New here.. Currently based in the UK and recently purchased a (99-00) 748 SPS in South Africa at a really good price. The bike is in immaculate condition. How do I confirm that it's an original SPS. As I've read here on this forum that the SPS never came with decals on the tank. Here are some pics of the bike a video link.
I have a 1999 748SPS which was one of only 20 imported to the UK in that year. There are slight changes between model years and the last 1999 models were actually made in 1998 for the 1999 model year. Some may have remained unsold as they were very costly at the time. I have full provenance with mine including the original bill of sale where it was sold for £12250. These models came with a gold paddock stand, a yellow dust cover, carbon half system termignoni's with an appropriate chip and a handbook which was for the SPS only. I notice you have Arrow pipes or originals with Arrow stickers, the SPS never had Arrow pipes and the Carbon Termignoni's for the SPS did not actually have any stickers on them at all. The fairing and tank stickers that were fitted to the bikes varied from earlier models compared to 1999 models and the 1999 model had graphite type coloured stickers. You have the fully floating discs which came with the SPS and the 65mm front calipers which they all had. The lower fork legs appear to be the correct colour as they are slightly darker than some of the stock 748 models were. They all had single phase alternators throughout the model years despite some more basic 748's having the three phase ignition during the later (1999) model years. You should have an Ohlins rear shock and an alloy clutch cover. You have the early style brake and clutch master cylinders which were correct for all the model years along with the grey levers. The (mono) subframe and seat seem to be correct for the model. All other modifications over the standard models were internal and the SPS had Pankl titanium con rods with different pistons and cams along with a different coating on the valve stems. The SP had Pankl steel rods. Overall it appears to be a genuine enough bike but it would be best to check with Ducati by giving them your frame and engine numbers to fully confirm. Hope this helps a little.
The gentleman whom I bought it from said he called up Ducati and they checked it and verified it. Maybe he just told me for a quick sale, but was genuinely a nice guy. (Unfortunately he had to sell the bike as he was going through a divorce). I will make sure to check it when I am back in Cape Town soon again. I was thinking of buying some new parts for it. Looking at the following upgrades. STM Clutch Slave Cylinder. Rizoma Billet Grips Rizoma Star Style Pressure Plate Rizoma Reservoir caps Rizoma Bar Ends Luimoto Team Seat Cover Ohlins preload adjusters Tamburini Corse Fuel Cap Shorty levers (Can anyone recommend a good set?) Carbon Air Intakes Carbon Key Guard Carbon heal guards HID Headlamp conversion Deleting front indicators and replacing with smaller led's Then painting/powder coating the following bits glossy black. Headlight (bucket) Bowl. Fairing V Piece (Radiator) Wheels Swingarm. (Not sure I might do this as my mechanic said its a big job and could become costly having take it apart). What are your thoughts?
Hi Irvaan, welcome to the site. If you bought the bike to ride then your list of changes makes good sense. As you have quite a rare bike it has the potential of becoming quite valuable, more so if you are careful what you do to it and keep it as original as you can. For any bits you replace keep the originals, for any painting try to do the same which may mean sourcing spare parts to allow you to return it to stock when you sell it. For me some of your changes are very unwise, but its your bike and you can do whatever you like with it. Hope you get as much fun out of it as I have my 748s over the last 8 years.
Forget the bling! Black bits will work and look good Get suspension set up and maybe a slipper on her
As above, it is worth much more as a totally original bike due to their\its rarity. My bike is now red with several minor mods but none that will not allow it to be put back to standard. I have every single part that formed the original bike and for any purist that is what they will be looking for. Modify as you wish but I would advise not changing anything that cannot be reverted to stock as these machines will appreciate as the years go by. They are a lot different to a stock 748 and have a more revvier nature, which I personally enjoy and it makes the bike more involving for me. Some parts like cams, pistons etc. have become very rare and of the owners that I know in the UK of just 100 hundred machines that were imported into the UK over the three years these bikes were on sale I know that there are somewhat less than the original numbers left as several have been written off and I have bought up parts from some of those bikes as time has gone by. If you see anything that is genuine SPS then buy it, the like will not be available again.
If it was my SPS I'd sort out the pipes and return it to standard. Then either keep it or sell it on for profitssssss and buy another machine for riding.
Forget the rizoma shit Over priced tat - bullit grips a total faux par on anything than a hardley usefulson, and why have fork adjusters on the bike? The look daft and very novice like. SPS is lovely bike, suspension set up and slipper well worth it.
Keeping it standard is the only way to go, very few about and will be harder and harder to find an unmessed one as years go by.
Bling it to the max.. its the only way.... NO dont i am joking.. as all the above have said dont do anything irreversible. if you want to "customize" get a bp like mine and go nuts! having said that it is yours but you would break a few hearts
Sorry for my delayed reply.. I am thinking about skipping all the mods.. I have built a Monster Cafe Racer before this bike and it was a perfect daily. Not using this as a daily so gonna skip most of the mods. I don't get much time to do track days however and with all the research I have done, its not much use for a slipper. Don't think I'm going to sell it either as they seem pretty rare, so guess best to go with keeping it original. Thanks for convincing me (y)
