[Jeff Higgins]

I have been very happy with the performance of my '93 900 SS. Mine is somewhat modified, with "the usual" list of suspects: Full Termi "Spaghetti" exhaust with carbon fiber cans, Keihen flat slide carbs, JE pistons, and ported heads. It's also been lightened considerably, all the way down to about 365 pounds with a half tank of gas. All carbon fiber bodywork and tank, magnesium wheels, etc.

I'm not sure what all of that really gains me, compared to a stock example, but it does feel very light and lively. It has greater capability hiding deep down inside of it somewhere than I'm willing (or able) to exploit on public roads. I very rarely even try to exploit its full potential.

And I think that may be where the status of "real world" motorcycling is stuck today - somewhere at the performance level between these Super Sports and your 996. Everything since has continued to offer improved numbers across the board, but numbers we have no business even trying to exploit on the street. In other words, will you be disappointed? I don't think so - the Super Sport will still offer a level of performance that pushes the boundaries of sanity on public roads. Buy one and have fun. Join the PPOT Super Sport posse - you'll notice a lot of us have them. There's a reason for that...