Perhaps the most iconic version of an already iconic bike, the Ducati 996 SPS wasn’t just a carbon-covered “limited edition” named after some famous person that may or may not have had a passing relationship with the brand. It was an homologation special, with just enough built to allow specific bits like adjustable steering heads and engine internals to be used for racing.
The SPS was the highest-specification roadgoing Ducati during the period. The bike featured lightweight wheels, improved suspension, and an adjustable steering head, along with an uprated engine. That engine displaced a genuine 996cc and put out somewhere in the neighborhood of 120hp.
In typical Ducati fashion, the bike is faster than it feels when ridden back-to-back with the 750cc inline fours against which it was competing, the fat midrange torque and lower redline making it feel deceptively lazy. But these are serious performance motorcycles from an era before traction control, selectable ABS, and other rider aids and should provide thrills-a-plenty, even for riders weaned on modern literbikes.
Although the 996 values are currently at a low-ebb, the fact that this is a genuine SPS obviously means it will command a premium over the regular bikes. The seller says that these were never road legal, which I hadn’t heard but regardless, an SPS is a rare sight for sale in form, for road or track.
From the original eBay listing: 2000 Ducati 996SPS for Sale
Bikes like these don’t come along every day. What I have for sale is a 2000 Ducati 996 SPS. This is one of the last of the Massimo Tamburini designed motorcycles, and the last year for the 996. This bike has been loved and well taken care of. It has all of its services (including replacing the rockers per Ducati instructions). There were 80 of these made for the USA in 2000, and they came into the USA as race only bikes, not for road use. I have managed to get this titled for road use in the USA. This is a very low mile example with only 3300 miles. Bike has never been raced.
I have done some work, but in most cases still have the original parts.
I have upgraded some carbon:
snorkel tubes
rear fender
front fenderI have added aluminum rear sets, reservoirs
I have upgraded the clutch disc
I have new mirrors with integrated turn signals
Lots of pictures attached, you can see the level of detail on the bike. Comes with two bike covers, and front and rear bike stands.
The question is why the owner of this particular SPS felt the need to festoon it with some of the more questionable items from the Rizoma catalog. I happen to think Rizoma makes some cool stuff, but you’ve gotta use that catalog judiciously or your bike starts to get that “parts hanger” look. And really, the SPS doesn’t need much in the way of “personalization” and probably should have been left alone…
That being said, the changes are completely bolt-on and cosmetic, so the next owner can and should probably return the bike to a more stock appearance.
There’s not much in the way of bidding and there’s just about 24 hours left on the auction. I’m not sure what other SPS’ have been selling for, but $9,000 seems on the low side for a clean homologation bike like this.
-tad
The SPS was not road legal in the USA due to the emissions, though it was kosher in Europe. When you bought one in the US you had to sign a waiver stating you would not title it for street use and that you understood it was a closed-course machine only – but it had a normal 17 digit vin and at the time there was nothing to flag it in the DMV system so… Most ended up on the street anyway.
The adjustable steering head was shared with the standard 748-916-996. Only the 748E lacked it as part of cost cutting. The SPS was very similar in chassis to the standard bikes, just had Ohlins components and some carbon bits. The real difference was the engine.
The SPS is still the standard for a hot street Desmoquattro – they had a fair bit more power than the regular 996 without sacrificing midrange. The SPS cams are still the go-to hot rod item and command ridiculous money on the used market, giving a good spread of power, unlike the earlier G intake A exhaust cam combo used in the 916 SP that made the engine peaky without benefitting at lower revs – G were Corsa spec and not really suited to a street bike! They also used the close ratio gearbox out of the 748 which would make them way punchier in most scenarios but not as long-legged as a standard bike – first three gears were the same, top three were lower.
Ah, I had a feeling it might be something like that: I think the last couple years Aprilia RS250 came with lights and such, but weren’t technically road-legal either.
damn squirrel sqeezers at the EPA tsk tsk
Come on man! All the cool kids be rockin dat Rizoma parked at Starbucks!
Those Rizoma bars look awful- the wrist angle seems really wrong. I wonder if they’re the reason for the fuel tank damage mentioned? Still a great Ducati, and it’s value would be greater if all of the “improvements” were removed.
Hi all,
I won the auction for the bike! Super excited about owning an SPS, will be fitting back the OEM parts that have been replaced.
Will post pics this Friday when I pick her up.
Regards,
Danny
Congratulations! Please do post up pics, especially once you ditch those aftermarket bits… Was ogling a nice 996R yesterday and talking to a couple guys about these bikes. Rare and very cool.
Congrats. Had a couple SPSs. Awesome, but had to liquidate the last one to buy my 996R. Would love to have another some day.
Congrats on the purchase. Still one of my favorites to ride.
Mark