Ducati Oddity: 1991 Ducati 400 Super Sport Junior
All I could say when I saw this Ducati 400SS Junior l was, “Wow, that is odd”. I had forgotten Ducati had jumped into the 400cc Japanese market. Unfortunately they took the accountants idea and just sleeved down an existing model instead of building a 400 from the the ground up. Actually, it was a sleeved down version of an already sleeved down version. The 400SS Junior is based off the 750SS which was based on the 900SS. Max power is 42HP (18 down from the 750SS) and there are other money saving short cuts such as cheaper suspension components. It looks like the Junior was produced from 1989-1990, double front discs is an identifier, and then restyled a bit for the 1991-1997 production run with a single front disc. Who can fill in the blanks on any other difference? Even though this is listed as a 1991 I believe it is actually a 1990 model with the double front discs giving it away.
Who would want an old, slow 400 called a Junior? Me, for one! If you look hard enough, you can always find a Bayliss Replica or Desmosedici for sale, but a 400 Junior? That is a rare Ducati. I love anything unique that the next guy doesn’t have and this fits the bill the perfectly. I would imagine a Ducati collector or two would like one to fill out at a collection.
It sounds like it was a decent handling bike with an engine that just wasn’t comfortable in 400cc form. It looks like from 1991 it was available with a half fairing.
The auction details:
Mileage: 10,088 KM’S
BEATIFUL CLASSIC BIKE
LOW KMTS
NO ACCIDENTS
IT WAS IMPORTED FROM JAPAN TO CANADA
IT IS TITLE IN ONTARIO
MAKE ME AN OFFER
MIGHT NEED A CARB CLEAN BEFORE STARTE IT
THE REAR TIRE HAS SOME CRACKING BECUASE IT IS OLD (ORIGINAL TIRE)
Starting bid is $5,800 and the auction is up and running.
A short clip of 400SS Junior. Not the bike for sale.
Ian
Gday mate. it is a 1989 400 ss junior. Murayama Japan (the importers) basically ordered these from Italy to their specs. they wanted the 16 wheels because they were on the Montjuich 750F1, although there is a subtle difference where the inner joins to the outer, and they asked Verlicchi to upgrade the swingarm . If you look closely, you can see the extra bracing on it as compared to a F1 or 750 sport (which were prone to cracking). mirrors are later ss versions and the mufflers looks like they might be made by motoplan .
cheers
Sean
Sean,
Good stuff, thanks for the comment.
Hi, I own one of these bikes and have done for 10 years. Its not a low spec version of the larger bike but has the 900ss forks (not sure on rear suspension) and has magnesium alloy Mavic gold/polished rim alloys, Expensive! I have not had the engine apart but there are various comments that the engine is not 398cc but larger and Ducati just told a fib. Mine has been dyno jetted and has K&N filters so puts out more power than the standard 42bhp, how much I do not know but it pulls like a train and sounds like a 1000cc. Compared to the Aprilia RS250 I have it seems to be more powerful but it is hard to compare 4 stroke against 2 stroke.
The bike is actually up for sale but in the UK.