Ducati 900ss / 750ss what are they [i]really[/i] like?
Discussion
Following the demise of my restored GPz (rear end shunt) i'm looking at possible replacements, and have pretty much settled on a pre water cooled GSX-R 750, however, I'm still thinking that i fancy a Ducati 900 or 750SS (mid 90's era)
I know you have to change the cam belts every two years, but that aside, what's the reality of life with these bikes? also bear in mind it would be living outside, but under a storm proof cover for the time being (probably garaged over winter though)
budget would be around £2000 - £2500
I drive an Alfa Romeo, and the reality of that 'unreliable' car is that it has been superb, and the reputation is now completely unjustified. Is this the same with Ducati?
I know you have to change the cam belts every two years, but that aside, what's the reality of life with these bikes? also bear in mind it would be living outside, but under a storm proof cover for the time being (probably garaged over winter though)
budget would be around £2000 - £2500
I drive an Alfa Romeo, and the reality of that 'unreliable' car is that it has been superb, and the reputation is now completely unjustified. Is this the same with Ducati?
Edited by philoldsmobile on Saturday 11th June 19:52
Which model year?
This one?
or this one?
£2500 would get you very good model of either
I prefer the looks of the older one.
Edit, after reading your post I guess you mean the earlier one, they look and sound very nice, although I don't know if I'd like to rely on it if it was my only bike and had to live outside.
This one?
or this one?
£2500 would get you very good model of either
I prefer the looks of the older one.
Edit, after reading your post I guess you mean the earlier one, they look and sound very nice, although I don't know if I'd like to rely on it if it was my only bike and had to live outside.
Edited by Jazoli on Saturday 11th June 20:02
the earlier one...
hmmm, thats kinda what i thought.. the Suzuki is a strong dependable bike, although I'm fastidious I cant help thinking the ducati will have to wait until i have a garage.
The GPz is (was) always kept in a friends garage, but i'm hoping to rebuild it if its not a cat B write off, and that will require the garage space.. the problem with keeping it at his place is that i cant always get to it, so the suzuki would live at my place under a cover over summer, and only get garaged over winter (if at all) My old CBR 600 stood up to this very well, with no noticeable ill effects at all.
mind you, I'm moving soon......wonder if i can get a place with a garage......
hmmm, thats kinda what i thought.. the Suzuki is a strong dependable bike, although I'm fastidious I cant help thinking the ducati will have to wait until i have a garage.
The GPz is (was) always kept in a friends garage, but i'm hoping to rebuild it if its not a cat B write off, and that will require the garage space.. the problem with keeping it at his place is that i cant always get to it, so the suzuki would live at my place under a cover over summer, and only get garaged over winter (if at all) My old CBR 600 stood up to this very well, with no noticeable ill effects at all.
mind you, I'm moving soon......wonder if i can get a place with a garage......
Edited by philoldsmobile on Saturday 11th June 20:06
Edited by philoldsmobile on Saturday 11th June 20:08
post '94 models are supposed to be better (stronger head bolts, chain adjusters etc) gorgeous bikes which ever one you go for.great handling will perhaps seem a little slow, reliable as long as properly serviced looked after and ridden regularly 
electrical gremlins are the biggest fly in the ointment but that just adds to the fun!! really , really want one myself now
electrical gremlins are the biggest fly in the ointment but that just adds to the fun!! really , really want one myself nowhad an early white frame 900ss a long time ago. it was nice enough to ride as long as you were on an open road. Sounded awesome with straight throughs and essentially no baffling - especially the desmo sound on the overrun. B-waaah BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
the problem was i couldn't stand the stress of it working - as i was always waiting for the next thing to break, and that didn't usually take long. At least when it had broken you knew the problem, how much it would cost you and how you would get home...
the wife had an alfa spider for a while. That was similar. Maybe the italians just don't like me.
(or maybe they couldn't design s
t if ther life depended on it!)
If you do buy one check the swingarm bearings VERY carefully. They are not long lived and not nice to replace. Although chances are it will be the least of your worries
the problem was i couldn't stand the stress of it working - as i was always waiting for the next thing to break, and that didn't usually take long. At least when it had broken you knew the problem, how much it would cost you and how you would get home...
the wife had an alfa spider for a while. That was similar. Maybe the italians just don't like me.
