Ducati Experts//QUICK!? 900SS

MotoSook · 06-13-2005, 09:01 PM

Were all the 900 SS the same as the 900SS/SP unless otherwise stated as the CR?

And did the earlier (up to '94) 900 SS have the swing arm mounted rear caliper w/o the tie rod?

It seems that the 900SS/SP's have the tie rod connected rear caliper and front carbon fiber fender. But the pictures I have seen have been all 95+. On the 91-93, did they not have the caliper tie rod?

Basically, I'm trying to decide if a local bike is a 900SS/SP variety. I haven't seen the bike in person, so I can't tell if the front shocks are adjustable. The pictures don't show the front shocks (top).

This bike has a full fairing, but the pictures don't show the caliper tir rod nor CF front fender.

Did they even make a 900SS CR in 93?

dd74 · 06-13-2005, 09:28 PM

Souk - I don't know squat about Ducs except that a friend of mine is moving to Santa Fe, NM, and taking his two Ducs with him. I finally got the chance to sit - just sit - on one of them. Man! And I thought steel frame bicycles with carbon forks felt good. This thing felt great!

MotoSook · 06-14-2005, 05:05 AM

Yeah David, I've been in love with them since I was in high school! I ride a Jap bike only because they're the only ones I can justify...BUT! I may be on a Duc soon

motion · 06-14-2005, 05:28 AM

Souk - I don't know anything about the SS bikes, having only owned the 998 and a Paso. These guys woud know and the board is very active:

www.clubdesmo.com

Good luck with the purchase if you go that way!

MotoSook · 06-14-2005, 05:35 AM

I lost my passward to the desmo and speedzilla forums, but I finally got a hold of the seller. The deal should go through unless...well, it's never done until I have the title.

Ducatitech has a good comparison of the 900SS SP versus CR, but it skims over some of the stuff, but I managed to piece things together overnight. So if things go well, I may have a motorcycle to sell...my lady says "only one motorcycle."

Damn! I really like the Ninja (the 750 is mean and fast! but I don't need to be going over 140 MPH much anymore

), but I think the Duc will fill my motorcycling needs better...and I can always find a cheap Ninja to hide at a buddie's garage after some time

vash · vash's Garage

souk, i had a CR. i also just came off a japanese bike (hondaF2 600). sorry i cant answer your que, but the CR felt tiny. i am a hair less than 6 feet, and i never really got comfy with the bike. i think the SS is the same bike but with fairings, right? fantastic bike though. i took some serious getting used to. that engine braking was giving me fits at the beginning. in the end, i gave it up and bought a F4i.. but nowadays, i am leaning towards a big beemer for the very long hauls.

MotoSook · 06-14-2005, 07:14 AM

Well, I made a deal last night with my lady that if I bought it, and I didn't like it as much or more than the Ninja, I'd just turn around and resell it.

Vash, yes, the SS SP is essentially the same as the SS CR, but with full fairing, adjustable shocks, aluminum swing arm and cast iron floating rotors. The CR has 1/2 fairing, steel swing arm, non adjustable shocks and stainless fixed rotors.

The 900 SS/SP is the one to get...and I can get a big bore kit (or make my own) for it. With 41 mm Keihin carbs and a smaller drive sprocket, it should be very spirited.

So! The Duc hunt is about over!

Here it is...I hope to have it Sat. night.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Actually *the* one to get is the '98 900FE. Last year before the style change, some further tweaks to the platform. There is one in my local shop that I've been ooogling. 3K miles on it...ultra clean. Hmmm....

MotoSook · 06-14-2005, 07:30 AM

Right! But those Final Ed's are selling for well over 6K

And I need a rear seat for Heather..else she wouldn't have been so agreable to the Duc

Kmatts · 06-14-2005, 08:55 AM

Nostatic is right, the FE is THE one to have, but its borderline museum piece status has kept the prices WAY up. so besides that SOUK, you got a really nice buy. nice effort mate.
K.
(owned 2 748s. now have 999, still want an FE, always have, always will)

greglepore · 06-14-2005, 06:34 PM

Souk- IIRC all 93 and prior have the adjustable shocks and the no-tie rod rear brake and the floaters. Mine does for sure; I believe that there is some overlap in 94 bikes as Duc used up the parts.

So, if its a 93 its got the good bits. It might need some stuff-starter sprags are notorious, headset bearings etc. But its a killer bike. The position is pretty hard on the wrist when not in attack mode, but there is always risers. You might also want later m/c and a different clutch slave, I don't mind, but people complain.

If you decide that you'd rather have the stock flatter seat, I'll trade you mine plus some cash for that killer semimonoposto setup, my wife won't get on the pillion if her life depended on it.

MotoSook · 07:36 PM

Greg, I rode it home tonight and yep! Those bars are terrible!

I may have to make a custom bar for myself. With the V-twin vibration and the position...my elbows and wrists were just not happy. Maybe I'm a wuss after all these years of inline-4s.

As for the seat. I got the stock one with it. I like the seat on it now, but I'm thinking I might make a custom seat to go with a custom subframe...I'm not keen on the back arse of the series. IF that ever happens, I'll make sure to let you know. The seat is hard, but I was not uncomfortable...

Here is what I posted on Gruppe B:

here is what an hour ride home left me with:

I feel like I'm riding a waif! The bike is skinny and almost flimsy compared to my Ninja. The V-twin vibration is VERY VERY noticeable compared to my Ninja. The torque is great off the line and on passing roll-on, but it runs out of breath fast! The Ninja is much more fun at high revs (obviously).

