Just took advantage of the evening sunshine to have my first proper ride on the 900ss ie. Started out, predictably I guess, cold and rattling like a a bag of spanners. But then it transformed. Once it felt some warmth, took in some heat, then...wow, what a wonderful thing. I have an 848 streetfighter and an 848 Evo Corse SE and in this you can feel the DNA. It shares so much of its character with these modern bikes but is so much more besides. Its better for being harder to ride. Loses nothing without the electro trickery of traction control, slipper clutch and all the guff that comes with modern bikes. I feel like I have missed out by heading straight for the new stuff. Why didn't someone tell me how wonderful the 2Vs are. I want to, got to, ride it more. I need to make room in the garage for a 750 carby.
Congrats there, mate. I had a go on an 1199 3 weeks ago and was thinking the other way against my IE! No engine shudder, no engine braking, smoother gearbox, very comfy. I have a carby SS too. it doesn't ride as well as the IE. Feels exactly like what it is, the previous generation of what you have got. So I butchered mine into a cafe racer. It's all about the pose on those bikes. I must confess I am wishing I had just restored it and sold it to a poseur now, though! What's the history / condition etc of your IE? Hard to tell in the pic but it looks spotless from the distance it is.
It is pretty much clean as whistle. 12000 miles, full history, 2 owners from new in 2000. Had a leak from the clutch slave that attacked some of the area above the side stand. All in all, it's really excellent. Think the whole cafe racer/custom thing has run its course. Everything is too expensive, especially when many of them are pretty much cut and cobbled together. The manufacturers are on it now. Oh and I am sick of the sight of beards and bloody Brylcream. You mark my words, the sport bike is on it's way back.
You made me think - "Why butcher into a cafe racer?" rather than "Why not butcher into a streetfighter?". I know this may seem depraved, but I find my SSie so uncomfortable now that it's hard to appreciate the rest of its character; I can live with the shudders and clunks - the noise, handling, etc. make up for that. It didn't take long to find this: MD Project: Ducati Supersport Streetfighter « MotorcycleDaily.com – Motorcycle News, Editorials, Product Reviews and Bike Reviews
Just read the link above. And it looks like a lot of effort to end up with a 750 Monster. Why not just buy a ...Monster. I also found the 900 ss ie pretty comfortable. I just committed to it, trapped the tank between my big British belly and stumpy knees, loosened my grip on the bars and it was great.
Absolutely. For me the Trellis frame of the SS doesn't suit the café racer look, especially naked. Half fairings at least are needed I reckon.
What I miss about my carby SS is the soundtrack. I had an open airbox and race cans on it and it sounded just wonderful. The 999 I have now is a much, much better bike and I have a straight through exhaust, so it sounds pretty good but the long air runners totally kill any induction roar and that's a real shame.
Had mine since 03. Do a bit to it every year. Made my own handlebar conversion with a carby yoke drilled and threaded with cut down pitbike risers. I was shopping for a monster and test rode a 750 but found the steering slow for what was going to be a town bike. This came up half done and rode so much better.
Love all the polished metal and the seat. Trying to find an already painted rear seat cowl for mine. I would always at least keep the half fairing. To be honest yours looks much better than the one in the link I read earlier. I also like the high level end cans.
Painting alloy casings seems to almost promote corrosion. Leaving them unpainted or polished could be the way to go. I think it was the Japanese who started painting them in the 60s. Painted cases were pretty rare before that.
Just searching round to see if a 749 tail could be worked to fit the 900ss ie and I have found this. It's an 800ss ie and I think it looks great.
Maybe my belly is not big enough! I haven't yet found a way to sit comfortably anyway. But I take your point - I think a better look would include something like the standard fairing, cut away as necessary. Those handlebar kits are available for Monsters too, so I guess some find them uncomfortable too.
Shaun, I find the standard seat so handy and also looks good imho. I've stuffed 2 x waterproofs, tools and tripwire lock in the pods.
It's the first bike I've had that can carry something under the seat. It is very handy for a can of beer and twenty tabs
As ShaunR I carry waterproofs under my seat,Ihad a GSXR750wt and could carry my lunch and a drink under the seat hump .
