ducati 955sp

[simonkobe]

from the october 1996 fast bikes.interesting history

[simonkobe]

[simonkobe]

[acruhl]

Typical Fast Bikes drivel from that period. Totally brainless writing.

That bike is not stock in any shape or form. If someone can confirm that it came from the factory like that, I'll eat my shoe (other than the wheels of course, which were mentioned).

I've never seen a bike with "955" on the side in any photos. I suppose it's possible that they may have existed if Ducati was going to make that the new "pre 996" model or something. Maybe they even made it onto a few bikes. But if nobody from the factory will confirm it, then it's BS.

So someone imported one from the US. Maybe someone else got one from the factory. So what. Maybe 30 years in the future someone will confirm this and these people that have the bikes will be lottery winners. If nobody confirms it though, it's just a bike with some mods done by the owner.

That said, it would be cool to have a real 955, but as far as I've read and heard, they were all crated race bikes.

[Ben710]

Originally Posted by acruhl

Typical Fast Bikes drivel from that period. Totally brainless writing.

That bike is not stock in any shape or form. If someone can confirm that it came from the factory like that, I'll eat my shoe (other than the wheels of course, which were mentioned).

I've never seen a bike with "955" on the side in any photos. I suppose it's possible that they may have existed if Ducati was going to make that the new "pre 996" model or something. Maybe they even made it onto a few bikes. But if nobody from the factory will confirm it, then it's BS.

So someone imported one from the US. Maybe someone else got one from the factory. So what. Maybe 30 years in the future someone will confirm this and these people that have the bikes will be lottery winners. If nobody confirms it though, it's just a bike with some mods done by the owner.

That said, it would be cool to have a real 955, but as far as I've read and heard, they were all crated race bikes.

Ducati 955 - Ducatisti Forum

Have a nice time reading.


And - thank you simon!

[Deton8d]

Originally Posted by acruhl

That said, it would be cool to have a real 955, but as far as I've read and heard, they were all crated race bikes.

You can have one, its on ebay right now!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Motorcycles___VFR750RR-RVF750R-Ducati-955-ZXR750RR-RC30-RC45_W0QQitemZ270325493669QQddnZMotorcyclesQQddiZ2 283QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_motorcycles?hash=item2703 25493669&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A727| 65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

I'll take any one of those bikes for a finders fee.

[acruhl]

Originally Posted by Ben710

Ducati 955 - Ducatisti Forum

Have a nice time reading.


And - thank you simon!

I'm not sure what you're getting at... All I'm saying is there's no way the bike came from the factory like that, ie with 955 decals, tail mounted turn signals, chromed exhaust and QB carbon chainguard. The article states that the owner did nothing to the bike except put on Marvic wheels which is obvious BS, typical Fast Bikes style journalism.

Do these bikes exist? Yes. Are they all the same? No. Is this one original? F no.

[Ben710]

die you take the time to read the threads or at least the sticky in the link I posted? It says they never came like as described in the article above. Apparently there never was one leaving the factory with 955 decals.

Didn't mean to correct you, just wanted to hand over some proper info.

[acruhl]

I'm aware that this type of information existed. I didn't read the entire thing you sent because about 99% of information you hear on rare bikes is manufactured, especially by stupid journalists as evidenced in this Fast Bikes article.

I'm pretty sure I saw one of these bikes in '95 at Laguna Seca, but I can't be sure.

Also, for anyone else's information, it's well known that Ducati was running 955cc engines in the 888 with Troy Corser and possibly Doug Polen before him (I don't remember about Polen) in the US in '94 and earlier. WSB riders probably had them, possibly in 888 bikes, as well. Ducati provided a "955 kit" which I believe was a new crank, pistons, and cylinders to install on the 888.

Rob Muzzy protested heavily against this because the entire bike was not homologated with these parts, which apparently is illegal in AMA rules. Ducati countered that this kit was available from the factory to anyone who wanted to buy it, which was also true depending on who was asking for it I guess. It seems like this wasn't as big an issue in WSB (who at the time seemed to heavily favor Ducati) as it was in the AMA.

I have no idea if what I just said is 100% true, but what is true without a doubt is that the 955cc engine existed in the 888 in the US and was raced in the US. WSB was using the 916, the US had the 888 in '94. I believe both were running 955cc engines.

So my point is, can people that have the 955cc kit they bought from Ducati Corse claim to have a 955cc bike? Or is the 955 only these alleged bikes that have 955 in the engine serial number?

It's all a bunch of silliness.

[916WI]

Sure they can say that have a 955 bike if they have had the kit installed. Big difference between a 955 kitted bike and an spa though. In order to claim that you have a 916 spa, one would definitely need to back that up with the 955 in the vin number.......

