advice needed
 

can any of u guys tell what is needed to convert a 888 strada to single seat like a sp5,is it just the sub frame and the seat unit.also can still get the sub frames,and which after market seat unit is the best fit.i have been lookin for a sp4,5 but they are hard to find to find.a couple of specailists have said dont do it because its dead money but the sp models are now collectable and fetch good money. cheers dave.

Hello Dave.

There's an sp5 advertised on www.stileitaliano.com it doesn't look 100% origanial but it might be worth droping Gianluca a line and get some info on it.

Good luck.

Mike.

cheers mike will call them tommorrow do u know them or delt with them before, knew i wouid have to travel but wasnt plannin that much, but it is a option thanks again dave.

Dave,

You can't get the genuine parts from Ducati now. You've got a few options:

1. stay with the Strada seat frame, taking lots of care with the bits that stick out, and use one of the aftermarket GRP mouldings. That route has been used sucessfully by a number of the 888 owners on the board and is the cheapest. I'm sure one or two will be along shortly to advise on the better/best suppliers.

2. eBay. Wait and watch. The genuine ally subframes and seat units come up from time to time, but be prepaerd to pay large. NB. The 851 ally seat frame is much more common and will not do the job

3. I have a new, genuine Ducati SP0 steel single seat frame in the loft. It owes me quite a lot but it's spare.

Rgds, Rob

i have converted my strada. i ordered the bits needed through my fave dealer here in oz and waited..........and waited..........and waited. after about 6 months i get a call saying my seat unit with seat and bum pad are in. you beaudy! the subframe was still on back order and i waited some more. i get a call about 2 months later saying the subframe is N.L.A, ****! luckily my dealer mate has a corsa and loaned me his to duplicate. i found a competent workshop and had a duplicate made for around half the cost of a genuine one. this was around 3 years ago so not sure what's around now.

Hi Dave

Ive took route 1 (as in Robs e-mail). It is possible with some jiggerypokery and QB Carbon do a good seat mould. Here is my finished article. Have attached a few shots of the job in progress !

Some notes

Be sure to fit some heat shrink plastic or foam to the subframe pins that the srada side panels fit on to or they will pierce a nice hole in your freshly painted seat unit (as I found out to my cost !!)

The QB mould has 'desmoquattro' moulded in to it so you will need to sand that out (probably from a moulding of an SP4 seat which had a sticker there)

Ive probably got some OE from and rear seat pads coming over in the next few weeks from italy - give us a shout then !

The long dzus fastener that secures the bum pad is still available from dealers - about £8.

Cut your self a big hole in the seat unit behind the bum pad (see attached pic) so you can still use the underseat storage !

Cheers
Nat

The hole to access the storage

Finished !

cheers guys now i know it is possible just didnt want 2 cut the strada sub frame.

Hello Dave.

Yes I know Gianluca fairly well, he's a friends buisness partner. Might be worth a trip over there if only to see his museum, he has a couple of 851-888 race bikes and the mighty V6 Laverda!!

Happy Hunting.

Mike.

Seat unit on mine came from Ricambi Weiss.Excellent value for money.Requires a small amount of fitting,but no cutting of the subframe.Im using the Strada seat pad,so your weight is on the frame.

rang gianluca today he was out spoke 2 davide he was v helpfull will speak 2gianluca mon thanks again dave.

thanks 4 all the advice mike rob loony nat eric,would love a sp5 but italy is along way,late model strada with a single seat would look similar.is the performance differance between strada sp4/5 alot cheers dave.

Dave
It's probably not worth the trip to Italy, i've had my Strada for 2 years now and in that time i've seen about 4 or 5 good SP's come up for sale, so if I were you i'd wait for a good UK bike to come up. Keep checking here, ebay and classicmotorcycles site and you'll find one. As for the performance difference, not a lot on the road. It's more about the exclusivity of ownership to be honest. Plus if you do get ans SP you'll probably be real scared to use it hard whereas a strada, although quite rare now in itself, isn't impossible to source parts for and fix up in the event of blow up / accident. Mine's got SP forks and an ohlins shock, if you add a single seat and a better motor like Rob then I think you'll have a more useable every day bike which still turns heads. Cheers, Lyndsay. Ps...keep the faith!

time too make up my mind now got a call from a guy sellin a sp4 and im goin 2 see weeveetwins 888 strada on tuesday he has a mint bike that is original might be a shame too start modin steves bike.

SP4 all the way. Not that i'm biassed in any way you understand!!

Mike.

Sorry Dave, can't do Tuesday (thought Wednesday was mentioned - or Thurs?)

Maybe go look at the SP4 first, then if you don't buy it get back to me. I'm in no panic to sell.

Best of luck
Steve

looked at a sp4 2day no 492 or 493 belongs to guy called scott very good condition all the docs bike was imported some time ago. only thing i was a bit unsure about was it had a gold frame thought sp4's had white frames was this a end of line and they had started with gold frames or could it have been ordered with a gold frame,any thoughts please. cheers dave

Thats not right Dave as they only ever came with white frames- but its probably just been painted - but that then begs the question why ?!. I'm assuming its got the plaque etc ?

its got everything, italia classics in lincoln know and look after the bike and they say its as it should be.