Maybe this helps (see attachment). Let me know what you need.

Forgive my ignorance...and I'm probably going to say the most ridiculous thing now...but do Ducati not provide spares for these bikes? I'm presuming that if they do support your particular (gorgeous) model they would no doubt take months going about it, and then charge the earth for doing it...right?

Andy Roberts DD rider#99

Very reasonable assumption. However, for the older, very limited production bikes, many parts are no longer available, especially the ones that weren't common with the street going versions. Some still are, though. Price wise, yes, never cheap, sometimes silly money.

Robin,

I thouht I'd posted this reply earlier today. Have you pinged Mike C and Marvin J on the 851 board. Both own 888 race bikes (Fctory) and Mike also has an SPS. As you know, these guys are a mine of info and have spares too. Getting them to part with stuff, another story.

Rgds, Rob

Rob,
Have you a link to the US board?
Thanks in advance,
Gary.:)

thanks rob, next on my to do list mate.
looks like there is also going to be crankshaft and shell issues now,:(:(.
solved one question though, SP4 and SPS have same heads and barrels,but SPS has the corsa crank and gearbox. But one odd thing has come to light,the valves I've measured this afternoon are not the same as the stated ones (SPS 30/34)that should be in the bike, so something amiss here to start with.
I am begining to think this bike was upgraded by the previous owner just after he bought it, although documentation does not mention any engine mods, but then it is mostly all in Italian
:o:o

but will have to triple check just in case.

speak to you soon rob

Doesn't sound like you need my help, then.

Robin,

Remember, many of these and SP4's where used by racers in the Italian series when they first came out. I'd take a bet that a lot where fiddled with. That, and the fact that Ducati couldn't tranlate the phrase "Standard Specification", for years. Don't you remember when the first 916's came out, everyone seemed to be slightly different as it rolled off the lines

thanks for your link felix, it is a very usefull piece of info.

At worse case what with the cranshaft issue etc, a few bods have sugested having the engine totally rebuilt to proper 888 racing spec, but not qutie sure what that might be, and what it would involve etc, what are your thoughts on this line of upgrade.
At the moment, the costs of repairs are pretty high, just to get it back to normal mode, so upping the spec may not be totally out of the question.

cheers

Robin,
Just speculation, but I remember talking to Roy Armstrong about these bikes and he told me that they were produced and released in batches over a period of time rather than all at once.
As Rob says, maybe each batch was slightly different.
Regards,
Gary.