Beschreibung:

One of the most influential motorcycles of recent times, the Ducati ‘851’ restored the fortunes of the Italian company and paved the way for its highly successful family of superbikes, the latest addition being the ‘1098’. In developing the original 851, engineer Massimo Bordi created one of the finest motorcycle power plants ever. By the mid-1980s, Ducati’s existing air-cooled 4-valve twins were approaching the end of their development, so Bordi started with a clean sheet in creating their water-cooled, 8-valve, fuel-injected successor. Ducati’s trademark desmodromic valve actuation system, which closes the valves mechanically rather than relying on springs, was retained, as was the 90-degree angle between the cylinders. Wrapped around this outstanding engine was a frame, consisting of an intricate trellis of straight tubes, whose design has since become standardised throughout the Ducati range. Of course, its technical specification would have counted for little had the 851 not been able to demonstrate its superiority on the racetrack. As if intended to help Ducati (which they almost certainly were) the rules for the new World Superbike Championship allowed twins of up to 1,000cc to compete against 750cc fours. Ducati made the most of this capacity advantage, kicking off the inaugural Championship with victory in the opening round at Donington Park in April 1988. Works rider Marco Lucchinelli took the honours aboard an over-bored and race-kitted version of the Ducati 851 roadster, and the following year the factory announced what would be the first of many ‘limited edition’ models - the ‘Lucchinelli Replica’. In 1990 Ducati replaced the Luccinelli Replica with the competition-only Corsa, the first in a series of such machines based on the preceding year’s works racers. Like the Replica, the Corsa used the 888cc engine, which also went into the limited edition, higher-specification ‘SP’ series of Ducati roadsters. Too good to reserve purely for limited production, the 888cc engine eventually went into the 851’s replacement – the 888 – in 1993. This pristine 888 was sold new in the UK in 1994 by Moto Cinelli, official Ducati importers at the time. The current (third) owner bought the machine from the immediately preceding owner (the proprietor of DNA Motorcycles, Croydon) in February 1999. Ridden only infrequently since then because of the vendor’s ill health, it has covered a mere 9,217 miles from new. Accompanying history includes the original stamped service booklet, sundry service invoices and four expired MoTs, the most recent of which was issued in May 2002 at 9,206 miles. New cam belts were fitted at the most recent service in 2002/2003 and the machine has been kept off the road on SORN since then. Fitted with Datatag security, this immaculate Ducati 888 is offered with Swansea V5 registration document and represents an opportunity to acquire an early example of an iconic modern Ducati that can only become increasingly collectible.