My chance to wish RSBFS fans wonderful Holidays and a great New Year ! – donn
Nearly 25 years down the road, Ducati’s venerable SuperSport still has a lesson or two for riders who haven’t had the chance, and a little nostalgia for those who have. Despite some substantial miles, this 900SS looks to have been cared for well enough to display or ride.
1996 Ducati 900SS for sale on eBay
The late eighties – early 1990’s Supersports were based on Ducati’s new engine, with two valves per cylinder and belt driven cams. 84 hp are on tap, everything visible through the trellis frame and kept in contact with the tarmac by Showa dampers. 320mm Brembo brakes were praised for their honest feel. The lack of new-fangled or optional equipment kept the power-to-weight ratio up there – no glove boxes in the fairing, no anti-dive, no shaft drive, and just the smallest underseat tray for a tire plug kit. Adherence to the basics also kept the out-the-door price under control and let owners pick their own farkles.
The offering dealer has an interesting stable of bikes, but generally offers no history. This 900SS shows just over 33K miles, and likely has some re-finishing in its past. Rarely seen at this kind of age, this SS is stock right down to the factory aluminum mufflers. The next owner can weigh the lack of apparent damage and super-cleanliness with the maintenance that might be required. Comments from the eBay auction:
FACTORY-ORIGINAL WITH OEM EXHAUST SYSTEM AND ALL ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. NEVER CRASHED, GREAT SHAPE. STARTS AND RUNS PERFECT, FUEL AND OIL DRAINED FOR COLLECTOR DISPLAY
First envisioned in 1974, the SuperSport has held down the desmodue side of the showroom until recently, delivering a return to basic motoring values poo-pooed by many value engineers. Yes, you can add soft bags and tour, heated gear and ride there, even carbon components by the ounce. Or not, and take the back roads on a sunny afternoon – destination: an entirely non-virtual experience.
-donn
Wasn’t this on BaT recently? It’s SS CR in SP dress, and looks fine. Appears to be relatively well-kept, but the question is, has it been down? The way the headlight don’t sit quite right and all the questionable hardware tell me that it has. The price is a bit insane regardless.
looks like it JB, lightning quick return on their investment if is goes… 🙂
There is no excuse for the poor fitment of that SP fairing . I’d rather have an honest CR.
Better yet, I’d love a 92-94 900SS with half fairing.
wow, 8 grand for a CR with fairings
Fairings that don’t fit properly either. The join between the top and side fairing panels looks terrible.
Something not right here.
Hardware is mismatched on the fairings
Forks clearly are the non-adjustable type (look like the 40mm Marzocchi caps)
The SP series had remote reservoirs, these are the CR style hydraulic reservoirs
I think by ’96 the SP had an oil temp gauge? This bike does not.
Buyer (if any) should get the VIN prior to purchase and verify CR or SP.
Side note : after 1994 the CR and SP forks do NOT interchange. I think 94 was the only year the CR came with Showa 41mm forks. After that it was the Marzocchi forks and are they not the same (40mm I think) so you can’t just swap out or exchange internals.
I own a nearly bone stock ‘96 SS SP (Arrow carbon canisters, aftermarket rear turn signals, both of whic the PO installed) with only 3600 miles on it. Yes, the ‘96 did indeed have an oil temp gauge!
And where’s the sterling silver data plate which is supposed to be riveted on the top triple clamp? There aren’t even any holes for it…
(I kept the plate from my SSSP. It’s now a ‘fridge magnet)