[hubert]

Originally Posted by acruhl

I have no idea if what I just said is 100% true, but what is true without a doubt is that the 955cc engine existed in the 888 in the US and was raced in the US. WSB was using the 916, the US had the 888 in '94. I believe both were running 955cc engines.

The '93 Corsa 888 was a 926cc, in '94 the customer 888 was similar to the 926cc factory bike, but the factory was racing the 916 in '94 which displaced 955cc. The '96 916 SPA (Sport Production America) was an AMA homolgation special and the only road going production Ducati to displace 955cc.

[acruhl]

I'm pretty sure the engines that Muzzy was protesting against in the 888 were 955cc. I need to dig up the article from Roadracing World if I still have it.

Correct me if wrong here... The issue was that the crank had to be changed, and this was the main point of contention since the bikes are supposed to use the stock crank. Ducati maintained that the crank was available as a race kit available to anyone. Does the crank need to be changed for a 926cc engine? I don't think so but I'm not sure...

[Ducman851]

No, to get a 926 you just used 96mm pistons, stroke is still 66mm

[marvin]

Originally Posted by Ducman851

No, to get a 926 you just used 96mm pistons, stroke is still 66mm

926 is 96mm bore, 64mm stroke (851/888 crank)
955 is 96mm bore, 66mm stroke (916 crank)

[webman]

FBF was running a 955 in the 94 888 in AMA,so yes, the crank would have had to have been changed. I remember talking with Larry Ferracci right before Daytona and he was practically giddy about it. It guess he had a right to be as that was FBFs final hurrah that year at winning anything. I also remember seing the kit in the FBF catalog that year and thinking the price for it was insane. Over 10k

[brad black]

schnyder was building 96mm bore motors for andy meklau in '91 i think, and the tricolour race bike that bob brown ran out here in '88 and '89 was allegedly around 100mm bore. it used to blow a lot of head gaskets.

[Ducman851]

Originally Posted by marvin

926 is 96mm bore, 64mm stroke (851/888 crank)
955 is 96mm bore, 66mm stroke (916 crank)

I knew that, just couldnt type it ,

[Ducati23]

I had one. It was a 916SP with the 96mm bore installed by Ducati and most important it had the full 50mm system as standard not the 50mm half system that the 916SP came with. Otherwise the two machines were exactly the same. Carbon fenders, chain guard, airbox, floating rotors, ohlins shock & damper, dual injectors, P8 computer, 955 Corse intake cams with 916 SP exhaust cams, larger valves, pankl rods, lighter clutch basket, alloy subframe, single seat, white tail plates and all other standard SP parts. They were rated at 135 hp.

The 955 was brutal and had a very abrupt power delivery. They had stamped 955 in the engine number. The fairing had 916 on the side - not 955. I owned one for a long time. Every other authentic 955 I saw was exactly the same as mine was in stock trim.

Compared to the 916SPS it was night and day different. 955 was difficult the 996 was smooth and easy. This is a photo of it, I made it into a Gattolone Racing Replica "Frankie Chili" Model a long time ago.

[955SP]

Originally Posted by acruhl

Typical Fast Bikes drivel from that period. Totally brainless writing.

That bike is not stock in any shape or form. If someone can confirm that it came from the factory like that, I'll eat my shoe (other than the wheels of course, which were mentioned).

I've never seen a bike with "955" on the side in any photos. I suppose it's possible that they may have existed if Ducati was going to make that the new "pre 996" model or something. Maybe they even made it onto a few bikes. But if nobody from the factory will confirm it, then it's BS.

So someone imported one from the US. Maybe someone else got one from the factory. So what. Maybe 30 years in the future someone will confirm this and these people that have the bikes will be lottery winners. If nobody confirms it though, it's just a bike with some mods done by the owner.

That said, it would be cool to have a real 955, but as far as I've read and heard, they were all crated race bikes.

I thought I would come along and say "Hi". I am new to the forum but am a memeber of some other Ducati forums.

Regarding your post acruhl I just wanted to say that while I appreciate that a great deal of the stuff that is written in these magazines is a nonsense this is actually 100% true. The 916SPA, or 955SPA (Sports producation America) or 955SP was made. About 54 to allow the Corsa to run in the AMA. This made it the rarest of all the 916 style bikes and one of the rarest Ducatis ever.

It is official based on the engine number not the fact it has a 955cc engine. The bike in this article is of particular interest to the UK market as unlike the other 10 or so in the UK, this came straight from Ducati to run in the TT. This made it an official, direct import and not a "grey" or private import via the US.

I know its not overly clear but in the picture text, the article does actually say this is all aftermarket body kit supplied by the owner of QB Carbon. As in the picture I added. I just wanted to clear all that up as I am the owner of the above bike!! But I think it looks a lot better now with a host of 1996 Corsa race parts on it also!

thanks

[simonkobe]

welcome!!