Please bear with me if this has been asked a million times before but my little mind has been wondering today... Setting the scene I want to build an "ultralight" 900ss & with this in mind I have just bought a 900ss which someone has already fitted FCR39s & an Ohlins rear shock. Result. I'm now after a set of lightweight wheels (see other post) & perhaps some upgraded forks. So, new OZ or Dymag wheels are in the region of £2,500.00 here in the UK so I'm thinking what if I buy a tatty ST4S for about £3,000.00 I can keep the Marchesini wheels & the forks (if they can be made to fit) & then sell off the rest of the bike (916 motor, Ohlins shock, frame, bodywork etc) & effectively get the bits I need for not much money. Has anyone done this? Does it actually work? Thoughts? Any other ideas for a cost effective way of getting what I want? Cheers
You can make pretty much anything fit if you really want to with bearing spacers and shims (though I have yet to see a sssa wheel in a conventional swingarm) but the ST rear axle size is a problem on to the standard 900ss swingarm. Plus the ST4s wheels are not much lighter.
Was this bike someone's on here?. I think it started as a 900ss and ended up with a st3 engine? And carbon wheels etc. I reckon it would be fabulous to ride. I've been looking for a nice superlight for a while, but there's none about. I've thought of buying a SS and trying to create my own vision. The main problems are I've no real mechanical knowledge and a single garage with no room so I would have to pay someone to do all the fettling which I'm sure would soon make the costs spiral out of control
Thanks Sev for the comprehensive reply, lots to digest there! One further question please as you seem to have loads of experience with FCRs; would you recommend me improving the stock ignition coils & if so to what?
Couldn't agree more, the standard Kokusan system on a standard compression engine is only just up to the job at the best of times (imo).
I looked into the wheels a few years back, before buying Oz Piegas for my carby SS, which are a very noticeable improvement on the standard wheels. I also have the Marchesinis on my SS ie, these wheels are not as light. I've also had an ST4s in the past and again, these were not that light. For the Piegas I had to change the front spindle as they don't do a small bore. If you want to make a decent saving on the wheels, you can always get a fork swap which allows different options, or even wheels from a fireplace have been used (forget where I saw details) I have first, they are 41mm and a great upgrade, with this I have a lightened flywheel, like @Sev describes. Providing the spark is an Ignitech, and Nology coils (brilliant) Good weight saving is a lithium battery, a few have done this already (not me), and lightweight wheels, the lightest which are Carbon £££. You really do notice an improvement in steering, braking and acceleration. All my body work is Ricambi Weiss, which is lighter than the standard stuff too as its thinner. Just a few ideas for you
Anyone know what engine casings are interchangeable on the air cooled 900ss. Basically just wanted some spares if anything happened to the 1992 ones I have. Cheers Gaz
There's casting differences over the models, but the ST2 ones will do. I have ST2 cases on mine as the originals got damaged. The ie cases also fit. Basically my cases and barrels are ST2 with 900 internals. I have a set of really good repainted cases from an ie if you are interested?
Many thanks for replies. Thanks for offer of casings but would like to stay with unpainted. Cheers Gaz
Just by way of an update on my original question about replacement wheels, these beauties arrived recently
Hi Ian, great stuff. Please keep us updated, as I've thought about the same project for a number of years! I came across a racebike 900ie that was 135kg! Wow! It was however running total loss ignition, and no flywheel (!).. instantaneous revs Cheers Grant
For me it was between OZ & Dymags, I must admit I didn’t even consider BST. I went for the Dymags as they were slightly lighter than OZ & I like the idea of being a little bit different
