hello JDR.
Sigma or Corner speed seem to be the place to get this work done.
Possibly Rapido but not sure what pistons they are using ?
a coupe of guys on the board have had this work done. DC being one of them.
ping him a private message.
don't know why you couldn't have the same handling on a 996 though.
any way the choice is yours.
be aware though any money you put in to it will be very hard to recoup
but you are probably aware of that already

I had a 748 SPS . . .
 

with an 853cc engine - what a tool!!!

The bike was fantastic and pulled like a train from just under 3000rpm right up to the red line - WELL WORTH THE MONEY in my opinion.

Mine had a 50mm Ti system and a JHP chip.

Had NO reliability issues at all.

Go for it - you will absolutely love it - I did!

Khushy

btw . . .
 

a 748 with a big bore conversion is COMPELETLY different to a standard 916/996 in terms of character - and thats what its all about at the end of the day.

The revvy nature of the 853 is what did it for me - I loved it - very exciting!

A 916/996 was just a bit boring - comparitively speaking of course.

Khushy

Thanks for that Phil that was one of my concerns was that it won't be a 748R any more

Personally, I'd leave it!

Get the engine sorted properly, powercommander, nice pipes, light weight wheels, body work, etc...

Ride it properly and enjoy blowing away the 916/996 masses.

No need to mess it about completely.

Or go for 748RS heads, now that exciting!

853r
 

HI JDR
I have 2 748Rs road anad track, ive had my road bike 2 years now and love it but darent take it to the track, so i bought a tatty track bike and rebuilt it how i wanted it. The good thing about it was it had a Sigma Full Monty job on the engine, now the difference between my road and track bike is amazing!!
It revs so crisp and sharp pulls like a missile with no holes in the power anywere, and the best bit is it hauls its arse past 916s down the straights!! As people may have noticed at the DSC tracdays at cadwell a few weeks ago!! Yep that red ducati with the 29s on the tail was a 748!!
What they do with the full monty is basically a full service but while the engines apart they check and set the tolerences perfectly, set the squish and cam timing, fit ultimap chip and set it up on a dyno.
Iam seriously contemplating taking my road bike and having the full monty done on that.
Also thought about 853ing the track bike but both sigmas spec sheet and cost for this job is astronomical!! claiming about 130hp at the wheel, and £2000 out your back pocket!!
Well worth checking out the full monty job tho!!

When I had a 748sps with 50mm headers & terms, trick parts and chip I was also running the Big bore kit. The kit was great, faster than a 996 down the straight at donnington - fantastic....
BUT after 5K miles one of the pistons broke up and the other one was showing signs of cracking (I do have a picture if interested). I had to have a full engine rebuild. The only thing I would suggest is get the pistons / engine checked out at intervals. I've been told by a few Ducati mechanics that this failure on the early kits is not that uncommon.

Would I do it again.. HO YES!!

mb . . .
 

not being funny - but in between getting the bike and it blowing up - did you bin it? (or was it binned before you got it?)

I have heard that if the bike has been binned - it wont be long for this world because of the damage done whilst on its side, running and starving of oil!!!!

Khushy

can see your point but no crashes, no serious wheelies never on it's side, apart from going around corners.
The kit was fitted whilst I owned the bike. Let’s just say I wasn't impressed with the quality of casting of the piston.

853r
 

After being on its side its normally the main or big ends that go due to oil starvation if its bein revving whilst on its side, I believe Sigma or Nelly at cornerspeed fit Pistal pistons!