The Rarest Italian Superbikes Were Built For Racing, And This One Proves Why
All the way through the 90s, Ducati was a dominant force in production racing. While the Japanese manufacturers became obsessed with top speed records, the Italians cleaned up on tracks all over the world. The 916 might be the first bike that comes to mind when this era is discussed, but there was an equally good superbike that came before that model.
The Ducati 888 SPO Is A Rare AMA Homologation Model
Ducati were unable to race the 888 SP5 in the US because it was not able to pass DOT requirements back in 1993. This forced them to develop a model specifically for the North American market in the form of the Sport Production Omologato. Between 1993 and 1994, only 390 of these 888 SPOs were sold, which makes this a pretty rare find.
What makes it even more rare than these numbers might suggest, is the simple fact that these were essentially race bikes with lights, and were mostly used for their intended purpose. Which is to say, several would not have survived. While the SPO had the same engine as the 888 Strada, and only made around 100 horsepower (compared to the SP5, which made closer to 120 horsepower), it got the track-ready suspension of the SP5 model.
This Bike’s Track Days Might Be Over
The bike in question was raced, modified, and the engine has been rebuilt at least once. Which might disappoint some collectors, but it will also make the Ducatisti out there bristle with enthusiasm. The modifications include an Öhlins fork to go along with the Öhlins rear shock that came standard with the SPO model, high-compression pistons, oversized valves, Carillo con-rods, and a Fast by Ferracci exhaust. To some, these will be desirable modifications which all help it make significantly more power than the original.
Unfortunately, the fact that the timing belts were last done back in 2010 indicates that this bike has not seen much use over the last 16 years. They will also be the first thing the new owner needs to change, and, along with that, doing a desmo service would also be prudent. That is an expensive undertaking that needs to be factored into the price, which, at the time of writing, is sitting at $7,000. Even though this bike is not in original condition, it is still a rare, desirable motorcycle. We suspect that the price will go up a fair bit in the next few days, and that it most likely won’t ever see a track again.
Source: Bring a Trailer
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