I normally stick to genuine Ducati parts because as a rule, I don't find them much more expensive than alternatives. However, I refuse to pay the best part of £20 for a genuine Ducati fuel filter when it's made by Mahler (metal cased model number KL 145 - it's even marked as such on the genuine Ducati filter!) and can be bought from Opie Oils for nearly HALF the price. I actually bought a UFI equivilent - model number 31.760.00 (Guzzi usually use UFI filters and Ducati Mahler) as it was a few quid cheaper still at £18 odd for TWO delivered and they came within 48 hours too! Fitted it today and can confirm that it is exactly the same dimensions as the 'Ducati/Mahler' one I removed and in fact is identical to the one fitted to my old ST4 too. I had found some vague references on the internet to the Mahler KL 145 as an alternative on a 750ss, so I thought that I'd confirm that it is correct for the 900ss Carb, ST4 and probably any others using the metal-cased fuel filter. Hope this helps in these hard times :smile:
I use the Mahle KL145 on my 916 - exactly the same as the Ducati part (which is also made by Mahle) and also used on some Triumphs and BMWs but, as you say around half-price.
You're better off to do what we racers do on the dD bikes.....take the original filter out, replace it with a length of fuel proof hose, and put a £3 inline filter in from Halfords, it means you dont spend hours getting that tank top off and back, and can change the filter in 2 minutes, as well as seeing when its full of crap......
I do find the small fuel filters restrictive, for the sake of taking the lid off just put a mahle one in, good reason to check for the rust worm in the tank.
