Oooer, what about potential different damping/springs/oil weight and level?? Also: I thought that SPS models did not have "DOHC 4V" cast on the cylinder head cover.
The SPS does have "DOHC 4V" cast on the heads mine is exactly the same, it's the 748R that is "blank"
Not sure if its been mentioned all ready but the oil cooler in place is a good sign as it was my understanding that only the SPS and R had oil coolers! Could be wrong. R deffo had blank cam covers.
As far as I can find out, the only to tell an SPS from an SP is the cam ID- SPS cams are T1 cams with different profile. This apart, no easy way to differentiate, My SP /SPS has a. 1997 SP frame with the rest transplanted from a 1998 SPS - I suspect the owner has damaged the frame at some point and has re- Fred his machine - no way to tell an SP frame from an SPS one. If I had an R at least it'd have a plaque- but there again, no way to tell if someone's fiddled that!
The R is quite a bit different, although they are still a parts bin special depending on which day of the week they were screwed together depends what bits were on them. NIce bike glad you got there in the end.
The con rods are different between the 748SP and the 748SPS. They are both made by Pankl but SP's were steel (along with the very first sps's) and SPS's were titanium. The only way to tell would be to check the age of the engine number.
... And I'm not stripping it down just to confirm they're titanium! I have it on Ducati's authority that the engine no. is an SPS, which'll do for me!
Looks like another instance of trusting someone's expertise - the info on the cams came from the mechanic who serviced my SPS for the years before I got it- he confirmed its asPS-ness by means of the cams. On closer research these shouldn't be T1 as said above (SteveR) but have lift between the R and the standard cams Fortunately I have a Ducati to confirm the engine number and I'll just enjoy it for a while (assuming I get it all put together before the weather turns too cold.
Here's a link to the Sigma Performance site with a bit about the SPS. Some of the information is not quite correct as they did not have 45/50 mm cans supplied with the bike, they were supplied as new with 45 mm cans and a chip although many dealers kept the cans and chips and sold the bikes for the same price. Sigma Performance - Ducati 748SPS Tech
I have both SP and SPS cans, and the SPS ones have a 50mm internal diameter pipe compared to the SP ones which are smaller at 45 mm. Fortunately, I have the Termis and chip too. If anyone needs a pair of (almost unused) standard cans for an SP, PM me and they can be yours. They're left behind when I sold the SP.
Lifted from an earlier post by someone to this forum, which suggests it was the other way round, no matter not trying to be pedantic, but mine definitely came with stock cans and 45mm Carbon Termignoni pipes from new as it is one of the one hundred UK models imported mentioned. Ducati 748SPS (1997-1999) Only 100 were ever officially imported into the UK (3 of which have been purchased in the last 12 months by members of this forum.) 40 were produced in 1997 for the 98 model year, 40 in 98 for the same year and 20 in 1999. - Replaced SP in 1998. Now get twin pin Brembo calipers, 98 style graphics with just 'DUCATI' on the side fairing and no tank graphics - SP Steel rods replaced by SPS Titanium rods (NOT race rods, the same design as the BP rod but made from ti.) IMO not as good as the SP Rods but this allowed the crank to be very slightly lighter to balance. - Original Price from new: £12,250 Ducati 748SP (1995-1998 ) - Engine mods are to allow engine tuning within the supersport rules. - SP Camshafts - Longer duration, where most of the SP power comes from. - High Compression Pistons fitted as standard (although if you check the specs they only list at 0.2:1 different, the hi-comp pistons mean with the squish set correctly (factory is always out) you get a far better CR, (just under 12:1) - SP Con Rods - Steel, H section rods, allowing higher rev limits for racing, these rods are still considered up there with the best, made by Carillo, MUCH stronger than standard so allow sustained high revs. - Alloy sub-frame with mono seat. - Available in Yellow only - Cast iron Brembo fully floating discs, - Ohlins rear shock - Came with 45mm standard system but also with the 45-50mm link pipe (without baffles) and 50mm carbon Termignoni's. (most buyers were un-aware of this and the dealer/owners hang on the them or you find the normal 45mm termis fitted. - Came with yellow cover and rear paddock stand from new.
... Got the forks back today-unfortunately, despite the K-Tech stickers, they don't have K-Tech internals - presumably they'd only been serviced by a K-Tech agent! Still, I 'be now got a pristine set of forks, and have the others to sell off to someone who needs a pair of 748/916 40mm caliper forks
