I've got a notion to thin out the fleet a little, but I'm having difficulty trying to decide how to cut the decision, so I think one way to progress the conversation is to put it out here to see where the conversation goes. I'm not in a hurry, and don't need to sell - I'm just thinking about plans a few years ahead of time, and considering that it might be useful to have some additional space in the garage. I'm also not planning on selling them all: I like them all, but I guess I'm finding it difficult to choose between my three favourite children (*cough*bikes). I've used these bikes throughout my ownership of them - not large amounts of mileage - they are very much "sunny weather" rides, and as a result, they are all in fabulous condition. All the spannerwork has been done by myself, with full written records of what has been done, when (although I'm not a mechanic by trade, I have a home workshop and have been working on ducs for 20+ years). I'll leave these summary descriptions here for a month or so and if anyone has a serious interest in one of them, I'll prepare more photos/videos for a direct and detailed conversation, and provide further detail (history, mileage, etc). I'm based in central Scotland, and happy to assist with shipping (including internationally) at the purchaser's cost, though the bike will not leave without payment in full for obvious reasons. I'm also happy to service/replace belts at cost price. Serious interest should reach out for a direct conversation (which can be moved to email/whatsapp/phone). Banter and tyrekicking should remain on this thread Regards, Mike 1993 888 SP5 - Guide Price £19k Very good cosmetic condition. The crankcases have been changed at some point in its' life before me, no doubt due to early life roller bearing failure, and there is a tiny amount of evidence of some cosmetic issue associated with such trauma, but you need to know where to look. It also benefits from a super-lightweight flywheel helping the engine spin up *really* quickly, and the front brake is a period AP racing unit. I've had this bike for 17 or 18 years, and it has been a solid performer throughout. The swingarm was replaced two years ago, after I discovered the dreaded pivot crack in the previous one. Cherished number plate of "B88 ***" also included. 1994 916 Strada (Varese) - Guide Price £15k I'd say this was pretty good cosmetic condition. Fitted with a 50mm exhaust (and matching "open exhaust" chip). There is some slight discolouration on the rear wheel paint, but not particularly intrusive. The front discs are full floaters, and there has been an adjustable lever been fitted at some point in its' life. I've had this bike for about 16 or 17 years, and the only thing that has gone wrong with it is the standard reg/rect failure, where I replaced the reg/rect with a modern unit and has been fine ever since. 1994 Bimota DB2SR 944 - Guide Price £12k There were only 147 DB2SR's ever produced, and this is one of them. It benefits from a 944 conversion - I did this work as a covid project, and took the opportunity to fit a much better ECU than the original, allowing it to be in a better state of tune (there's a long thread about this bike that I posted elsewhere). Though it's not in the photo below, it has an open/carbon exhaust that I imported from Japan - it's not quite as loud as the 888, but it's pretty close.
I have a soft spot for the 888 SP4, newly buying one a long time ago. One of my regrets and leave an itch. I did look into trying go to afford one when I hit my Pani R but I could only afford a Strada. Maybe one day I’ll get to swing a leg over one an maybe a 916 to see what they are like. They always say don’t meet your hero’s but I really want to… It’s a lovey but also tormenting position to be in. Good luck with it and your future projects
I went through exactly this mental anguish experience with the 916 when I got it - it was embarrassing how long it sat in my garage before I finally rode it.
Great choice of sunny-day bikes. My wrists are aching just looking at them. With the state of the UK classic bike market, and the tax and tariff issues with most bigger markets overseas, hope you are lucky finding a genuine buyer who values them as you do and not the “£5k today m8” types that are everywhere. I think would be tempted to bring them into the house on display stands as objects of desire.
Surprisingly, I only find the 916 to be challenging on my middle-aged wrists. The 888 and DB2 are absolutely fine.
