Thanks for the help guys! Ill have a ring round during the week and let you know!

There was a number of different ideas in this post about the actual bhp that the 853 kit will produce.

Has anyone actually had it done and tested?

Thanks for the welcome to the club! General feedback on having my 748 black has been good. Any comments welcome!

If you fit an 853 kit to a standard BIP you will get a nice increase of low/mid range torque but max power will not be significantly higher, maybe 5-10HP. To achieve the full benefit of an 853 conversion you will need to look at valves, cams, rods, cranks, balancing etc.

still no expected price for the kit ??

£750-£850 for the kit alone. IIRC

for all the parts required from sigma it came in at £900 or so.
you will need to exchange the barrels so if you want to keep yours until you get everything. so you can do it over a weekend. there will be a holding charge which you will get back when you send him your barrels.
deej I would say that a competent person should be able to get on with the job on there own. but only you really know your limits.
some special tool will be required. the bolts that hold the head on need a C shaped tool to get around the head
8871.1139 head nut holder wrench

just had my 851 taken out to 955 by Ducati John in Leeds - can't recommend him highly enough - she now has a 916 crank and rods + 916 heads to go with the 955 Corse barrels and pistons.
I've not taken her past 6000rpm but up to that point she is pulling like an express - yeeeehah
I'm after a set of 916SP heads now though...
speak to John on 0113 2829933, very helpful guy.
cheers

Neil