Not so different. The riding pos. on the 916 is a bit more extreme,and the power band on the 888 started a bit higher up-being an SP. The 888 was also slower steering. For me the big difference is that the 888 is way more beautiful and I regret very much having sold it.
This was my own trundle around Almeria - more than 10 years ago now! I too regret getting rid of the old girl. Haven't seen hide nor hair since selling through Medina Italia. (Standby for broadside from Steve R!)
What an awesome bike and picture! That was the first Ducati bike I salivated over - I remember getting the three page A4 flyer from Ducati and wishing one day to have one..... Colin Schiller (he was the best journalist) from what was the BEST motorcycle mag Fast Bikes (not so good now) writing about riding it - I even remember the article - he had it in his shed and how eloquently he described wheeling it out and starting it up on a winters day..... flip he and that bike were brilliant...... still are!