I have lifted this post from a forum in french detailing the specific differences between 748 models in a very concise manner. Corrections have been added due to correct/more specific info added by other forum users. Note: Due to these corrections the below is no longer a quote of the original source. I hope that it will be useful for others in the future. 1994: Ducati 748 Biposto Original base, two seat motorcycle. 1994: Ducati 748 Strada Single Seat, original base model. 1994: Ducati 748 SP Racy version of the Biposto. Single seat, Ohlins suspension, carbon bodywork plus more. 1997: Ducati 748SPS More racy version of SP – titanium con rods, lightweight frame and more. 1997: Ducati 748S First production run: 100 machines only. 2000: Ducati 748E Replaced the Biposto as the ‘base’, two seat model. 2000: Ducati 748S Second production run. Racy version of the E. TiN coated forks, 5 spoke wheels, single or dual seat. 2000: Ducati 748R Even racier than the S. Same frame as the ‘Foggy Rep’ 916. 2002: All models of Ducati 748 discontinued. ----------------- Ducati 748R (1999-2003) - 2002: Black graphics on the tank and fairing and graphite paint detail on the seat. - 2001: Got Ohlins shock, forks, carbon airbox - Not all Euro models got Ohlins dampers until 2002. most did. Brembo p34 4 pad calipers with Brembo race discs (4mm wider spaced too). All R models have the same size airbox, but 2001 are made from carbon (well top half is). - All came with a slipper clutch as standard. - 2000: Had the engine modification with shower injectors and increased BHP. - The airboxes on R model 748's are larger because they have the throttle bodies inside them. - The frames are the same apart from the cross member under the throttle body assy is 25mm lower to fit the larger throttle bodies. airbox mountings, frame tube size, frame width are all the SAME accross the 748 range. - R models have wider cam belts, all years the same. - Original Price from new: £11,000 (How many were made?) Ducati 748S (?-2003) - 2002: Available in special edition colours satin grey with red wheels. - The S replaced the SPS but gave the same BHP as the E, improvements were, five spoke Marchesini wheels, Showa rear shock, Titanium Nitride coated forks for less friction, and the adjustable steering head. - Original Price from new: £9,500 There were two series builds of 748S, the first a limited production run of 100 1997 built MY97s and the second starting with a few 1999 built MY00s through to 2002 built MY02s at the end. Ducati 748SPS (1997-1999) Only 100 were ever officially imported into the UK (3 of which have been purchased in the last 12 months by members of this forum.) 40 were produced in 1997 for the 98 model year, 40 in 98 for the same year and 20 in 1999. - Replaced SP in 1998. Now get twin pin Brembo calipers, 98 style graphics with just 'DUCATI' on the side fairing and no tank graphics - SP Steel rods replaced by SPS Titanium rods (NOT race rods, the same design as the BP rod but made from ti.) IMO not as good as the SP Rods but this allowed the crank to be very slightly lighter to balance. - Original Price from new: £12,250 Ducati 748SP (1995-1998 ) - Engine mods are to allow engine tuning within the supersport rules. - SP Camshafts - Longer duration, where most of the SP power comes from. - High Compression Pistons fitted as standard (although if you check the specs they only list at 0.2:1 different, the hi-comp pistons mean with the squish set correctly (factory is always out) you get a far better CR, (just under 12:1) - SP Con Rods - Steel, H section rods, allowing higher rev limits for racing, these rods are still considered up there with the best, made by Carillo, MUCH stronger than standard so allow sustained high revs. - Alloy sub-frame with mono seat. - Available in Yellow only - Cast iron Brembo fully floating discs, - Ohlins rear shock - Came with 45mm standard system but also with the 45-50mm link pipe (without baffles) and 50mm carbon Termignoni's. (most buyers were un-aware of this and the dealer/owners hang on the them or you find the normal 45mm termis fitted. - Came with yellow cover and rear paddock stand from new. Ducati 748E (2000-2003) - 2002 - Fairing design change (now without the side vents, like 998 [Slab-sided] ) - New exhaust system for some E and S models (produced in 2001 for MY2002) - the exhaust diameter is the same size but with headers and link pipe supplied by a different company (Zeuna.) If you wanted to fit anything other than just 45mm termis (45mm to 50mm for example) then you needed to replace the full system. - 2001 - Fitted with the Testa-Basa motor (not testastretta!)difference is simply the stepped heads on the exhaust cams side- allowing the same head casting to be used for S4 monster and 748 (exhaust cam is lower in the head to miss the front wheel of the monster). E chassis same as 2000 BIP model but now with grey 3 spoke wheels and grey frame. - The BIP was replaced by the E model, actually downgrading the Showa rear shock with a cheaper (Sach's?) unit and also losing the adjustable steering head on the BP, which had both road and track settings. - Original Price from new: £8,500 (Standard two-seat model; E = Entry) Ducati 748 BIP (1995-2000) - 2000 model 748 (still listed as BP) has the BP motor in the E chassis but with a gold frame, non adjustable headstock and screw fasteners, no quick release on the fuel hoses. bit of a mix of BP and E models. - In 1998 got a fairing decal change and 2 pin calipers, the new style rec/regulator and the later type generator system. - Standard two-seat model (BIP = Biposto) Original Post: differencier une 748, S ou R
