1993 Ducati 888 Strada

A larger-capacity (888cc) version of Ducati's original 851 Superbike first appeared at the opening round of the inaugural World Superbike Championship at Donington Park in April 1988. Works rider Marco Lucchinelli took the honours aboard an over-bored and race-kitted version of the 851, and the following year the factory announced what would be the first of many 'limited edition' models: the Lucchinelli Replica. In 1990 Ducati replaced the Luccinelli Replica with the competition-only Corsa, the first in a series of such machines based on the preceding year's works racers. Like the Replica, the Corsa used the 888cc engine, which also went into the limited edition, higher-specification 'SP' series of Ducati roadsters. Too good to reserve purely for limited production, the 888cc engine eventually went into the 851's replacement – the 888 – in 1993. Destined for a relatively short life, the 888 was replaced by the landmark 916 in 1994.

The private vendor purchased this 888 in 2015 from Chris Walker Kawasaki in Grantham. A keen Ducati enthusiast and collector, our vendor intended to restore it to concours condition after his retirement, only for ill heath to scupper the project. Prior to its acquisition, the Ducati had been fitted with a Scorpion exhaust and a new ECU chip by Alf's Motorcycles of Worthing, the work being carried out in 1999 (bill on file). The standard chip is included in the sale.

The Ducati is offered from the owner's private collection, all of which were ridden for no more than 2 miles following acquisition and then stored within his house on static display. The current odometer reading is 13,284 miles (at the time of cataloguing/photography). Following a period of inactivity, this motorcycle will require re-commissioning and/or restoration to a greater or lesser extent and thus is sold strictly as viewed. Prospective purchasers must satisfy themselves with regard to this motorcycle's history, originality, authenticity, mechanical condition and completeness (or otherwise) prior to bidding.

Accompanying documents include a current V5C Registration Certificate; a photocopy of the previous owner's old V5; previous owners' purchase receipts; the Chris Walker sales invoice; sundry invoices; a quantity of expired MoTs and tax discs; and an owner's manual. It should be noted that the V5C records the frame number as 'ZDM888511491', whereas the actual number is 'ZDM888S1*001491*', and omits the 'ZDM888W4B' engine prefix.
Offered with key