SO! I'm still not sure I want to keep it and sell the Ninja. I think I have to have both because they are so different.

The Ninja is like driving a Carrera, and the Duc is like driving an early track 911....

I'm afraid that I might sell the Duc and keep the Ninja...that Italian mojo better kick in fast or I'll be flipping the Duc!

Shuie · 06-14-2005, 08:06 PM

congrats! Those are great bikes. I love the styling from that era. They really look similar to an 888. Definitely much better than the later 2 valve faired bikes. If I had to pick my favorite Duc with a fairing it would be that one or an 888. congrats again!

MotoSook · 08:45 PM

Thanks Sherman. The bike is really very dare I say..sexy! I agree, the later 2-valvers were a bit unemotional in their appearance.

The bike is raw compared to anything I have ever ridden...and I will just have to get use to it. Kinda like the raw feel of an early 911

Edit: I may turn it into something like this...and save the full fairing for wall art. The half faired ones look a little more business like IMO.

greglepore · 06-15-2005, 05:38 AM

Yeah, they do run out of breath fast, bigger carbs help some. The advantage is in sport touring on unfamiliar roads, that torque makes the bike must easier to deal with and allows you to go point to point very quickly.

If you do decide to fab up parts, email me; it might turn into a biz venture. Cycle cat has very nice bars, but very pricy.

One other thing to check- mine developed leaks at the lower corners of the gas tank, they're below the pump and an obvious place for moisture to collect, it rusted thru without any visible signs from the exterior other than fuel dripping everywhere-If you keep the bike, I'd pull the tank, remove the pump and use POR tank coat or something similar to avoid that issue.

MotoSook · 06-15-2005, 06:20 AM

Greg,

Thanks for the tip on the tank. As for the bars, I’m thinking that lower might be the way to go for me. My riding position on the Ninja is very aggressive, and I like it. The angle of the bars seems to bug me too. It cocks your wrists so that they bend outward. I think that’s a contributing factor to the discomfort. I like the forward leaning position, which is counter to what most folks like…but when I lean forward and bend my elbows, I find I can ride longer. I can always lock my elbows to change the muscles that have to work….so! My custom bars might only work for me. But I’ll let you know if it happens.

Anyhow!

The PO put a KN filter and Supertrapps on the bike. It pops something awful at very small throttle (just off idle)….even at cruising. It’s not just a popping like when you downshift to set up for a turn from high RPM….

Logic tells me that the KN and S-trapps are allowing for more air flow, but the popping out the exhaust makes me think it’s running rich…or do I have it backwards…. Any thoughts?

I think FCRs will be down the road if I keep the bike…

And…a SPO rear section? Will it work without metal work?

I love this beauty...

MotoSook · 06-15-2005, 06:22 AM

Oh..that SPO is on E-bay right now for over 8K....check out the early 911 in the background of the picture...I wonder if the seller is a Pelican

greglepore · 06-15-2005, 07:17 AM

I can almost guarantee that the popping is jetting-my bike came with D&D exhaust and a K&N, so I don't know if the jetting was changed, but the bikes are very sensitive to airflow-I removed the horns on the airbox just to get a little increased flow and the bike was almost unrideable at part throttle in mid revs, so... lean normally gives you spitting out the carbs, but it can cause popping as well.

I've not really studied the bars, but that's an interesting point-I too have an agressive position, and the thing that hurts is my wrists-like hell if I'm on the bike for more than 40 minutes or so doing anything but carving. It might well be the cocked back angle, and that something more straight would help-the angle is there, I suspect, to keep arms tucked tight.

One other thought-the bike could use a steering damper. Its not a wheelie machine, but the torque coupled with the geometry can cause a wobble on corner exit-I don't have one yet b/c I balk at the price, been looking for a deal on ebay.

The 888 in the pic is sweet-my local dealer has one on his floor and I'm tempted, but too much coin. I "think" the tail section would be a bolt on. There are a number of aftermarket pieces that crop up on ebay from time to time.

Where you could make some coin is in creating a DIY dzus fastner kit for the fairings-taking the fairings off for routine service sucks, and the wellnuts are Stupid and not durable. I've wanted to do this for a while, but haven't had the time.

MotoSook · 06-15-2005, 07:30 AM

The PO gave me the stock filter he took off, so I think I'll put that back in to see if I can improve the popping. I know that all the carbed bikes are sensitive to flow changes-jetting, but wow! this one is just crazy. My Ninja needs a jetting change, but it's still very ridable.

Anyhow, I'll have to spend some quality time in the garage with the Duc to see if I can make it easier to undress.

Bars...reach out toward your PC screen and grab an imaginary straight bar with your wrists separated about shoulder width...then tuck your elbows in....then ask yourself if your elbows need to go in further than your shoulders.

Now, reach out and angle your wrists in with your knuckles facing outward...not comfortable is it? Straighter is better, yes? See where I'm going with it? With the weight of your torsal, the cocked wrists are not going to eb happy long, right?

I took a look at the bars last night...the controls would hit the fairing if you just straightened them out...so soem thing will have to be fab'd....straighter bars, low and reward...should work don't you think?

5axis · 06-15-2005, 06:11 PM

Hey Souk, did you see the 888 fs out in Pecatonica ( west of Rockford on 20) 6K OBO. Very tempting, but I saw a RC 30 at Road America for 12. mmmm good! Too bad my money tree is experiencing a drought