I've ridden both back to back and I chose the SPS over the 998. To me the two bikes had quite different chracters. As everyone has said, the 998 is more refined, faster and has better brakes .... but the SPS has stacks more charisma. It all depends on what you want from a bike.

If I wanted refined, faster and better brakes I would have bought a Fireblade. I wanted the "genuine" Ducati experience, so it had to be the SPS.

David is right but it is a question of degree .....don't confuse "not getting the Ducati Experience" with progress.... The 998S is the better bike by a tiny margin, just as a 2000 SPS is better than a 99 SPS. The comparison to a Fireblade is no more relevent than comparing to a Corolla.

The answer to your question lies in whether you have an optimate;

if you do get a SPS, if not, go for the 998 ;)

Well Martin, having owned a 998S FE and a 996R, a 916 and 998 BP plus recently acquiring a 05 Fireblade I fear you are mistaken. The 998S and the Fireblade are very similar in terms of handling and power deliver with the exception that the Blade has an extra 20bhp at the rear wheel.

I'll try and get a ride on both bikes, before I buy, however the more research I do the more I sense the SPS really is the genuine artical....

Stretta motor every time, if youy want the ultimate road stock engine in a Ducati.

The SPS 2000 onwards has the bling ohlins from and rear, the last of the original shaped bikes before the smooth panelled bikes with stretta engines.

very difficult decision. If you really want to push the boat out got for a 998 FE, stretta engine, ohlins front and rear. Maybe a 996r.

If you want the ultimate road going incarnation of the series its got to be a 998r, 999r motor in classic shape carbon bodywork.

Ray.

They are very similar, but only in the same way that margarine is very similar to butter.

I am not suggesting that the Blade is anything other than an excellent bike, just that the difference between a Blade and a 996SPS is huge compared to the difference between the 996 & the 998.

I've had my SPS for 6 years now, and still love it. I have never had the luck to ride any testastretta engined bikes, but no standard engined dukes will pull away from it in a straight line (inc. 'R's) and I weigh 16 odd stone so don't worry about performance differences. I understand that the 'stretta engined bikes are a bit more revvy, the older ones more grunty, but if you find a good clean example on an SPS I would go for that (not like mine:lol::lol:)

Would I be right in saying the 998 won't have any rocker problem's, this in itself would be an obvious advantage to me.

Remember these bikes demand money after you buy them.