Description
Additional photos of this Ducati 851 SP3 are available here for your perusal.
The 851 was a quantum leap for Ducati, with a new trellis frame, 4-valve heads, liquid cooling, fuel injection, and a dry clutch – it formed the blueprint for decades of Ducati Superbikes.
As Steve Rose put it in his 851 Buyer’s Guide for Bennetts, “Ducati’s 851 might not have shifted many units but it still managed to change motorcycling, save Ducati and make Superbike racing ten times more interesting.”
Throughout the run of 851/888s, Ducati released seven “Special Production” runs designed for homologation purposes. 534 of them were under the 851 SP3 moniker. The SP3 retained several key parts from the SP2 – the 888cc motor, close-ratio transmission, Ohlins suspension, and Brembo brakes…
…but it got additional upgrades such as a carbon fiber front fender, remote master cylinders, and stronger clutch/crankcases. Whether or not you think the black wheels are an upgrade – well, that’s subjective. What’s not subjective was the power bump to 111 hp thanks to a 11:1 compression ratio.
This SP3 (VIN: ZDM888S*0000980*/DGM528390M) is #360 of the 531 ever built, and it’s offered on MSO.
It shows just 8 kilometers (5 miles) on the odometer, and it has spent all of its life in a private collection until it came to us to be auctioned.
It’s already an amazing display piece, but our White Glove service can help if you’d like to make this a runner instead!
