How Do You Feel About Your Ducati Ss Today?

Fairings gone. round headlight with fly screen.

 

I bought mine in 2009 when I was looking for an untidy Guzzi Le Mans to mess around with.........I couldn't find one at a sensible price for poor condition, but the Ducati cropped up.

Never bothered with one before; it's just a motorcycle........always favoured Guzzi and/or Kawasaki........I don't think I have changed my preferences, but I'll probably stick with the SS until I stop riding...............(unless an interesting swap or offer crops up)

Spent hours on this one cleaning and modding..........it used to be a 750 but it's now really a 900 with a 750 engine........or a 750 with the 900 spec.

I can swap fairings around so it's full or half and have collected loads of spare parts.........don't know why really, they only clutter the place up.

 

Well my love of the carby SS began in October 1999, on the way into the Copdock motorbike show. At the time I was riding a Kawasaki ZZR250 and I was restoring a 1955 tiger cub so had gone to the show in the car as I was after some bits from the auto jumble. As we were trying to get in there was a pair of 900's in the bike que trying to get in. Nearly everyone was looking at the Dukes, some lost in the beauty, the rest trying to work out where that rattle was coming from. So that was it, the 748 poster came down off the wall, but it was not till 2010 that I finally sold the ZZR and bought the 750 I have today. It's the only Ducati I have ever ridden, so don't have anything to compare it too duke wise, and it really needs a pair of tyres to bring it back to its best, but I wouldn't ever sell it. I added the SS junior last year and I hope this will be premiering at the afore mentioned Copdock bike show, it will be on the DOCGB stand if it gets through its MOT in early September, new rear tyre arrived today, just oil and filter change and it ready to go I hope. The white frame one is mine

 

I came back to active biking in 2011. I have always had a bike (or several) since 1959 but in about 2006 I gave up riding due to severe arthritis. In 2011 I couldn't resist a 600SS with only 5K miles on it and in mint condition. I still have it.
It didn't quite suit me because of that dead spot around 3.3K and 4k rpm. I purchased a ST2. Brilliant bike but heavy (I am 72 years old and the weight affects me.
In 2013 I bought a M750 Monster and found the best alround bike I have ever ridden and I use it all the year round.
There I was, 3 Ducatis but there was another itch to scratch. It got scratched when I bourght my 748. This is a real hooligan machine and I love it but still use the Monster most of the time.
I still have all 4 Ducati's along with 2 of my ex racers, A cammy Velocette and an Aermacchi.

 

I bought my '97 900ss in 2005. I'd had a 900 Darmah in the 80's but had been without a bike for 20 years. I saw and sat on a 900ss at the NEC in the mid 90's and lusted after one after that. With my family grown up and following a divorce I was able buy mine with 10k on the clock. Over the years I took the engine out to repaint it, stainless steel fasteners, fitted a stage 2 Dynojet kit with open air box, Pipercross filter and Arrow end cans. Also uprated the starter cables and fitted a new starter motor.
I would still have it now if some scrote hadn't nicked it last year, absolutely loved it and really miss it.
Photo is from the Super Sausage meet last year, my ss at the front.
Couldn't bring myself to buy another as it wouldn't be mine, so bought a Monster S4R, which I also really like and is more comfortable.

 

have owned the one on the left from new, 1992 carby standard save for Factory pro air corrector kit and swiss cheese airbox lid & Bos zorsts. Had a later swingarm but got fed up with the look of it, so back to std, was treated to new paint a few years back but sadly has seen very little use since. Doubt I'll sell it, ever, it's Family, maybe get buried with it when the time comes?
The right one is all wrong, self built hybrid Frankenstein, it's fitted with the early infection lump, weighs next to very little and goes too fast for the roads around here, I thought it would be the best of both worlds, too focussed in reality, (anyone want it?) come to think of it any Ducati I've owned has made little sense under 50mph.
WAH

 

[QUOTE="WAH900ss, post: 618512, member: 23047it?) come to think of it any Ducati I've owned has made little sense under 50mph.
WAH[/QUOTE]
Try a Monster.
From 20 mph to 100mph it's perfect after that the wind pressure become troublesome.. The only time that troubles me is on the Isle of Man but I still take it because it is magic on the road on the iside of the Island.

 

[/QUOTE]
Try a Monster.
From 20 mph to9 100mph it's perfect after that the wind pressure become troublesome.. The only time taht troubles me is on the Isle of Man but I still take it because it is magic on the road on the iside of the Island.[/QUOTE]

I get what you're saying, just never caught the monster vibe.

 

Huh hum mr snail
Only SS's please we are having a group moment
Plus your blue and we are red :Kiss::Spam:[/QUOTE]
I can do RED

 

I can do RED

Twice

 

And Yellow

 

I thought you like monster Ms Ducbird?? It's very blue but I quite like it. What's it like having a grave yard in your back garden Mr WAH, some where for the kids to play I guess. And no wheelie bins in the photos, we're doing well.

 

I just noticed there's a bin in one of my pics, Doh!

 

it's cool, neighbours are no trouble and surprisingly we never have callers at Halloween!

 

Why made you first buy it?
I've always liked them but never saw them as an "only bike" option as I like to commute by bike too.
A couple of years ago go the chance to apply n+1 and bought a 95 carby as a 2nd bike. then last winter, again under the n+1 rule, I bought another. One is being turned into an "Ultralight" for track and occasional road use and and the other was bought to restore to a robust Superlight spec


How does your bike make you feel today?
The ultralight is behind schedule but it makes me smile everytime I open the garage door. The 900 is still glowing in the achievement of doing 6 sessions at Pembrey without anything falling off or going bang

How long have you owned it?
2 years for the ultralight project and 6 months for the standard 900

Do you plan on changing?
No, these are keepers. I'm lucky enough to have a Commuter / tourer bike as well so these will be ridden for fun

What changes would you make if any?
The ultralight has Supermono replica bodywork, and lots and lots of other non standard stuff
The standard 900 will get a restoration to stanard-ish spec, but will probably be a mash up of Mk1- Mkv specs and colour combos