly cosmetic from battery acid damage. Painted frame. Disassembled the engine to repaint the cases then found a spare, complete engine. Added an Alloy flywheel, Bucci Slipper Clutch, Valve job, timing was degreed. FIM chip, attaching 50 mm headers. That's all the mods for the engine, for now.

I've acquired alloy front and rear subframes and an alloy tank off an SP3? I know, more bulbous than the 888 tank! (The stock tank was undamaged and I have a spare one too) Not sure if I'm going to convert to the alloy one yet? Seems easy enough with a few brackets? Carbon bodywork, fenders, blahblah! I'm just trying to lighten her up, down to fighting weight. I just want to ride her again, I'll build up the spare engine at some point, I'm sure. I have 2 complete sets of body wear so I plan on running a fugly, flat black/carbon/polished aluminum tank stealth bomber version as well as the stock, SPO colors. Switch it up! Keep 'em guessing!!😎
Bike was way worse off than me, I only broke my collarbone!

851 tricolore wroteThat looks like the best construction kit in the world, excellent : ) Why it was dismantled? Ian

freqrider

To Mr R

Yes Mr R, Its a piddily Us market SPO engine. I've added an alloy flywheel and had the cams degreed. Aside from the 50mm headers, and an FIM chip, it's sluggy stock, for now. (I am a purista in the sense It will ALWAYS be an 888! So no big bores for me! If I wanted big bores, I'd ride a Panigale!! 😄) I'm sticking with the re-valved/resprung Showas for now and I wasn't aware there was an "upgrade" for the Ohlins rear shock?
As for the ft subframe? I'm not sure? You tell me? I assumed it was a corsa item as it has no tabs for lights, instrumentation, only for the computer and square, carbon instrument box. It only fits the race bodywork??? The tabs for the intake trumpets seem to have been added? Sadly, I fear she will never be pristine again, but unique in so many ways. 😄

Mr.R wrote"Puristas"? That won't be me then chap there's hardly anything left of the original bike on my '92 851/916cc and that's just the way I like them, a personalised machine that's an improvement on the OEM article. Although I do like to keep the updates to period parts, so no 1098 frontends with radial brakes for me. But each to his own...So we've seen the pic's of your construction kit SP??? Hours of fun there with the big boys Meccano kit. 😎 So what have you actually got in the kit. What's the state of tune of the motor is it standard US market 888 SPO? The same as the rest of the Worlds Strada motors or has it been tuned, big bored/stroked, ported, hot cams etc... Is that a BBB Fabrications alloy front sub frame in the pic's, have you got upgraded suspension for it etc?? Steve R

freqrider

Correction!

I forgot the SPO engine originally came crated from Italy so it's not a piddily, US STRADA engine!

Now that's gotta be worth a few extra HP/Lira! 😝

Mr.R

No dig intended when I asked about he state of tune, it was your title for the thread " SP???" that had me wondering what it was.
I saw the later style side feed single green TB's, that were fited late 888 Strada or US market SPO's, but it's possible to run these on a motor making up to 130 rwbhp. So you might have got hold of a SP4 or 5 motor.
When the factory went racing they fitted the 851's with a big bore kit making them 888cc, later they went to 926cc and in the AMA they went to 955cc.
Lots of members on here have fitted their 851/888's with bigger motors, or bored and stroked the original motors.
A few members even own genuine Corse 888/926's and one has a ex AMA 888/955.
One member has a SP5 that has documentation to prove it left the factory as a 926.

The alloy front subframe in your pic's is an aftermarket part, these weren't fitted to the Corse bikes. Forum member Steve B/duc904red aka BBB Fabrications now manufactures lightweight alloy front and rear subframes for the 851/888's, he's sent them all over the world, which is why I wondered if it was one of his.
IMO the earlier bulbous alloy tank is the way to go when lightening a later 851/888, I've got one tucked away to modify and then mount on my 851/916.

I find the sort of project that you've started a lot more interesting than a complete return to standard rebuild/museum piece, so please keep the posts coming chap.

Steve R

freqrider

Progress!!!

Well, its been some time since I updated the post, so here we go.

I got a wild hare up my arse and decided to finally slap the beast back together. I had a rolling chassis in a little over an hour and its been taking me a week just to figure out where all the spaghetti wires go! (Now I know why they're called spaghetti bikes/pasta rockets!!!) Even with the service manual diagrams, this has proved to be a challenge. Now where exactly do all those zip ties go???

