Help - 916 engine frame numbers

Engine and frame numbers do not match.

AFAIK there is no 916S, however the frame no has 916S in it as part of the code...

 

I wish I had seen this YEARS ago.
I am currently researching my bike a Ducati 916S (199 built worldwide in 1994 ONLY)
The frame number is: ZDM916S001941
Now it was built in Italy
It is a Ducati
and it is a 916S
But what the rest of the numbers mean I have no idea
HOWEVER - a word of warning. Even with these numbers Ducati themselves have refused to verify the bike - let alone the model (916S Monoposto Europa)

 

001941 is the frame number - seems too high for 1994 though - they didn't build that many in the first year. S stands for Strada I think. They didn't build any BIP's in 1994, only Strada's and SP's me thinks.

 

Some info here; http://www.ducati.ms/forums/80-hall-wisdom/27112-ducati-vins-decoded.html

Basically AFAIK it's; Italy, Ducati, 916, Sportbike with frame no. 001941

 

That's the American pre 2002 17 Digit code

 

I don't know about Ducati, but maybe they started with a high number? e.g the first bike was 1001 or something similar.

I have seen (industrial) machinery manufacturers use such a concept because they don't want their customer to know they've got the first one, rather they think that they've already sold 1000 or so and any teething troubles have been ironed out.

Not that I'm suggesting Ducati would do such a thing...

 

Well yes, but the ZDM, 916 & S are still relevant.

 

All very interesting guys BUT it is a 916S
Chassis number Z (Italy)
D (Ducati)
M (Motorcycle)
916S (Model - 916S = Monoposto Europa) but the next sequence:
001941 does bother me.
I didn't think even Ducati were THAT lax in their numbering

 

It isnt an 'S'. Its a Monoposto as you said.

 

Check Ducati 916 by Ian Falloon p.154f Ducati built Biposto machines for Switzerland (120) Australia (65) England (193), Japan (60) and France (141)
Ducati built over 3,000 (916) machines in 1994 so frame number 1943 would work.
But Hey . . . it's Ducati . . .

 

I think my figures were from Ducati themselves for the first Cagiva factory built bikes (Circa 1100 or so were built there - only Strada's) they obviously got going at Borgo Panigale later in 1994 too

 

If it isn't a 916S (and I still say it is)
then would someone please tell me how you would identify a 916S built by Ducati in 1994?

 

Easy - they didn't build any

 

Oooops
The world's leading Ducati 916 expert doesn't agree with you.
See Ian Falloon 'Ducati 916' Haynes 2001 page 154.
All his material came from the factory and the introduction is by Massimo Bordi

 

Can I post a picture here . . .
and if so . . . how?

 

I own and have read the book but am no expert. As far as Im aware they built 916 Strada, 916 Monoposto, 916 Biposto, These are just known as 916 Strada, 916 Mono, 916 Bip but not 916S, 916M, 916B etc. 916 Sports Production, 916 Sports Production Special are known as 916SP & 916SPS. Confused? Yep. The only 'S' I am aware of was the 996S. So you have a 916 Strada (or Monoposto whatever) not a 916S. Probably. AI have a 1998 916 Bip and shall look at my frame number and it'll likely say something else entirely such is the way of Ducati.

 

I know Ian S is short for Strada which they used at the time - this is Italian for Street as apposed to the SP models.
The S was not a designated model in 1994: I think you already said Ducati had confirmed this already?
They verified my prototype