Posts by tag: 900SS

Ducati November 30, 2020 posted by Tad Diemer

Elemental: 1993 Ducati Superlight #838 for Sale

Until pretty recently, Japanese sportbikes were subjected to a pretty ruthless program of focused evolution, with significant updates to styling and mechanical components every two years. European sportbikes, on the other hand, often hung around well past their sell-by date, and special editions like the Ducati Superlight were often used drum up a bit of interest in a moribund model.

Put simply, the Superlight was a lightly modified 900SS. The engine was bone-stock, but weight was saved through the use of carbon fiber sprinkled here and there and a solo tail section. The biggest performance increase can probably be attributed to a set of Marvic composite wheels that contributed the lion’s share of the 15lbs saved, compared to the stock bike. It wasn’t especially fast then or now, but the 900SS is a simple, charismatic bike with excellent handling.

This particular example looks to be complete, with the lightweight wheels, open clutch, upswept exhaust, and numbered plaque, although the carbon has faded noticeably and the mufflers don’t appear to be original. The bigger issue is the nearly 40,000 on the odometer. That’s no problem for a 900SS, but I can imagine collectors might balk, considering the $9,000 asking price…

From the original eBay listing: 1993 Ducati Superlight #838 for Sale

Limited Edition Number 838. Outstanding condition, and just a bit of weathering, but overall very presentable and nice with 39,767 original miles. In 1992, Ducati took their 900 Supersport and added several choice extras to create a limited edition called the Ducati Superlight – 953 examples were built over 2 years. Unfortunately, for reasons unknown, in 1993 they removed almost all the extras, leaving just a fully floating rear brake to differentiate the limited edition from its less exclusive brother. We are proud to have a beautiful example of one of those ’93 models.

It’s easy to see why cynics scoffed at the Superlight a bit at the time it was introduced, since it was basically a just a 900SS with some bolt-on parts that saved a bit of weight. There wasn’t much of the package that was really all that special, other than the numbered plaque and the Ducati DNA already present in the Supersport. Personally, I think these look great, but I’d probably just find a nice yellow 900SS/CR and fit improved suspension so I wouldn’t have to worry about riding a depreciating asset every weekend.

-tad

Elemental: 1993 Ducati Superlight #838 for Sale

Ducati November 14, 2020 posted by Aaron

Featured Listing: 1996 Ducati 900SS/SP

This beautiful 1996 Ducati 900SS/SP is a rare beast, being a yellow half-faired SP. Most of the time, the half-faired bikes were the lesser CR-spec model, which had lower end suspension and just weren’t quite as tasty as the SP. The SP meant you got fully adjustable Showa suspension front and rear, but the 80-ish horsepower engine was unchanged from the CR. The 900 SS/SP was also famously the bike about which Hunter S. Thompson penned the terrified, fawning “Song of the Sausage Creature.”

It’s quaint to think about an 80-horsepower machine invoking the level of terror Thompson expressed, but even in the mid-1990s a powerful motorcycle was a very different thing than it is now, and Ducati’s torquey delivery meant that terrifying velocities were much more easily accessed than they were on a peaky inline four. Theoretically, anyway. The 900SS’s party piece has always been lithe handling, a slim waistline and a certain Italian-ness that makes the big much more than the sum of its bits.

This 900SS/SP has been made even sweeter than stock, with an Ohlins shock replacing the already competent Showa, a gorgeous white powdercoated frame and a low-profile LED taillight to replace the blocky period unit.

According to the seller, whose description was handwritten, the bike was built in 2017 by Moto Motivo in Raleigh, NC. In addition to the Ohlins and the low-profile taillight, it wears carbon fenders and a carbon exhaust, cast aluminum wheels and new Brembo brakes. The seller has added about 1,000 miles since picking it up last year. The bike is on a clean Oregon title, and asking price is $6,200. You can reach the seller at wolfandson@live.com.

