Thoughts on this bike

wilkson

Hi All . I'm wanting to start racing a 888 in classic racing class . I'm currently racing a 1299 Panigale but feel the Classic racing is where I would like to be .
I'm not quite sure where to start I would prefer to find a ex race 888 . I have spotted this bike to me it look fantastic but I don't know enough about them . Any thoughts would be appreciated .
http://www.ebay.at/itm/Ducati-888-Racing-Corsa-/112240021950?hash=item1a2206d1be:g:kjkAAOSwNuxXZZQE

MarkT

Looks very nice/clean with most of the correct bits. I had the 6 piston ISR's on my first track bike over 20 years ago-- went to stock Corse GP-4's because they were way too touchy at low speeds. Will require a start cart.

I have six Corse's-- they are a hoot on the track- if you buy one with G cams you will be picking up the front very easy and spinning the rear out of turns. If it comes with 421 intakes it will feel a bit slower but you will may be quicker because of very gently front end rising and very little spinning of the rear out of turns. Fun with less drama-- but if you like drama the G cams are nuts fun.

wilkson

Thanks Mark . I'm not too sure wether to start with a standard bike and build a race bike or buy a ex race bike .
I'm going to have a chat with the mechanic who works on the 1299 his name is Pablo Real he raced the 851 /888 series in the US it will be a project I'm sure he will enjoy .
Lot's of my racing friends are now racing classics the meetings seem to be not as intense as racing modern bikes .
I bought a VEE TWO Alchemy with the intent of racing it I have been out on the track with it and it is enjoyable but a little underpowered .

wilkson

I just had a talk to Pablo about what I was thinking he thinks a ex Corse bike is the way to go so my idea of a standard 888 as a start is most likely not the best idea.

MarkT

wilkson wroteI just had a talk to Pablo about what I was thinking he thinks a ex Corse bike is the way to go so my idea of a standard 888 as a start is most likely not the best idea.

Everyone knew Pablo back in the day My first track bike -which I still own- has a frame from one of Pablo bikes.

I think if you can buy a Corse- buy it and track it. A few guys have pulled the original motor so as not to crack an original case and build up a motor to max allowable using and ST4 case. More money but even the last version of the Corse case without the kickstart bung on the right side are now very rare and very expensive so it is pays to keep the original on the shelve for that day when your Corse is static in your collection.

wilkson

WOW nice bikes Mark .
Yes Pablo has been a great help to me . He suggested using a 996 engine and removing the original as well .
He has some great racing stories from racing at Daytona and riding the TT bikes and the 851 /888 series bikes and the development to make them fast .

stiglarsenDK

888R w ST4S based engine

Build one ! Given you like the process of endless back and forth, part chasing... a labour of love and test of your patience ...😏
Making it 100% original is close to impossible given the rareness of the special race parts these days, but if you can live with substitutes of Strada bits and later 916/996, after market parts... a nice and effective race can be made i would argue.

Here my 888R frame up bitsa racer

888R 93' org frame (a modified strada frame will do the exact same job)
FG43 front end, Mag front : 17x3.5 and rear 17x6 w Swinger mod. to fit w the 25 mm axel.
Engine : ST4s w P08 box and race harness, Pending surgery : SPS_T1 Heads, Crank and rods.. (see nine16 bike under projects, it spits out very nice and reliable numbers)
Rest, few CF and ALU bits to cover and tie it all together...

wilkson

Looks like really nice build . Thanks for the info .
I like the idea of a custom build and looks like a fun project .

Maxsam

Hi Wilks......welcome back to the dark side and the home of 888's.

That's a pretty smick Corse for Classic Racing. There was a couple of 888's racing at Eastern Creek over the weekend that hold their own with good riders on them. They are definitely bitza's though as with all forms of racing, they still go down sometimes.

That Corse would be hard to ride at 110% being such a rare bike. Most of the period 6 bikes are fairly rough up close as your continually pulling them apart. Even SA's most expensive mechanic JB was up do his elbows in grease keeping Stavros Parish old Suzuki moving along on Sunday. it looked good from a distance but not like the Corse.

Only you can decide whether you could track a $65k piece of history and watch it become half that after one season. It's why most of the period 6 bikes are rough. I did see a nice RC30 but looking at the pop rivets holding the temp fuel tank lid broke my heart.

I can't bring myself to take the SP4 and 5 out on simple track days now with the value of them climbing so much.

If you go ahead with the Corse let me know, would love to see it in person.