Tom, too many details to list here but if you are really looking for those details then they are mostly listed in Ian Falloon's "Ducati Desmoquatro Superbikes" with further details, production years and numbers in his "Standard Catalogue of Ducati Motorcycles". Just a couple to start with, there were two series builds of 748S, the first a limited production run of 100 1997 built MY97s and the second starting with a few 1999 built MY00s through to 2002 built MY02s at the end. The bike was originally sold as "Strada, Biposta and SP with production of the first 4 (MY95 bikes) in 1994(3 Bips and 1 SP). If you spend some time working through those books you can correct the details above. Some credit for the above in that it is the only time I have seen reference to the different exhaust fitted to some MY02s built from 2001. Although the silencers are in fact the same as the original builds (Termignoni supplied), it is the headers and link (Zeuna supplied) that were changed that are not interchangeable with the rest of the standard 9xx/748 45mm systems.
I don't have that book but I shall amend the info you have provided. Any mistakes highlighted here will be corrected.
You need to consider the artistic licence that Ducati used; when they say 'carbon bodywork' what they really mean is that it has a (single) piece of carbon body work such as the front mudguard. AFAIK the only bike with carbon fairings was the 996R and then only the side panels and maybe the front mudguard, the seat and front fairing were still plastic...
Hi, how correct are the numbers produced? It's stated that only 100 SPS's were brought into the country over a 3 year period. I thought 1000 were made in each of the years so it could be raced in the World Super Sport series. Is this true?
Here are the details, of the bikes in the UK a number of EU, German and even a few Japan and Australia models were imported, many of the EU spec ones were sold as new bikes, some with Km clocks instead of MPH From Falloon, SPS and SP production was as follows I wonder whether SP number 1 and the very last SPSs (three MY00) are still around and identified 748SPS MY98, 88 built 1997, 267 built 1998, total MY98-- 355 748SPS MY99 152 built 1998 total MY 99-- 152 748SPS MY00 3 built 1999 total 3 Total MY00--3 Total standard EU spec 510 748SPS Australia MY98, 14 built 1997, 30 built 1998 total MY98-- 44 748SPS Australia MY99, 11 built 1998 Total Australia spec 55 748SPS Japan MY98, 28 built 1997, 33 built 1998 748SPS Japan MY99, 18 built 1998 Total Japan spec 79 748SPS Germany MY98, 30 built 1997 Total Germany spec 30 748SPS UK MY98, 40 built 1997, 40 built 1998 748SPS UK MY99, 20 built 1998 Total UK spec 100 Overall SPS production—774 MY98--570 MY99--201 MY00---3 748SP MY95, 1 built 1994, 600 built 1995 748SP MY96, 400 built 1996 748SP MY97, 305 built 1997 Overall SP production 1994-1997-- 1306
Interesting threads, I believe '1998 Ducati 748L - Neiman Marcus 1 of 100 ' should also be on the list, not sure if it the bike is a mirror of 748 Biposto, SP, SPS or S.
I've just purchased my first 748 and at a bit of a loss to know which model it is. It was registered in 1997 with a frame number ZDM748S0047**. I've missed the final two digits off. Could anyone please identify what model it is please? So far I'm fairly pleased with it after changing the clutch slave cylinder and battery. Thanks.
Fab, either post up some photos showing forks, discs, shock, body work. Alternatively send an email to Ducati with the engine and frame numbers and they will tell you about what it was when it left the factory.
Sorry to dig up an old thread , My 748 has 748s on the frame number sticker , it's an s reg (uk98 ) is this one of the 100 made or just a standard 748?
Contact Ducati to be 100% but I think that relates to the fact it's a sports bike, not an S model. http://www.ducatiuk.com/company/contact_us/contact_form/index.do
I have had 2 748's of a similar era and you will most likely find that it is just the common model. That is the way Ducati decided to sticker them up. The SPS however does bear its actual model on the frame sticker. Not sure about the SP or the R though. As above check with Ducati to be absolutely certain.
S is for Supersport on the frame sticker, not that it's a 748S. T-plate is 1999 so it's not the right year to be an S model either.
