1994 Ducati 888 SPO

Frame no. ZDM1HB7R2RB002027

Previewing in Los Angeles, California by Appointment. Please contact [email protected] for scheduling.


Following Ducati's victory in the opening round of the World Superbike Championship with Marco Lucchinelli aboard his race-kitted Ducati 851, the brand announced what would be the first of many limited-edition models: the Lucchinelli Replica. In 1990 Ducati replaced the Luccinelli Replica with the comp. only Corsa, the first in a production series of such machines based on the preceding year's works racers. Too good to reserve purely for limited production, the 888cc engine eventually went into the 851's replacement – the 888 Superbike Kit – in 1993. Strada (road), SP (Sport Production) and SPO (Sport Production Omologato) versions were offered soon thereafter.

The plaque on the top triple clamp of this 1994 Ducati offers a story: no. 093 LIMITED 888 SPO. Decoding this tells us it is number 93 of 100 (see text) American market only, limited edition, Sports Production Omologato 888s (from the 1994 production year). The bike, an amalgam of the Strada and the rest-of-the-world SP5, was critical to American racers who needed to homologate the 888 Racing as there was a delay in the new 916 for AMA Superbike; the SPO was their answer. Such was the rush to get AMA clearance the model received precious little retail sales promotion. The American market 888 SPO used the 94x64mm 888 Strada motor of 1992 now with 100bhp at 9000rpm to offer near 150mph. The engine had single injectors but went without an external oil cooler. The chassis was fully SP5 but for the Showa inverted fork and a different version Ohlins eccentric ride-height adjustable rear shock, and the solo seat supported by a steel, not aluminum, rear subframe.

This is a fine example with only 10,800 miles on the odometer having lived for years with a California collector who rode it regularly but occasionally.

This bike was just serviced this summer with new tires, a new battery and new stainless brake lines, and is ready to ride. It has a very rare, one-off Termignoni single side exhaust that was specifically engineered for AMA racing teams and was sourced from an ex-AMA Ducati racing program. The original stock exhaust is included with bike.