Ducati SS/SP recommendations

The 900ss was a great bike. Not very powerful but perfectly balanced motorcycle with a great, tunable motor, comfortable riding position and that Ducati red (or yellow) paint.

In the USA, the run was from 91 to 98, I think. Early models had white frames and white lettering. Somewhere around 94 -95 they switched to gold frames and lettering.

The US models were SS/SP and SS/CR. The SS/SP had a full fairing, adjustable showa forks and aluminum swingarm. The SS/CR had non adjustable showa or Marzocchi(?) forks, half fairing and steel swingarm.

92/93 there was a limited edition Superlight. The 92 SL had a white frame, full bodywork in yellow, 3 piece marvic magnesium wheels, carbon clutch cover, single seat and upswept pipes.

Hard to find good, unmolested examples these days but. Air/oil cooled 2 valve motor that I just love.

I've owned several over the years and will eventually have another (unless I find a good 851/888/750F1...etc.)

 

900SS is in the sweet spot between vintage $ Ducatis and modern bikes.
More comfortable and you can ride it without fear of depreciating it.
Hyperbikes are an ego stroke but the air cooled Ducs are plenty fast.

 

great and accurate post.

 

Supersport was styled by Miguel Galuzzi, who also did the Monster for Ducati, the current Aprilia RSV4, and the gorgeous new Guzzi crusier.

'94-on SS/SP was basically a Superlight without the modular wheels, most were red but there are yellow SP's as well. 1997 had the Final Edition that was monoposto in silver.

If you choose a CR, go for 1994-95 if possible. All had non-adjustable Marzocchi forks, but earlier versions were at least rebuildable and could be set up for one setting. Later model forks were more difficult to modify damping other than oil weight.

There was also a 750SS, some had 5-speed transmissions, some only had one front disc. An excellent resource is Ian Faloon's "Two Valve Belt Drive Twins" and the Haynes manual.
Ducati Belt-Drive Two-Valve Twins Motorcycle Restoration Guide: Ian Falloon: 9781937747114: Amazon.com: Books
Ducati 600, 620, 750 & 900 '91 TO '05 (Haynes Service & Repair Manual): Haynes: 9781844252770: Amazon.com: Books

You can also find many old service and parts manuals at ducnu
duc.nu>> ducati workshop-, electronic-, spare parts catalogs, owners- & user manuals

'98-06 saw the new Terblanche body style and fuel injection for all. These can be bought often very cheap and perform well. Eventually the 750/900 became an 800/1000. The 620 was offerred only one year (2004 IIRC) and only came in matte silver.

In my experience the maintenance requirements of Ducatis are overblown, it is much easier to own one today than it was when I first got mine 17 years ago. So many more online resources and parts sources. Desmodue are pretty simple machines. Make sure the cam belts are changed on time and valve adjustments are done (easy on 2-valvers) and it should last a long time.

 

I had a 93 ss which had the pretty silver frame and the black wheels from the factory. my bike was equipped with marchesini 3 spoke mags, dot race rubber, floaters, billet rear sets, termignoni hi pipes, clip ons, mono-posto tail section 944cc w/ cams and carbs. it was the most fun I ever had w/ a road bike!!!

the looks today remain soooooooo classic to me!!! not much out there that could be described as prettier.

find a really good one and don't be afraid of paying too much...then keep it!!!

 

I had an early SS (full fairing looked like the sp) I think it was a 91. White frame/black wheels. I added the cylinder temp gauge that came on the later (like 96?) bikes. Jetted, super traps, & geared a little lower. Shoulda never sold it. I want to get another one!

 

If your location is Chicago, I would call Geoff Mellinger over at MCC and let him know your parameters. He may know of someone looking to sell or have something coming in on trade.

