748 127bhp 853

My old 853 was putting out 127bhp and 78ft/lbs

 

I regret putting my 748SP based 853 back into original spec for sale and until an opportunity to acquire a 748RS engine came along I was looking at doing the conversion on a 748R. My experience was of no great power increase but significantly more torque all delivered over a 4500 rev band in a nice flattish line. Strangely as I was drinking my coffee first thing it crossed my mind that as the RS engine will need a total strip down after about 2000 kilometres, it might be an interesting project to do the 853 conversion on it. Hey ho, I really must reign in the fantasies especially as I retire in March. Andy

 

I have this deja-vu feeling, its as if I have read this article before! Take a look at the article below, this is from Performance Bikes Nov.2000 and yes, that is Dean Thomas standing in the bottom centre pic. What could this plagiarism mean?

 

I have an 853 built by JHP as far as I am aware it has gas flowed heads lightened flywheel and standard cams, it has noticably more torque than the 748 and revs freely to the limiter. With the standard 748 I never hit the limiter but the 853 hits it when I feel it's still got more to come. Can't imagine what different cams would make

Steve

 

That's a fair bit out of one of them. Must sound and feel great over them last thousand revs.

 

Just posted this in reply to another question, so while I have the link loaded! Here's one by Sigma producing 118.3 BHP 748R / 853R - Sigma Performance which I assume was their "stock" conversion at the time, so clearly they must have done more unspecified work to get those sort of figures. Interesting to note that they quote 102.8 BHP for a stock 748R with their full monty at the time.

My 748R engined 748S made 104 BHP with stock 748 injectors when it was being set up at CJS and Ducati quoted 105 BHP for a stock 748R when they were available.

And another about 853's from their old site Sigma Performance - Ducati 748-853

 

The cheapest option is another engine (916, 996, 998 or ever bigger) into a 748, or as I carried out, a 748R into an S (or bip) frame. Having said that I rate the 853 conversion if done properly, as not all seem to be created equal and I have seen the odd poor one. The downside is it is very expensive, relatively, for what it produces. The increased torque being one of the biggest benefits in my view.

 

It seems to me that the benefits of the converting is not so much the increase in bhp+torque but the spread of both.Would this be right?

 

Steve, that's the one piece of information I was missing, thank you . It all falls into place now. Damn, just finished one project and can now feel another one coming on. It's not that I am searching for something elusive, I just enjoy the challenge. Andy

 

Just so. IMO I think it is about how the power and torque is delivered. As Cranker and birdie have said, the 853 is a very willing engine that loves to rev. I think I still have the dyno charts from my 748sp based 853 which I can post to illustrate the difference in delivery. Andy

 

IMO the 1098 is probably the best engine Ducati have made. It has the refinement of development but still the rawness the is synonymous with Ducati. That said my passion is my 748. Nothing gives me the outright enjoyment and forgiveness. You have the sublime handling without the outright power that creates those moments when you open the throttle too early or the outright speed when you cannot slow down in time. Although I am having a ball developing my track bike, I would ride an R or SP any day, all day. Andy

 

I am in the fortunate position of having a good job, no wife or family and no mortgage. I'm not a smoker or a big drinker so I have disposable income. If in your world you have the opportunity and the where with all to go for it without making life difficult for you and yours, I do not believe you would regret an 853 conversion, even on a basic 748 BP. Nor do I think you will hanker after a more difficult hybrid however successful it has been for some. In my experience keeping it simple keeps it cheap and reliable, something I have neglected to do myself. Andy

 

hi,ive got a 748r which had converted to 853cc, in my humble opinion its well worth doing,i also had the crank, flywheel lightened and balanced,heads ported new rockers and all the valves recut, 129.8bhp cost was £2900 by cjs racing. i was that impressed im now converting my 748 bp track bike with a very similar set up but with sps cams,wont get as much power due to smaller valves but still be as quick as standard 916.The 748/853 R is a pig at slow speeds but open the taps out of town and its an amazing bit of kit, that extra power and torque is enough to out ride alot of the bigger bikes which always makes me smile!!

 

Here is a dyno chart of my friends 853R done at CJS

 

I always wonder why Chris cant iron out that 4-5k blip, mine was the same too, given its custom tuned and all the sensors are disabled