Ducati August 17, 2020 posted by Tad Diemer

Featured Listing: 1993 Ducati Superlight for Sale

Update 8.17.2020: This bike has SOLD to an RSBFS reader! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc

Putting a numbered plaque and some bling on your moribund sportbike is a time-tested method to generate some buzz. It works especially well if you’re a storied, but slightly skint manufacturer of moribund Italian sportbikes. But parts-bin engineering doesn’t mean the resulting product is necessarily bad, and this Ducati Superlight is proof-positive that the whole can be much more than the sum of the parts.

By 1993, well-heeled sportbike buyers knew that the 916 was right around the corner, and the then-current 888 offered much more performance potential. But that finicky, uncomfortable, and maintenance-intensive machine wasn’t necessarily practical, or all that much good on the road. Assuming you wanted to do more than bench-race or compare lap times, the long-serving two-valve Desmodue-powered 900SS made a great platform for a limited-edition sportbike, and the Superlight was just a 900SS with some bolt-on parts.

To be honest, the list of performance modifications to make a Superlight was pretty short: upswept exhaust pipes in place of passenger pegs that gave additional cornering clearance, a stylish solo tail section, and a few carbon dodads to “reduce weight.” Most significantly, the Superlight featured Marvic composite wheels: magnesium hubs and spokes bolted up to polished aluminum rims. Combined, the changes saved about 15lbs, compared to the stock bike. Considering the price then and now, a gym membership would be a cheaper and more effective way to increase performance. Of course, nobody really bought a Superlight for its performance potential anyway.

This particular bike is a bit different though, and offers a bit more than your run of the mill Desmodue: a tuned 944cc engine. 86hp might not sound like much, but the stock 904cc engine made a claimed and likely optimistic 80hp. Around 70hp at the wheel is more likely for a factory 900SS, so the big-bore kit installed in this Superlight and the corresponding 69lb-ft of torque to go with the 86rwhp is nothing to sneeze at.

Cosmetically, this is a very nice bike, as you can see from the photos in the listing. It’s not completely original, although the 944 kit and Staintune exhaust are certainly period-appropriate upgrades for the performance minded Ducatisti who plans to ride their new acquisition, rather than let it collect dust and appreciate as part of a stock portfolio. The seller is also including all the parts necessary to make the bike appear totally stock so a buyer can achieve stock show appearance if they wanted.

From the Seller: 1993 Ducati Superlight for Sale

1993 Ducati 900SS Superlight. Super clean exceptional performing and running correct (#789/953, Marvic magnesium/aluminum wheels, Brembo full floating iron rotors, carbon fiber front fender, rear inner fender, dash trim, countershaft cover, high pipes, solo tail) example. Excellent original paint, 2 owner bike. Built and tuned by Doug Lofgren. 86 rwhp (944ccc with big valves, headwork and Staintune exhaust – dyno sheet included). Suspension revalved and set up for 200lb rider.Freshly serviced by Ducati master tech (valve clearance check, belts, plugs, oil/filter, flush brakes and clutch). Full Staintune exhaust system, carbon fiber clutch cover, braided steel brake lines, 520 chain/sprockets, lithium battery with special charger. All original parts (except airbox lid) included, along with new belts, factory tool kit, owners manual and Haynes service manual. Tires have aged out and should be replaced, if the bike is to be ridden. ~19,700 miles. No cosmetic defects, except a few minor chips on upper,and front point of lowers behind the front wheel (touched up) and a small rash mark on the edge of the left muffler. Click here for 80 photos of the bike and scans of service and tuning, including close up photos of the mentioned defects.

~~$12,500~~ $11,500

I’ve included the majority of the Seller’s photos here, but there are additional images available at the link, including close ups of some minor blemishes, dyno sheets, and other documentation. I personally prefer Termignoni exhausts on my 90s Ducatis, but Staintune makes a very high-quality product so, aside from tires, this bike is ready to go. The seller includes a video of the bike starting up and running and the asking price is $11,500 which seems very much in line with prices we’ve seen recently. If what you want is a delivery-mile museum piece, this might not be the bike you want. But the would make a terrific bike to actually ride, and it’s pretty enough to park in your living room between weekend rides embarrassing modern sportbikes in the canyons.

