Fresh Street Racer: 1993 Ducati 888 SP05

The Ducati 888 filled the gap between the brand-redefining 851 and the legendary 916, bumping the 851’s fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, four-valve L-twin to 888cc. The inbetweener status didn’t phase the bike much, though, as it was enough for Doug Polen to net back-to-back World Superbike championships in ’91 and ’92. Production ended in ’94 as the…

Glamourpuss – 1994 Ducati 888 in Britain

The 888 was designed by Pierre Terblanche and a light update to the muscular 851, Ducati’s first desmoquattro.  American Doug Polen had won the 1991 Superbike World Championship on an uprated 851, and the 888 homolagated the changes for the next year, returning with the #1 plate.  This 888 has been treated to a silky…

Holiday Blues: 1993 Ducati 888

I know what you’re thinking: Ducati Triple Eights never came from the factory in blue. In fact, they never came in any color other than “check me out, I’m hot and I’m Italian” red. Therefore, we are obviously looking at a repaint. And repaints tend to scare me simply because you don’t know what caused…

Perfetto! 1993 Ducati 888 SP4

For some international flair, how about an Italian gem – in Italy? Bellissimo! Featuring the 851 race bike’s frame and ancillary bits but motivated by a 888cc mill, the SP4 was an evolution of the Ducati Superbike race-machine-turned-street-bike that added exclusivity to the promise of enhanced performance. For those shopping for the ultimate 888, however,…

851 with extra grunt: 1993 Ducati 888 SPO

1993 Ducati 888 SPO for sale on eBay Back in the late 1980’s/early 1990’s, Ducati was turning things around.  The bologna-based company had developed its 851 engine back in 1987 and the fuel injected L-twin engine was powerful, reliable and had brought Ducati something it had not had for many years; racing success.  But the…