In 1996, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer launched the Ducati 916SP, a fully faired sports motorcycle that debuted in 1994. The 1996 motorcycle featured the same visual and performance specifications as its predecessors without any significant changes.
In the visual department, the 1996 Ducati 916SP was fitted with standard features, such as a full fairing with a small windscreen, a dual headlight system, a single seat, an under-seat-mounted exhaust system, a single-sided swingarm, and three-spoke alloy wheels.
The bike's suspension comprised a 43 mm fully adjustable USD TiN-coated Showa fork with 127 mm wheel travel on the front and an adjustable Ohlins shock absorber with a progressive linkage and 130 mm wheel travel on the rear, delivering excellent handling capabilities.
As for braking power, the bike packed 320 mm discs with four-piston calipers on the front wheel and a 220 mm disc with a dual-piston caliper on the rear wheel, delivering excellent stopping power.
In the performance department, the 1996 Ducati 916SP had its soul brought to life by a 916cc four-stroke liquid-cooled V-twin engine with a fuel injection system feeding the pistons, boasting 131 hp with a peak at 10,500 rpm and 99 Nm (73 lb-ft) torque at 7,000 rpm.
The bike's engine was coupled to a six-speed manual transmission with a hydraulically controlled dry clutch, linked to the rear wheel through a final chain drive, pushing the machine to a top speed of 269 kph (167 mph).