1993 Ducati 888 SPO (Schuetze Collection)

Description

Please note: This is part of the Damon Schuetze collection.

Typically we ask sellers to include a starting video or allow us to include one when we list a motorbike to ensure the motor is good but the seller had all these bikes professionally prepped for storage and wants to keep them that way. He had the bikes inside his home so they are dry on fuel and ready to add into a collection or get running again (Iconic is happy to help with that). Iconic sold him the GSX-R750RK, the ZX-7RR and the 1986 Suzuki RB50 GAG so we have prior running videos of those in our archives but the rest came from other sources. Adam knows many of these bikes from seeing them in the past as he nearly bought the RC45 from Bob Weaver, remembers the OW01 at a live auction, and a couple of the others. They are from credible sources even before the seller acquired them and again, we’d love to get them prepped to ride again for the buyer if he/she elects to do so.

Click here for an VINData Motorcycle History Report on this 1993 Ducati 888 SPO. Additional photos are available here for your perusal.

By 1992, when Pierre Terblanche gave the 851 a facelift, Ducati had firmly established a line of SP (Sport Production) homologation specials based on the line. The Italian firm debuted the SP5 for 1993, however they were not able to get it to pass US Department of Transportation regulations, so they created the SPO (Sport Production Omologato) for Americans that year.

The 888 produced 94 horsepower thanks to the iconic desmo valve V-Twin. Slight improvements contributed to a quarter mile time of 10.81 seconds on the way to a top speed of 157 miles per hour.

The SPO blended the Strada engine with several upgrades from the SP5, such as the single seat, upswept exhaust, and Ohlins shock with ride height adjustment.

In a 1993 comparison story, Cycle World summed up the 888 SPO as “a Superbike racer traveling incognito, with a headlight and turn signals included to keep the Department of Transportation happy. It is among the very best sportbikes in the world, regardless of engine type, regardless of country of origin…the 888 is one of those rare motorcycles whose limits are so high that you’d be foolish to try to get near them on the street.” Ducati backed that up on the track, winning the 1993 World Superbike Manufacturer’s Championship. Doug Polen would also win the AMA Superbike Championship that year on a Ducati as well.

This example is VIN: ZDM1HB7R7PB000786. Per Damon, “I sold seven bikes (which included a Fireblade, a CRB600 that matched the Fireblade, and a bunch of Gixxers) to Chris Clovis and his partner, as part of an enticement for them to sell me my 888 SPO. They had just bought a big collection of Ducatis out of California and they had two 888 SPO’s but didn’t want to sell any of their bikes. I offered him a chance to do some trading for the 7 extra bikes I got from Jay and they ended up selling me the SPO so they could buy those bikes from me.”

The odometer shows 3,479 miles.

Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us perform a safety inspection. Our service department notes the following in their condition report:

Gas Tank Internal: Signs of rust
Tire Year Front: 1200 / Rear: 4999
Tire Life Front: 90% / Rear: 90%
Tire Press Front: 30PSI / Rear: 30PSI
Brake Life Front; 90% / Rear: 90%
Hydraulic Brake Fluid Front: Ok Rear: Ok Clutch: Ok
Oil Quality: Ok Level: Ok
Coolant Quality: Fail due to age Level:Ok
Low Beam: N/A
High Beam: N/A
Turn: N/A
Tail Light: N/A
Brake Light: N/A
Plate Light: N/A
Kill: N/A
Horn: N/A
Fork: Ok
Shock/s: Ok
Drive Chain: Ok
Battery: N/A
Notes: DID NOT START *NO BATTERY*

Services Recommended:
• Install Battery
• GTL Clean
• Change All Fluids
• Replace Timing Belts
• New Tires

Modifications:
Fast by Ferracci mufflers.

Battery tender lead.

Tank pad.

Inside of the tank:

It is riding on Michelin Pilot Sport tires that have aged out.

The sale includes one key and the owner’s manual.

Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:

Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California (please make an appointment for an inspection), this Ducati is offered on a clean Montana title. Have any 888 SPO stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!