Things I've discovered in first 1000km as 916sps owner. 1) Don't spare the neighbours when warming bike up for a early morning ride. 2) If you ignore #1 bike will stall at every junction, roundabout, traffic light within a 3 mile radius of your house. 3) It's the worse bike I've ever ridden in traffic, below 4k it's a dog. 4) second gear power wheelies are a shock after years on old air cooled 2 valver. 5) If being chatted up by middle aged men is your thing it's a winner. 6) On a fast A or B roads with a few roundabouts chucked in it really comes alive and suddenly makes sense. Gearbox is a dream, other than finding neutral.
3) Try a 14t front sprocket 6) Finding neutral on mine was probably the easiest of all my Ducatis - you may need to sort/check your clutch?
Yes, find I keep checking myself out in shop windows! Clutch is literally 1000km old, it's probably me being heavy footed and going straight into second. My superlight has lots of neutrals, 5th to 6th being the most annoying
Worth checking that throttle bodies are balanced to each other, relatively easy and not too long to do. Can make a massive difference to smoothing out low speed running.
1) It really shouldn't need this. Just pootle off. See 2. 2) Is there no fast idle lever or fast idle button on the 916SPS? if so are you using it? It really shouldn't run this bad when cold/coldish. (maybe see 3. as well) 3) Maybe needs the throttle bodies balancing or a general tune up, to improve low RPM running cold ans warm. Its never going to be a town bike though as you know. 6)
If you ever have the privilege of riding an SPS you will find that Kevin's points 1 & 2 are necessities. There is a fast idle button and you use it to get the motor warmed up BEFORE moving off. Just pootling off is possible on the cooking versions, (I had a 916 Biposto for 7 years and 70000km before I got my SPS). Try that on the SPS and you will need to be VERY alert with the throttle and slipping the clutch to avoid the stalling Kevin mentions in his #2. It is "SPS normal" I have an Ultimap chip and regular servicing by Cornerspeed and just accept that anything below 5000rpm is going to be less than smooth. I don't feel the need for 100mph in 3rd or 170 top end very often, so I went for the other option - two teeth extra on the back rather than a 14t front sprocket.
The top end rush is biblical for a twin, from about 8k/9k to 'I really shouldn't be revving a 25yr old bike this much' it really is hauling the horizon in (for a old girl) . It's nothing like the standard engines when it's spinning properly, quick shifting through close ratio box. Think I may gear down as well, to lower my ban potential. I suppose it really is a race bike on the road, not a race replica. The lightened flywheel and engine internals make slow speed running rough. I've heard the 888 sps is even worse, but like most of us I'll probably never cock my leg over one of those.
Very nice pics and nice to hear you salvaged an orphan and brought her back to the fold. I bought my tatty 996 SPS at auction and have slowly brought her back to presentable with new paint and a thorough engineering check. Now that she is running sweet I have decided to have the engine out for a thorough refurb, just to ensure she performs well for the next twenty years.
I really enjoyed rebuilding my 996sps, its a great feeling knowing you gave it another 20 years life.
Maybe things had changed by 2002, the older bikes are maybe more lumpy? Never have any problems pootling off on my 998r from start up.
Think newer engines a bit more refined (I've only ridden a 749/999 for comparison ) but I quite like coughing & popping of 996...encourages me to ring it neck to smooth it out
I have to say that I never have any issues pooling off on my 916 SP3 (1996) or riding at low speed in traffic. It does have a (original) 14T sprocket. I also happen to believe that setting up the injection correctly (TPS/Synch/CO) is absolutely essential.
