nobody responded to the question so...a bit late but...'03 749s same engine/bhp as standard 749bip, but superior suspension etc. This didn't impress the buying public (except the original owner of my 03's', so Ducati introduced engine mods/increased bhp to 04 749s', leaving the standard bip's engine same as previous year's 749s/749bip.
HOWEVER, as already referred to in this thread, for '04, Ducati introduced revised method of measuring engine power to match, so they said, the way the Japanese manufacturer's did their's...much artistic licence, in other words..so an increase as much as the quoted +7bhp for 04 model in my view to be treated with some suspicion. Likewise, with the increased bhp's that came right across full model range for '04.
Perhaps just a shrewd way of keeping things going until they could introduce all the serious mods made to the entire 749/999 range for '05, all first seen (or certainly a good number) on the '04 999r, hence the enraged 04r owners when they saw their £20,000 bikes virtually recreated in the '05 999s for £6,000 less....
The overview is perhaps that its better for Ducati to upset a few of its punters and survive rather than having a conscience and going bust... and buy an 04 999r for 's' money...
Threaded Mode