-tad

Featured Listing: 1993 Ducati Superlight for Sale

Ducati May 2, 2020 posted by Tad Diemer

Purist: 1992 Ducati Superlight for Sale

The Ducati Superlight is a far-cry from today’s “limited edition” superbikes like the Superleggera that have a performance envelope well beyond most owners’ ability to fully exploit. The Superlight isn’t a particularly fast bike, but it is very collectible, and rewarding to ride at speeds normal humans can enjoy without risking license, limb, or achieving escape velocity… Basically, the Superlight is a 900SS/SP with lightweight Marvic composite wheels with a polished aluminum rim and magnesium spokes, some carbon bits, upswept exhausts, and a solo tail. Combined, the upgrades saved about 15lbs compared to the regular 900SS. So the Superlight wasn’t super light, unless Ducati was referring to your wallet: considering the minimal performance improvements, it was priced significantly higher than a regular Supersport. You did get a nice numbered plaque, though.

They still sold like hotcakes, and Ducati increased production to meet demand far in excess of the original planned 500 bike run. Part of that is down to the usual Ducati mystique, but the basic package has long been viewed as much more than the sum of its parts. On paper, the air/oil-cooled, two-valve 904cc Desmo looks pretty anemic, but a good Desmodue makes around 75 horses at the rear wheel, which really is plenty to have fun with on the road. It’s also relatively simple to maintain, surprisingly durable, and even gets good gas mileage. Fully-adjustable Showa suspension at both ends and a stiff trellis frame meant handling was very good then and still competent now, while very reasonable ergonomics [for a sportbike anyway] means even… ahem, older gentlemen can enjoy all-day rides. It was available in the vivid yellow seen here, although some markets got red instead. Considering how few bikes look good in yellow, I think it’s a great choice, and makes the bike feel more exotic.

The carbon-fiber Ferracci cans seen here are an almost mandatory option for any air-cooled Ducati, since the stock components make the bike sound strangled, and would likely be drowned out by the unfiltered rattle of the dry clutch. Ferracci didn’t make their own exhausts to my knowledge, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing: at various points, they rebadged SilMoto and Arrow parts, so quality should be high.

From the original eBay listing: 1992 Ducati Superlight for Sale

1993 Ducati Superbike, bought new and stayed in same ownership since.

I am happy to answer any questions about the bike via messaging.

Thanks!

So is it a 1992 or a 1993? It’s also odd that the seller calls it a “Superbike” when it says “Superlight” right there on the fairing. They may not know exactly what they have here, since a 300-mile Superlight would normally go for well north of the $9,000 the seller is asking. Although in this uncertain market, maybe it’s just priced to sell? From the pictures, it looks a little dusty, but otherwise as nice as you’d expect a bike with such low miles to be. It’s hard to tell from the images just how nice this bike is.

-tad

Honda April 7, 2020 posted by Tad Diemer

Affordable Twin: 1998 Honda VTR1000F Super Hawk for Sale

By the late 1990s, Ducati’s success in production-based racing and general iconic-ness meant a new emphasis on v-twins for many manufacturers. It helps that a v-twin package makes for a great roadbike, with flexible midrange torque and lots of character at any speed. As a bonus a v-twin just sounds like a motorcycle. With 916-level specifications and a price that was lower than a Ducati 900SS, the Honda VTR1000F Super Hawk, or “Firestorm” in some markets, should have been a hot seller. But anonymous looks, road-biased handling, and a few annoying quirks combined to make Honda’s “Ducati-killer” a bit of a miss. Everything about the VTR1000F looked great on paper: a 996cc 90° v-twin with liquid-cooling and four valves per cylinder, lightweight aluminum beam frame, and adjustable suspension certainly fit the bill. Side-mounted radiators looked trick and were supposedly more efficient than a traditional unit. They probably also helped keep the wheelbase short, something that can be tricky on transverse twins like this one, but the location also made them a bit of a liability in a crash. Cam-chain tensioners were supposedly a weak spot, but the engine is generally blessed with the expected Honda-levels of reliability.