 

Between the 9x6 Superbikes and the 900SS/SP/FE/Superlight family, I'd happily buy another 900SS or Superlight, hands down. In a time long before my kids were born, I was lucky enough to have a Monster 900, a 916, and a Superlight in the garage at the same time, keeping the Aprilia RS250 company. The Superlight was my favorite of all of them by a long shot. A set of 41mm Keihin flat slides and going up 1 tooth on the rear sprocket is all it takes to wake these bikes up. The JE high compression pistons are nice too, but not necessary. They are simple to maintain and their light weight makes them a joy to ride on back roads where handling is more important than outright speed.
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Geoff is the guy that was responsible for my getting into ducati from the start! a great guy!!

 

I'm jealous! My dream garage would include a 998 and 900SS Superlight, and a 888.

Did you sell all of these?

 

Yes, but like all things, with enough patience, they can all be re-purchased again over time. 900 Superlight #712 now lives in a private collection about 15 minutes away from my house and I have been bugging its owner to sell it back to me.

Heads up to ndpendant the OP: Scan the Craigslist ads for Long Beach California. A very nice, low mileage, 1998 900SS FE came up for sale a few weeks ago. Asking price was around $6900.

 

My first Duc was a 96 900 SS/SP. I loved it! Comfortable enough to ride 500-600 miles in a day and handled well enough for my abilities. I ended up totalling it but I would still like to get another. I miss my 748 alot too but it wasn't comfy enough to warrant another one as I approach 40.

 

I personally wouldn't go for the silver bike pictured on Ebay right now you have shown. Owner says it is a '93 SS/SP, unfortunately that doesn't exist. '91-93 had full and half-fairing 900SS without other upgrades which came in '94. If nothing else, it has obviously been repainted (probably crashed) with questionable graphics. He is extremely optimistic at $8500. More like half that.

The 97 monoposto 900SS/Sp in your picture (also on Ebay) might be a good possibility. Tail has been replaced, but that was not uncommon to go mono back in the day. A few companies made carbon tails for it and they look great.

The 916 might be a possibility with the obvious upgraded suspension and wheels. Someone, sometime in the last 20 years has spent money on the bike. Seeing the hideous chrome mirrors though makes me wonder if it was the current owner. A careful eye would be needed for that bike to ensure it wasn't once a race/track bike or abused. Some would say those mirrors constitute abuse...

More possibilities that are realistically priced. The bottom value for a good rider is about $3.5-4k up to $7k for a trule exceptional bike. They were never super-plentiful and only more rare now.
http://www.ducati.ms/forums/128-bikes/233905-sale-trade-93-900ss-very-nice.html
http://www.ducati.ms/forums/128-bikes/232401-fs-1992-ducati-900ss.html


Much more expensive, but what a bike...
http://www.ducati.ms/forums/128-bikes/131198-fs-1993-888-spo.html

 

I sincerely miss my '96 SP...amazing bike. I sold it a few years ago after having it for almost a decade.

The sound from the Titanium D&Ds sounded like a 427 Cobra.

Maintenance wasn't too bad either. It can be done at home. I think I had the Duc dealer do my timing belts right before I sold it for $185.

Great choice and good luck!

LS

 

Let me help feed your addiction with some Superlight porn

Hard to believe that many of the 900SS bikes are now creeping up on 20 years old. As mentioned somewhere in a previous post, the rear aluminum swingarm cracking at the pivot point and the head stud issues were real problems for Ducati, but I think as they got to the last years of production, they had it solved. I do not recall any issues of this type being reported on the 98 FE. I had both failure modes occur on my Superlight and luckily, since the 900SS was still in production when I owned mine, the local dealer (Pro Italia) was able to at least get the parts covered under a goodwill warranty and I paid for the labor. Perhaps I was just lucky, but I never had any problems with the Marvic wheels. I was super careful about checking the bolt tightness regularly.
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I have a 900 ss/sp...97 I think. Have the carbon solo seat installed and the original.
Red with few upgrades.
Low mileage... around 4k.
Been in display not on the road... just need a fresh battery.

May sell...

 

along with my 888, the 900SL is among my all time faves!!!

 

really try to find a good one. you will not be disappointed. I wish I had my 93 back in the garage. it was a beauty and a wheelie machine!!! good times!!!!