Engine life of 851 sp3/888 sp4?

KEV900SL

First post so be gentle with my niave questions ! How many miles would you expect a well cared for SP3/SP4 to last before needing major engine work ? What sort of costs are involved in rebuilding a exotic lump ?
Still in the dreaming, planning stage but thinking a sunny Sunday rider condition bike, not show bike.
Thanks in advance Kev

marvin

Probably more than you will ever ride it.

brad black

and more than you'd expect to spend.

dudlington

Why the question ????????????

Jack888

Got your eye on a high millage bike??

KEV900SL

Jack888 wroteGot your eye on a high millage bike??

Seen one with 35k, only one owner.

Jack888

KEV900SL wroteSeen one with 35k, only one owner.

If its a nice clean bike at the right price I wouldn't let that miles put you of

marvin

Have the forks and shock had recent service?

KEV900SL

Not sure about forks /shock service.

Still in the saving & deciding what other toys I'm willing to part with to fund the dream.
Leggy ones are almost within reach.

David

My 1991 SP3 "turned the clock over" several years ago, so that was 62k miles. Done about 80-odd thousand now (all by me). Have replaced a couple of valves over the years, but pistons, bores, bottom end, gearbox all original. They are strong!

Mr.R

David wroteMy 1991 SP3 "turned the clock over" several years ago, so that was 62k miles. Done about 80-odd thousand now (all by me). Have replaced a couple of valves over the years, but pistons, bores, bottom end, gearbox all original. They are strong!

All that depends on how hard you've ridden the bike.
SP's that have been thrashed and used to their maximum can (and do) crack the crankcases well before getting anywhere near that sort of mileage.
The 851/888 motors are very strong as long as you keep the max' revs below 10K, but the SP's make their peak power at over 10K...
You haven't got to be a genius to work out what can happen if used to their max' potential.
It's not for nothing that the early 851/888 Corse bikes needed their crankcases changed after every race weekend.

Steve R

Bridgland

Rebuild Costs

Even though it isn't an SP, I bought a very tired 888 Strada in need of a heavy restoration. As the paint and lacquer on the cases had lifted all over, I wanted to get the whole engine disassembled and the casings blasted and coated (Cerakote). Therefore all seals, gaskets, bushes and bearings were replaced. there were some other parts that showed decent wear and I needed to replace the clutch plates, basket and push rod and it all came to around £3,500 to complete.

This was all done (apart from the coating) by ProTwins in Godstone, Surrey.

I am sure there are many people here who would have done the work themselves and the parts came to around £2,000 alone, but I decided I didn't want to get this part of the bike wrong, so went down the dealership route.

Feel free to have a look on my restoration site https://www.ducati888.co.uk

dudlington

Restoration site https://www.ducati888.co.uk[/QUOTE]

Nice blog , I guess the restoration is still in the making ?.

The unobtainium side of it is blank but I,m sure if you can,t find what you need someone on this forum could help or point you in the right direction.

Keep up the nice work A+++++

Bridgland

dudlington wroteRestoration site https://www.ducati888.co.uk Nice blog , I guess the restoration is still in the making ?. The unobtainium side of it is blank but I,m sure if you can,t find what you need someone on this forum could help or point you in the right direction. Keep up the nice work A+++++

Thanks Paul - I do have a list of Unobtainium, but torn as to whether I should put them up there as people might charge me more for them 😄