(or maybe they couldn't design s
t if ther life depended on it!)If you do buy one check the swingarm bearings VERY carefully. They are not long lived and not nice to replace. Although chances are it will be the least of your worries
It depends what you're after I guess, but they are very slow. Years ago I participated in one of the first UK California Superbike Schools at Cadwell Park. The American dude came over and did his much hyped svengali act! Anyway, I was on a bog stock (apart from loud pipe) GSXR750M, last of the oil cooled jobbies. Another guy in the group was on a Duc 900SS (the older style one in the pictures posted) and had spent squillions on all the mods to wring the most power out of it. It looked and sounded gorgeous, much nicer than my oil boiler I must say. Now, we were on Cadwell short circuit, so cornering was at a premium. However, my 750 was so much faster down the straight (Park Straight maybe? which is not even straight really!) that any need for me to out-corner the SS was pretty academic. The owner of the Duc was kind of laughing at himself that he'd spent so much money on it and my standard GSXR was leaving him for dust! Still, it was a lovely looking thing, but the old oil cooled GSXRs do have a certain character too. Whatever turns you on.
I had a 1993 model (bronze frame, black wheels) and loved it, only let me down when a throttle cable snapped. As mentioned they are slow so if you are riding with a group on anything bigger than a 400 you will get left behind. That was the main reason I got rid of mine.
If speed isn't an issue they are tremendous fun. Lots of low end grunt meant they would wheelie off the throttle with the slightest provocation. That was the first bike I have ever had the front come up just off the throttle and my previous bike was an original Fireblade. They are slow steering, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing as that meant they were very stable in corners.
I serviced it myself as belts and valve adjustments are actually quite easy. Never had any issues mentioned above, though some of the early white frame ones had a reputation for developing cracks around the headstock.
If speed isn't an issue they are tremendous fun. Lots of low end grunt meant they would wheelie off the throttle with the slightest provocation. That was the first bike I have ever had the front come up just off the throttle and my previous bike was an original Fireblade. They are slow steering, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing as that meant they were very stable in corners.
I serviced it myself as belts and valve adjustments are actually quite easy. Never had any issues mentioned above, though some of the early white frame ones had a reputation for developing cracks around the headstock.
hmm......
speed isn't the bee all and end all for me, (although i like a bit of poke) the GPz was a 550, and that was more than adequate, and my old CBR 600 had me wondering why you would ever need any more than 100bhp in a bike, although it did get regular trips to the red line. I don't think the performance is likely to be an issue (hence the reason i'm thinking GSX-R 750 as opposed to 1100) I also love the idea of a broad spread of power.
what's the durability of finish like? will it survive six summer months under a cover and six winter months in the garage, or should it be garaged year round?
I've been very lucky with my current Alfa, its more reliable than the Lexus GS300 i had before it, although the Italian car ownership has taught me to buy the best you can afford, and service history is critical.... I'll apply the same logic to a Ducati if i go this route....
speed isn't the bee all and end all for me, (although i like a bit of poke) the GPz was a 550, and that was more than adequate, and my old CBR 600 had me wondering why you would ever need any more than 100bhp in a bike, although it did get regular trips to the red line. I don't think the performance is likely to be an issue (hence the reason i'm thinking GSX-R 750 as opposed to 1100) I also love the idea of a broad spread of power.
what's the durability of finish like? will it survive six summer months under a cover and six winter months in the garage, or should it be garaged year round?
I've been very lucky with my current Alfa, its more reliable than the Lexus GS300 i had before it, although the Italian car ownership has taught me to buy the best you can afford, and service history is critical.... I'll apply the same logic to a Ducati if i go this route....
Edited by philoldsmobile on Sunday 12th June 13:17
I used to have later fuel injected 900ss in yellow that I really regret selling:
It is a bit underpowered depending on what you are used to (~85-90bhp), however the brakes and handling were very very good.
I would not own one as a main bike as it was not the most reliable bike and not the kind of bike you want to ride all the time. However as a second/third bike that you can take out when you are in the mood it would be an excellent buy.
It is a bit underpowered depending on what you are used to (~85-90bhp), however the brakes and handling were very very good.
I would not own one as a main bike as it was not the most reliable bike and not the kind of bike you want to ride all the time. However as a second/third bike that you can take out when you are in the mood it would be an excellent buy.
