Hi guys! I am fortunate enough to own a 1999 996 SPS. After doing some research, I am not entirely sure if I have the SPS II variant that was released to homologate a new cylinder head. As I understand, this bike was only released in the German market. However, if I look at the parts diagram for the SPS II (#33 in 3rd image below), it has a very distinctive coolant hose that the "regular" SPS does not. This coolant hose to the vertical cylinder wraps around the frame and connects to the vertical cylinder horizontally. On all other 748/916/996 I have seen including other SPS, this hose (#33 in 4th image below) goes behind the frame and enters the cylinder via the inlet pipe vertically upwards. Looking at my bike there is very little room to route it this way because of the frame bracing and spark plug coil which appear to be different on the SPS. Not to mention the inlet pipe is oriented differently. The first image is of my bike. The second image shows a 2000 996 SPS.
I dont think so because both hoses are still available from Ducati. And all other 748/996 after 1999 model year still shows the hose that does not wrap around the frame.
And SPS II??? You’re putting far too much in Ducati parts bin confidence. In that era, they grabbed whatever was in the parts bin and sling it on
I 10000% agree with your sentiment. However, there really is a 1999 996 SPS II variant. Scroll down to bottom of this website to see the parts list. Also, there is indeed different part numbers for the cylinder heads between the normal SPS and the SPS II. https://www.bike-parts-ducati.com/ducati-motorcycle/Superbike/1999 Also, on this thread there is mention of II. Check out this very informative post: https://www.ducatiforum.co.uk/threads/996-sps-fr2.94142/#post-2031136
SPS models prior to 1999 use the "normal" coolant host. The one that wraps itself around the frame first appears in 1999 with the 996 SPS II. When I look up the part # 80010611a, it seems the following bikes use it:
check parts fiche for the california models. It could be part of the US federal emissions recirculation system on the fuel side.
So where we talk no 1 and 2, really is this a 916sps and a 996 sps as they were model branded? What’s a mk 3?!
There was a change to the frame for racing; the 'Kyalami' frame which had a deeper 'V' in the bracing to allow fitment of a larger airbox. IIRC, the Foggy rep was the homologation model, it then was used on the 916SPS and 748R (which also got the bigger airbox), and then on the later testastretta, 996R & 998. Don't know if the cooling pipework was changed though, unless it needed a different routing to miss the larger airbox?
I thought only Foggy had a different set up due to it needing if for racing? One of the very few differences to normal SPS.
This is part of why I am confused! Why would a 2000 not have the same set up as my 1999? Perhaps the cylinder was only used in 1999? FYI the cylinder head part # is different for the 1999 SPS and SPS II (30120791A and 30120871A respectively). The SPS models were sold in the US as purely for off road use. Buyers had to sign a waiver that they would not attempt to register the bikes but of course many did. As I understand No 1 was the 1999 996 SPS introduced early in the year. No 2 was later in the year to homologate a new cylinder head design. I am perplexed why subsequent SPS models did not get the same hose?
998S. Can’t remember seeing any of these models with a cooling pipe running round the outside of the frame.
Thank you, good suggestion. I actually did write to Ducati and all they would confirm is that my bike is indeed a 1999 996 SPS manufactured in 11/98. They could not tell me if my bike is the SPS II variant. Perhaps since my bike was produced later in the year it may support the idea that it was made with the different head to homologate WSBK?
