Hi and Happy New year to all.. On my night shift last night, I was thinking about the 916 family and I have to admit that there's a lot of questions in there for me.. This is how I see it please correct me if I'm wrong.. The iconic Papa was a 916, and his offspring just out grew him .. There was the 996 and the 998 then the 995 not forgetting the little un of the family, the 748.. So I ask.. Are these all just sutle displacements of the original bore and stroke from the original 916 block.. But 996 to 998 why? And 955 corsa I've seen them described as a 996/955 corsa? Then elsewhere just as a 955 Corsa.. Are these the same? Or is the 955 a pure racer? Allegedly only 30 of these were brought to the UK so that just makes it even more confusing.. Expert thoughts appreciated please before my little brainbox slips a tooth... Many thanks NOODS
From what I know 748/916/996 all desmquatro engines, 996r and 998 are the newer testerstretta engines. Steve
My understanding of it is the original 916 was 916cc, the "955" was a homologation for racing purposes (as this was for a "street" class they had to be road going and probably at least 200 had to be produced) it was still titled as a 916 but had in fact a 996cc motor because the limit then was 1000cc's and as we all know Bigger is Better . Then came the 996. These along with the 748 as Steve said are all the Desmoquatro motor based on the valve train from the previous 888,851 et al. The Testastretta motor (among other things a different head entirely) was introduced on the 996R then the 998.
955 was 955cc. It had 96mm Bore and 66mm stroke. 916SP was 916cc. 94mm bore and 66mm stroke. 916SPS was 996cc. 98mm bore and 66mm stroke. According to Ian Falloon.
So is the listing 996/955 corsa an error, eg there is no such bike, it's either one or the other... A 996 or a 955 Corsa which is a pure race bike..
I believe that only 50 955's were built from the factory purely to homologate them for AMA in the states
Another little known/useless fact is the 748 was the first desmoquattro motor to be made (for racing purposes I believe) and actually predates the 851/888's.
