Ducati 888

The Ducati 888 is a motorcycle manufactured by Ducati between 1991 and 1994 as an upgrade to the Ducati 851. The earlier 851 had introduced liquid cooling, computerized fuel injection and four-valve heads to the company's two cylinder motors. In 1991 Ducati increased the capacity of the 851 to 888 cc to create the 888. Both engines featured the Desmoquattro valvetrain concept in which a four valve per cylinder motor was given desmodromic valve actuation, with cams both opening and closing the valves. Ducati's desmodromic system reduces the frictional penalty from conventional valve springs.

Production figures known for the various models are:

1991 models: 1200 × 851 Stradas, 534 × SP3 & 16 × SPS. A total of 1850 units.

1992 models: 1402 × 851 Stradas, 500 × SP4 & 101 × SPS. A total of 2003 units.

1993 models: 1280 × 888 Stradas, 500 × SP5 & 290 × SPO - for the American market. A total of 2070 units.

1994 models: 1571 × 888 Stradas & 100 SPO for the American market. A total of 1671 units. Over all years there was a grand total of 7594 units produced.

Riding the Ducati 888, Doug Polen won first place in the 1991 and 1992 World Superbike Championships. After losing to Kawasaki in the 1993 World Superbike Championship, Ducati ceased production of the Ducati 888 and released the Ducati 916 which had a larger engine capacity.

Continuing refinement yielded the next two generations of the Ducati Desmoquattro superbike, resulting in the 916/996 and 999 lines.

In a 1993 road test of the 888SPO, Cycle World measured a 0 to 1/4 mi time of 11.25 seconds at 123.45 mph, and a 0 to 60 mph acceleration of 3.3 seconds. They measured a top speed of 152 mph and a braking distance of 60 to 0 mph of 123 ft. The wet weight of their test bike was 497 lbs and the rear-wheel horsepower was 94.0 hp at 8,740 rpm, and torque was 59.4 lbft at 7,000 rpm.

Ducati said the 1992 racing version of the 888, the SBK had a dry weight of 142 kg and 134 hp at 12,000 rpm, and was capable of a top speed of more than 290 kph.

Racing history

 * 1991 Doug Polen - Ducati 888SBK
 * 1992 Doug Polen - Ducati 888SBK