So what went wrong? The specifications may have been impressive, but power wasn’t quite up to Ducati 996 levels, and handling wasn’t even as good as the 900SS. At 423 claimed pounds, it was light enough, but the bike was really never designed to be a serious sportbike: the frame was light and had flex tuned into it to provide great feedback on the road, but it was too willowy for serious track use, let alone racing. I read an article years ago about a British privateer team trying to race a VTR1000F, back before the SP-1 was released, and their biggest challenge was stiffening that frame. A pair of carburetors may have seemed pretty retro in 1998, but the big mixers meant great fueling for the twin. Unfortunately, they also meant pretty poor gas mileage and limited range: the thirsty Super Hawk got less than 30mpg and a 4.2 gallon tank meant no more than 130 miles between fillups, with the reserve light staring you in the face at around 100 miles. Bikes from 2001 and beyond had a larger 5 gallon tank, but it still didn’t really qualify as a sport-tourer, in spite of all-day comfort from the reasonable ergonomics.

It may not have been a serious sportbike, but it was a pretty great motorcycle for anyone looking for a versatile street machine. Handsome and competent, without being particularly pretty or even distinctive, it’s been largely forgotten today. Launched at almost the same time as Suzuki’s TL1000S, it was probably a better bike, but the widowmaker Zook stole all of Honda’s thunder and was generally much more exciting, owing to it’s sometimes wayward handling and wheelie-prone character. It’s a shame because, limited range and bland looks aside, it doesn’t have any real vices.

From the original eBay listing: 1998 Honda VTR1000F Super Hawk for Sale

Honda Super Hawk . This is a VTR1000 Superhawk v-twin. The bike looks, and runs great. This is Honda`s version of a Ducati without all the trouble, and expense, and much more comfortable. Bike has low miles with lots of extras, and everything is ready to go. Had to relist due to a Scam buyer. Shipping is the buyers responsibility. I will help load. 1/2 hour NE of Louisville, 1 hour SW of Cincinnati.

It’d be nice if the seller actually went into details about what “lots of extras” means. I see aftermarket levers, reservoir caps, signals, fender eliminator, polished wheels, and maybe an aftermarket seat. Most of it seems of average quality, but your mileage may vary. All-in-all, it looks pretty nice and it can all be reversed, if you want more originality. With 15,800 miles on the odometer and an asking price of $3,199 you’re certainly getting a lot of bike for the money, something that’s characterful and pretty unusual, as long as you don’t mind stopping for gas more often…

-tad

Affordable Twin: 1998 Honda VTR1000F Super Hawk for Sale

Ducati February 21, 2020 posted by Mike

Featured Listing: 1979 Ducati 900SS

This Featured Listing is part of the The Edinger Ducati Collection. Thank you for supporting the site, David! -dc

The next offering from the amazing Edinger Ducati Collection is here, and it is a stunner: a 1979 Ducati 900 SS bevel in iconic gold and black. These long, sleek machines tell an important story in history, and are responsible for Ducati’s rise to power and popularity. This all began with the 1972 Imola win by Paul Smart (fun fact: Paul’s wife was Barry Sheene’s sister). Smart was riding a green-framed Ducati 750 Super Sport for that Imola race – as close an ancestor to this 900 Super Sport as can be found in history. You see, while displacement climbed over the next 15-ish years, little else seemed to outwardly change on these models. The similarities between the earlier bikes and later models is remarkable, highlighting what a fantastic platform the original Super Sport represented in the first place. The last of the big bevel twins had more in common with the earliest bikes of the same model than could be imagined. These are bikes with serious bones.

