Yep.....we are keen arent we .
Think the appeal has been covered. My 888 was on display at a stand at the superbike grand national at castle combe last weekend, next to a 748 which had just been fitted with a QB carbon motogp kit and sprayed in marlboro colours - an it didnt get a look in..!!! All sorts were looking at the 888..young and old..having a right good poke around they were and lots of pics being taken. Didnt stop smiling all day !
As I think ive said before, my (jap bike) owning mate summed it up.."your 916 was a pretty, almost feminine bike..but this looks brutal..deffo a blokes bike"!!
The new dukes are great.. I love my S4R..it goes like stink, its a lovely smooth ride, and will no doubt prove to be much more reliable..but it has nowhere near the amount of charachter (and noise!!) my 888 has...and if one had to go...then it wouldnt be too hard a choice !
Think youll be pleased with the falloon book sparkin...it has probably the best 851/888 reference info ive come across in a book with some great pics...theres even a rare 1986 pic of the 748 prototype which went on to become the 851.
Also..did you know that it was (a young) pierre terblanche that did the restyle for the last of the 851/888's with the chiselled tank and cutaway side panels (he did one decent job then..
)
Cheers
Nat