How different were the Honda SP-1 & Ducati 996?
Engine
Both the Honda SP-1 and Ducati 996 use 90-degree liquid-cooled DOHC 8-valve V-twin engines, however the Honda has a 100 x 63.6mm bore and stroke (the biggest pistons Honda had used on a motorcycle) with a 999cc capacity where the 996 has 98 x 66mm dimensions and a 996cc capacity. Just like the previous RC30 and RC45 V4 machines, the Honda uses gear-driven cams on the SP-1 where the 996 has Ducati’s traditional cam belt-driven desmodromic system.
Tested power
On the dyno, the SP-1 made a genuine 122bhp with 74.2ftlb of torque where the 996 made 110bhp with 72.3ftlb of torque.
Fuel injection
The SP-1’s huge central air scoop channels air through the frame into the forced airbox where each cylinder has two fuel-injectors feeding 54mm throttle bodies. The Ducati has twin side-positioned air scoops with 54mm throttle bodies and also twin injectors per cylinder.
Chassis
Ducati stuck with the steel trellis and single-sided swingarm where Honda used an aluminium dual beam with an aluminium swingarm using the engine as a stressedmember. Both have 24.3° rake (Ducati’s is variable to 23.3°) but the SP-1 has a longer 100.5mm trail with the 996 running 94mm.
Radiators
Honda split the radiators on the SP-1 and side-mounted them to give more room behind the front wheel where the 996 runs a conventionally-located radiator. Both bikes run a very similar wheelbase, with Honda claiming 1409mm and Ducati 1410mm.
Suspension and brakes
Both run fully-adjustable 43mm Showa forks with a fully-adjustable Showa shock. Neither road bike has radial calipers, with the Honda running Nissin four-piston front brakes and the Ducati Brembos. Bayliss’s race bike gained radial Brembo brakes in 2000.