Hi all! i've recently bought a 1999 748SPS in beautiful yellow and have a couple of issues i'd like to sort with some advice please if poss; rev counter- seems a little lazy, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt show the true revs the engine is doing. i'm aware of the potential issues of the rectifier/alternator and havent as yet checked the actual charging voltage, but any pointers with regard to this? o.e bolts- i want to replace a few of the o.e bolts and fasteners that are a bit manky or rounded off. (rear caliper mounting bolts spring to mind to start with). ducati or other dealer? i have a stock of stainless allen cap etc for some but would prefer to retain some of the original type fasteners if poss. rockers- mines had one replaced a bit back at ducati manchester at its 12k service, soon as i got it i changed the oil and filter and checked the oil strainer i found some chrome flakes. whether or not it wasnt cleaned out i cant be sure, so it may also be another rocker flaking away. re-tip the originals via newman cams or buy new? the bike is generally in beautiful condition and i just want to make it as mint as i can within reason while still enjoying it. i've changed the rear brake hose and fluid, and am going to change the clutch fluid which looks a bit dark. rear tyre is almost done, its going to get swapped ready for its upcoming mot next month. overall its everything i hoped for (and expected!) from my first ducati.
Chris, amongst other things the rev counter issue could be dirty or damaged connections at one of three connectors plugs between the ecu and the rev counter itself. They are 8 way just under the back right hand side of the fuel tank, the big round one just under teh front right and side of the fuel tank and the one in teh head shell where the rev counter lead plugs in. The usual one is the round one, open that one up to start with and look very carefully at the pins on both sides of the connector. Look very carefully at the pins that are connected to black earth wires. If you don't have a digital voltmeter spend 20 quid as you will need one. Charging voltage with the engine on fast tickover and a goodish battery should be >13.5 and <14.5v
thank you will have a look. i have a multimeter so will check when i get 5 mins. have managed to pick up a water temp gauge via fleabay, and some rear caliper bolts as mine were chewed up.
I too have a 1999 748SPS, so you might be interested that if it's a genuine UK model they are very rare, only 20 were imported in that year and 40 the year before. Do you have any of the extras that came with them, which is the paddock stand, a yellow dust cover (all the bikes were Yellow) and a set of Carbon Termi's and the chip to accompany them. If so this will add to the value They cost £12,250 to £12,500 new, mines definitely a keeper and a great bike to ride.
hi Red! thanks for that. i'm pretty certain its a genuine SPS, cant see any reason why it isnt as its all original by the look of it. i have a red ducati paddock stand and its got the carbon termis and a chip fitted, altho i dont have a spare chip if thats what it should have with it? i dont have the yellow cover unfortunately, just a generic blue bike cover is there anything that designates the sps from the frame number etc? the previous owner had the bike 6 yrs and was a genuine guy, i've no reason to think its been made into one etc but interested in finding out more, i didnt realise they were that rare. have you seen my pics of it on here? regards chris
yea i intend having the covers off etc and doing a check of the rockers. it had one done at the last big service, you would have thought they would have cleaned out the strainer at the time. i've swapped the cracked water temp gauge and had a new tyre fitted. the alternator is charging fine and the rev counter is behaving since i unplugged and checked the connections etc. the bike handles like a dream. i need to check and find out about setting it up for my weight etc, but its not far off as it came. thanks for the help!
Here's an SPS for sale on eBay. It's a genuine SPS by the look of it but it is missing some of it's original parts as certain items have been changed\upgraded, front mudguard, steering damper, rearsets, Marchesini wheels. It wouldn't take much to get it back to factory trim but you can bet he hasn't got the paddock stand, dust cover and the original exhausts and chip. Last time it didn't sell for £2750 so I am not sure what it will go for this time, if at all. A good buy for someone, currently at £2550 Ducati 748 SPS rare find! Stunning £1 start no reserve 3 DAY AUCTION | eBay And here's one that isn't, it's probably an SP. No floating discs, wrong side panels from an early bike, wrong year! and an import. I wonder how many of the bidders realise it! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ducati-74...4274340?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item1c3391c0a4
Mine has the original service book from the supplying Ducati dealer with stamps etc and its all listed as a 748sps. Its got the 3 spokes which have been powder coated black otherwise its standard as far as I can see.
And here's one that isn't, it's probably an SP. No floating discs, wrong side panels from an early bike, wrong year! and an import. I wonder how many of the bidders realise it! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ducati-748SPS-Yellow-Immaculate-10645-miles-Buy-it-ride-it-home-and-have-fun-/121124274340?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item1c3391c0a and didn't sell again at £2900.
It certainly looks genuine, welcome to the club. Here's an extract from the Standard catalogue of Ducati motorcycles showing how many were made for the 1999 year. They were produced in 1998. The other 80 were produced in 1997 (40) and 1998 (40) for the 1998 model year. It is a UK model as well, clearly not an import.
excellent! thanks for that. knew they were rare, but hadn't realised just how rare! the rear tyre was a michellin hi-sport, 7 or 8 yrs old, the tyre fitter laughed when he saw it. the bike has done less than 1k in the last 6 yrs, and did 6m last yr! any suggestions as to which parts to stock up on if i can lay hands on them, specific to the sps that are becoming unobtainable? i'd really like to get hold of an original cover and paddock stand if one comes up, just for completeness.
also if anyone has the specific sps workshop manual in pdf to download etc that would be appreciated.
The stand is just the standard Gold Ducati stand that was an option on bikes at the time, it's not anything special. You could probably pick one up for £30ish. They are only really sought after because they are Gold and the same colour as the frame. The cover is not special in that it only says Ducati 748 on it and not SPS. They are super rare and I got one from eBay a few years back. It is almost like a kitchen wash cloth material (seriously) to look at as it is fully vented. The problem is, probably like wash cloths! they literally dissolve over time. The chances of finding a perfect one now I would think are remote. If you ever find one grab it and probably don't use it! otherwise it will fall to bits. My one has sadly now started to dissolve quite badly, in other words nice to have but probably not worth really searching high and low for one. One real rarity if you don't have it is the Handbook, they were unique to the SPS and nothing else. Grab one if you can get it or see if Ducati still have them for sale. It all goes to provenance. There is no special workshop manual for an SPS that I know of and I just use a stock 748/9*6 manual Hope this helps.
