Backing away from a near mid-eighties bankruptcy, Ducati updated the Paso with a 904cc desmodue, water cooling and 6-speed transmission. The result was sporty and tourable, and this one appears stock and undamaged.
1990 Ducati Paso 906 for sale on eBay
The Paso, named for fallen rider Renzo Pasolini, broke a great deal of new ground in 1986, with its square-tube frame, single Weber carburetor, and all-covering soap bar body. Famed designer Massimo Tamburini’s first Ducati project, it revived the showroom at least enough to result in two substantial revisions. The 1989-90 Paso 906 had 77 hp and 63 ft.-lbs. torque available, with Marzocchi suspension front and rear. In step with the times, the 906 used 16-inch wheels to help the heavyweight turn in. Some of the best faired turn signals ever and opaque windscreen give it a smooth futuristic look.
With just a handful of cell phone pictures, more investigation will have to be done on this particular 906. Miles are on the low end with 14,000, and the distinctive blue paint looks good. The Florida-based cycle parts dealer says this in the eBay auction:
This bike is in mint condition with low miles it runs and rides great also has a brand new front tire.
The 906 reviewed as a welcome update in the engine bay if still a challenge when pushed hard. The final update in 1991 brought electronic fuel injection and 17-inch wheels, but for Ducati purists the package was a little too quiet – visually and aurally – and sales stalled out around 1000 per year. The stealth bodywork attracts a lot of attention even now, and the blue makes it reactionary’s Ducati. For that nuanced rider, this Paso would be worth a look-see…
-donn
If a Florida cycle salvage dealer only says their 27 year old Ducati is in “mint condition and rides good”, with no evidence or proof, I’ll buy that and just go ahead and bid to win.
266 eBay postings and a feedback rating of only 2???? WTF?
That doesn’t add up…..
Love the looks. 16inch wheels is a tough break if you want to ride. My big concern is the fueling. I rode a 750 Paso and the Weber carb shocked me. At that I’ve I was true Ly convinced there were no “bad” motorcycles let in the world (from and engineering perspective.
I still have a eye to a 907. What is the verdict from this group of if the 906 is decent of not with its carbs?
Off to google other perspectives….
I have a 1988 750 Sport with the Webber carburettor. Fuelling is fine once you replace the aux venturi to a 4.5 and step up the jetting. I have mine running quite well and the sound is amazing. Cost is about $100 in parts.
How Ducati ever allowed Webber fuelled models to leave the factory so poorly set up still makes me wonder though!
I think the fuelling was the best Ducati could do to meet emissions standards with the available technology. I had an ’87 and it was rejetted and ran well. Unfortunately I could never get the thing to steer properly. I hear that the 907 is the way to go if you want a Paso as it has the 17″ wheels. Still prefer the ’92 onwards 900ss.
Continuing the tradition, my ’08 M695 came with the worst fueling I’ve seen. The fuel injection is set so lean to meet U.S. emissions that Ducati had to add a fast idle lever and cable, just so thing would run when cold. An easy fix, though…
What was their thinking with a single carb – easier to tune and maintain, cheaper to build…?
Honda`s first CBR600 from the same era, called by some the jellymould, bore an uncanny resemblance to Tamburinis design. Shurely shome mishtake?
Change the wheels for 17 inch, go for a simpler carb setup, hey presto, proper Ducati which has aged well.
Odd they named it after Pasolini, who raced Benellis and Aermacchis at Grand Prix, but not a Ducati. Still they also called one a Senna, after some Brazilian chap.
Unloved at the time, they are quite rare, especially in blue, which in my humble opinion is a pleasant change from red, red or red.
Hey- I’m the original owner of this Paso. She still looks the same. It ran great but I sold her when the 900SS ‘s came out in ’91. Originally a California bike – from Barber Brothers in Walnut Creek Ca. in June of 1990.