PS - the Paul Smart you brought over for me from SA is still going strong. A nice Sunday ride bike.

wilkson

Thanks . I don't riding rough bikes and tracking my Desmosedici was not a issue I have had my fair share of crashes so I know what to expect I would rather see a race bike raced .
My interest has been pricked by spending too much time with a mate racing two beautifully presented RC30 s things seem to be going well .
Classic racing seems to not be 110% maybe 90% which interest me as well . I'm concerned about damaging a piece of history ( myself ) . I think building a bike may be the way to go speaking to Pablo he still can get access to a frame his off to Itsly today so will find out .

Good to hear from you .

wgsvintage

wilkson wrote...I would rather see a race bike raced...

I like that thinking.

MarkT

Wilkson

I have tracked most of my Corse's along with a salvaged Desmo- so I completely understand many owner's fear of causing damage to a rare bike by tossing it down the track.

Over the last 20 plus years of buying and restoring Corse's I could not help but put them on the track no matter how hours/money/effort I put into each one--- the track is where they are the most fun and it is where they belong. Of course Corse's and Corse parts are way way more money then they were when I first got into them- lucky for me because my mid level government job did not put me into a high tax bracket. So crashing one was always a big financial hit.

And yes-I have had a few low sides over the years but I was able to put my Corse's back to original with the parts I have collected. The OEM Corse parts are now almost impossible to find. But- a big BUT----- with Peter O and a few others reproducing many of the carbon parts which break on a low side I would say if you can buy a factory Corse-- track it and enjoy it.- parts can be replaced A Corse is nice sitting in your garage- but way more enjoyable when on the track.

As rider of mid level talent- I hardly can tell the difference between riding a good mid level replica. Great replicas with motors built and tuned by someone like Chris B I am sure can jump all over a stock Corse. So I am not saying that the real deal is the only way to go if you love these 851/888 race bikes-- Both are fun on the track and are a joy to build or restore.

But because Corse's are my passion- it gives me a hard-to-define joy tracking my Corse's which have a race history/provenance-.

wilkson

Thanks Mark .
I agree with everything you said . I have a 75 750 SS I'm taking to the track in a couple of weeks it's a rare and expensive bike these days but I still like getting it out on the track . My Alchemy is a little the same but still it's still fun to have it out on a race track .
I have spoken in depth to Pablo in fact he leaves today to spend some time in Italy and visit Reno Leoni . He still believes he can source some parts I need and going either way will not be impossible .

brad black

a corsa is probably a good way to get all the parts needed, but i can't see any reason why a replica would be in any way a lesser race bike. at least then you can fit cases that won't crack.

wilkson

Thanks Brad for the advice . I am starting think I could build a decent bike for a reasonable price .
Thanks everyone for the help 👍🏻

stafford

Nothing wrong with a Strada as a start.

Mr.R

I agree with Brad and Stafford.
Whilst it's very nice if you can afford it to buy and race a genuine/PUKKA Corse 888...
For most of us the cost of buying and then possibly writing it off in a crash is more than prohibitive.
It's possible to build a very competitive 888 for a lot less money and if it were to be totalled it won't have lost an irreplaceable bike.
It's also possible to build a more reliable and more powerful race bike using later parts/knowledge and technology.
..and along with Brad, Stafford etc I feel that it wouldn't be less of a race 888.
The ex Corse bike for sale has history and is the real deal, but it makes it's 135 rwbhp @ around 12,500 rpm.
This is crank case cracking territory, not very good for the pocket in anyone's book.
The crank cases are now all but completely irreplaceable.
But a later built motor using ST4 or ST4S cases can make superior power and torque at under 9,500 rpm.
ST4 and ST4S cases incorporated all of the lessons learnt from the 888/926cc race programme, they're pretty much bullet proof.

You pays your money and makes your choice...
I've personally gone for a 955cc motor built into NOS ST4 cases, if it doesn't make at least as much power as the ex Corse motor but at under 9,500 rpm I'll be just a little disappointed.

Steve R

dudlington

I,d say build your own and go for the best of both worlds. Classic looks and a new engine/wiring/instruments............. Reliability and power. There is plenty of fibreglass/carbon bodywork around , new forks/engine combo,s , wheels , brakes. Surf around and it will not be anywhere the cost of a racer and there are not too many around so something a little different. If you crash it , it will not cost an arm and a leg to repair. It will put a smile of your face and make others take notice.

Attached is an 851 S3 with an 1198 engine...........seems to work just fine.

Dyno sheet shows there is enough power/torque.

wilkson

Maybe I will just put 888 bodywork on the 1299 race bike 😁
I think I will build a bike .

Twigs

wilkson wroteMaybe I will just put 888 bodywork on the 1299 race bike 😁 I think I will build a bike .

Hi Mate
Just sent you a pm
Photos didn't attached so here it is.