I painted the frame hammertone because it was very close to the original color but added a little texture. It's amazing how simply the bike has come together so far. A true testament to race proven Italian engineering. All with very basic tools as well! Granted the electrical is a nightmare and the engine/valvetrain is way beyond my ability, but she's a real pleasure to wrench on. So far I only messed up two components! A stripped brass thread insert in the plastic crank case breather canister and I cracked the throttle cable mount on the cast throttle body bracket. I was being cheap and decided to drill and tap it a larger diameter instead of buying the right throttle cable. (I later found a new cable on ebay for $5!) I broke a $100+ piece instead of spending $5! (Good thing I have a spare throttle body assembly!)

The biggest problem I have now is retro-fitting the aluminum front subframe to accommodate the stock headlight and instrument cluster. I have no idea where this ft subframe came from and it was apparently designed for a race bike. I'm going to go at it with a dremmel, cut off some brackets and fabricate some clamps/tabs to hold everything in place. If all else fails I'll be ordering one from BBFabrications. Also, the lower stays on the subframe rub onto the fork when I turn so I'm going to have to spread them out a little. I'm thinking it was made for a bike with the skinnier Marzocci or Ohlins front forks and not my 50mm Showas. I have an older 851 steel ft subframe I could use but its SO HEAVY and I'd have to run that hideous plate to mount my headlight. (If I could even find one!?!?!)
Besides I'm hell bent on running the aluminum one.

Looks like I'll be able to fire her up in a few days? It'll be a little while before she's on the road again as I've run out of pocket change and she still needs some rubber, battery, paint, grips, oil... ....

Pompey

looking good, race shift is the way ahead for all bikes! I like the front sprocket cover ...

freqrider

@ Pompey

Mental note: 1 UP, 5 DOWN!!! 1 UP 5 DOWN!!! 😳

Pompey wrotelooking good, race shift is the way ahead for all bikes! I like the front sprocket cover ...

Pompey

When I started racing years ago my mental note was head "down" to go faster and bikes "up" for braking into corners. I got used to it really quickly and now all my road bikes are changed to race shift. 😁

freqrider

Bi-Colore???

My intention is to paint the front fairing red but it's kind of growing on me white! I like it infinitely better than having a white number plate painted around the square headlight, That always looked shoddy to me. What do you guys think? 888 Bi-Colore??? Perhaps I'll add a splash of green and make it officially tacky? Wait! How about painting one side green, white down the middle and leave the right side red? That's it! Then I can flip a U turn when the cops chase me, pass right by them and they'll never know it! Look closely gentlemen, thats both white/blk and silver/gold decals mixed n matched! I'm sure that'll get some members panties in a knot! 😝

freqrider

All Dressed Up...

...and nowhere to go!

To do list:

get wheels straightened. (slight flat spot/wobble on both)

get a battery (Shorai)

mount fresh rubber (hands n feet)

sort out the rest of the front wiring

properly mount cans. (I hacked the 40mm ends off to make them 50mm, need to flare them or have a 50mm ID extension welded on.)

oil, gas, bleed brakes/clutch, fill the radiator. Turn the key and pray!

Anyone care to donate some gas money? 😏

freqrider

ducatiDiag Dry Run

So I sorted out the wiring and interfaced her up to the old PC running DucatiDiag Via a Fiat adapter attached to the USB OBDC connector. Initial 'no run' tests confirm:
Manifold Pressure ✓
Air/Water Temp ✓
Throttle position sensor ✓
Computer Trim ✓
Battery Voltage ✓
Spark advance, Injector Duration and RPMs to be checked at first start-up!
!Tutto Bennne! Next step? Get some oil, coolant and gas and FIRE UP THE BEAST!!!
Accepting Donations! 😝

freqrider

Admission!

I must admit, I am in no way qualified to work on such exotic, sophisticated machinery. But then again, NO ONE TOUCHES MY DUCATI!!! 😡

Now if I could only find out why my damn blinkers wont work??? 😳

marvin

Looks great! Keep us posted.

Mr.R

marvin wroteLooks great! Keep us posted.

Yes +1 on that.
Did the SPO's in the States come with a Ohlins rear shock as standard?
After '91 here in the UK/Europe the Strada's came with a Showa shock and only the pukka/Hot Rod factory special SP's came with Ohlins units.

Steve R

MarkT

Mr.R wroteYes +1 on that. Did the SPO's in the States come with a Ohlins rear shock as standard? After '91 here in the UK/Europe the Strada's came with a Showa shock and only the pukka/Hot Rod factory special SP's came with Ohlins units. Steve R

Steve-

As I recall the US SPO's did come with the Corse style rocker and Ohlins---but my memory cells have been burning out faster each day so----