My bike was dog rough when I bought it, basically looked like it had been thrashed to within an inch of its life, the sort of bike you really should walk away from, but it was cheap enough to take a chance on so I couldn't really comment on deterioration of the finish or metal work..
I had the bike while living in Florida and while it did get ridden in the rain, it was garaged and meticulously maintained/cleaned. The paint did seem susceptible to stone chips, but beyond that I can't really say much about the finish.
As far as reliability, mine was fine. There really wasn't a whole lot to go wrong on them. Mine had simple carbs, I had no issues with electrics, beyond a flat battery, but due to the type of stator (2 phase, 3 phase?) it meant I could ride the bike as normal after a bump start. At one point the clutch got a bit grabby, but that was solved when I attacked the clutch cover with a hole saw as I was told it was due to the clutch overheating and a build of of clutch dust on the plates.
Based on my experience I didn't find them as fragile or temperamental as their reputations would suggest. There are lots of recommended independent garages that know these bikes inside out as well as very healthy online forums to ask advice etc. Sign up to ducatisti.co.uk and have a good read through the 900SS forums to get an idea of any issues.
I had the bike while living in Florida and while it did get ridden in the rain, it was garaged and meticulously maintained/cleaned. The paint did seem susceptible to stone chips, but beyond that I can't really say much about the finish.
As far as reliability, mine was fine. There really wasn't a whole lot to go wrong on them. Mine had simple carbs, I had no issues with electrics, beyond a flat battery, but due to the type of stator (2 phase, 3 phase?) it meant I could ride the bike as normal after a bump start. At one point the clutch got a bit grabby, but that was solved when I attacked the clutch cover with a hole saw as I was told it was due to the clutch overheating and a build of of clutch dust on the plates.
Based on my experience I didn't find them as fragile or temperamental as their reputations would suggest. There are lots of recommended independent garages that know these bikes inside out as well as very healthy online forums to ask advice etc. Sign up to ducatisti.co.uk and have a good read through the 900SS forums to get an idea of any issues.
I had a J reg one (white frame with black wheels) and it was lovely thing for 2 years and 18k miles. Had it looked after it properly at Baines racing rather than doing my normal DIY efforts.
Awesome grunt out of a corner with no real top end to get you in proper trouble with the the law.
Only time it let me down was an oil pressure sensor on the right hand side of the motor started squirting oil of it so replaced it with a spark plug and all good.
Awesome grunt out of a corner with no real top end to get you in proper trouble with the the law.
Only time it let me down was an oil pressure sensor on the right hand side of the motor started squirting oil of it so replaced it with a spark plug and all good.
I came fairly close to buying a new 900SS back in about 1994.
I particularly liked the ones with the half fairing, which were a bit less common.
Back then I was in my mid 20s and found them an instrument of torture. I am not sure I would be able to ride one these days.
They are a reasonable DIY prospect and very much undervalued compared to the mad prices that the 1970s equivalent commands.
The restyled fuel injected versions are unhappy looking things and are pretty cheap.
I looked at 600 Monsters a few years ago when my wife passed her test, but she ended up with an old XBR500, so the Ducati itch remains unscratched.
I particularly liked the ones with the half fairing, which were a bit less common.
Back then I was in my mid 20s and found them an instrument of torture. I am not sure I would be able to ride one these days.
They are a reasonable DIY prospect and very much undervalued compared to the mad prices that the 1970s equivalent commands.
The restyled fuel injected versions are unhappy looking things and are pretty cheap.
I looked at 600 Monsters a few years ago when my wife passed her test, but she ended up with an old XBR500, so the Ducati itch remains unscratched.
CaptainSlow said:
I'm looking at these..prices have gone up a little.
I see some of the second generation bikes registered after 2002...ebay has a 2009 and 2011. Anyone know why there were bikes registered so late?
Because they fairly quickly got a reputation for being unreliable, expensive to service and massively uncomfortable unless you are a Chinese circus acrobat.I see some of the second generation bikes registered after 2002...ebay has a 2009 and 2011. Anyone know why there were bikes registered so late?
Fair enough, only two out of the three are true (if you are handy with the spanners yourself), but it still meant that plenty of unregistered ones sat in dealerships and warehouses for years until they trickled on to the market at ridiculous discounts.
I've owned and spannered them; they're reasonable bikes but nothing special...
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