Featured Listing: 1979 Ducati 900SS

The Super Sport series began with what was essentially the mating of two Ducati single cylinder top ends to a common crankcase. The instantly recognizable L-twin arrangement came about due to the need to ensure adequate air flow to the rear cylinder; laying the front barrel down kept it from blanking the wind. Later this arrangement showed promise for weight distribution (low down and as far forward as possible), but it was the need for cooling and reliability that lead the way. And one key element really shows the history of this design; although this is a “modern” motorcycle with electric start, the kick starter carries over as a vestige of earlier days. And speaking of electrics, that is the one area where the Super Sport series made significant strides over the years, building in better reliability and efficiency.

From the seller:
This is a 1979 Ducati Classic with less than a 100 miles on it following the complete ground up restoration. The bike was purchased in Texas and was restored by Revival Cycles in Austin and has been serviced by Ducati Austin. There is only one flaw shown on the cosmetic ring on one gauge, the speedometer, new tires, this bike is in art. Vin# 089083 and has a clean title which says it’s a 1980 but the Vin # tells me it’s a 1979. Current mileage is 18,004 and the bike is in Texas

Asking Price: $30,000
Contact: Edinger.david@gmail.com 317-908-2573

Classic bevel Ducatis continue to drive to new heights in the marketplace. They are simply a standout design that bridges the gap between old and new; they are modern enough to ride today (in anger), yet retain the classic good looks and arcane technical elements that make them unique. By the early 1980s the bevel cam drive arrangement was being phased out in favor of the Pantah “rubber band” engines, the valve timing setup being tremendously less resource intensive on the production line. But today these older bevels simply look, sound and run fantastic. Today’s example has been restored, appears to be in wonderful shape for a 40+ year old sport bike and is ready for a new home. Interested parties should reach out to David quickly, as this black beauty is unlikely to be available very long!

Ducati November 6, 2019 posted by Aaron

Featured Listing: 1977 Ducati 900 SD Darmah

Update 12.1.2019: This bike has SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc

This is the third of four motorcycles being offered from the Stuart Parr Collection. Thank you for supporting the site and good luck to buyers and seller! -dc

This 1977 Ducati 900 Darmah is an extremely early example of the bike that helped pull Ducati out of a slump in the mid-70s, and carries a roster of parts that is still enough to make sportbike lovers drool. By modern standards, it’s a bit of a minimalist, with bodywork kept scant and not much in the way of creature comforts — but in that simplicity lies its elegance.

Decked out with Campagnolo wheels, Ceriani forks and Marzocchi shocks out back, the Darmah’s chassis is a perfect match to its torquey 864cc square-case bevel-drive v-twin. Ducati’s signature air-cooled twin was given a mechanical going over in 2000 according to the seller, but its original lead engine seal has not been broken. The bike has just over 6,600 miles on the dial, which jibes with its untouched factory look.

From the seller:

By 1976, styling and fashion took precedence in the motorcycle world and dictated new features, such as market demand for higher levels of build quality and options – Ducati responded with the 900 Sport Darmah, the most advanced incarnation of the Bevel-twin yet. As with the 860GT (Giugiaro) Ducati decided to outsource the styling to longtime collaborator Leopoldo Tartarini, who had long associations designing for Ducati and Italjet.
This is a very early example – among the first production – and is a 6,600 mile original bike with factory Campagnolo wheels, Ceriani forks, Marzocchi shocks – considered the most desirable of the Darmah series.
The original lead engine case seal is intact, indicating original low mileage. The bike has non-standard, but period optional Conti tailpipes and K&N air filters.
Cosmetically and mechanically refreshed in circa 2000, the bike is in its second ownership and presents in beautiful overall condition today. A coveted Falloon report accompanies this bike and details every aspect of the machine thoroughly – it is summarized by Mr. Fallon as “One of the best I have seen”.
Please email with questions – no trades or purchase schemes please.

The bike can be viewed and the seller contacted at the Stuart Parr Collection. With a Falloon report in hand, an early production sequence and some very tasteful period mods, this is early Ducati gold. Asking price is $18.5k.

Featured Listing: 1977 Ducati 900 SD Darmah

Ducati October 27, 2019 posted by Aaron

Don’t call it a comeback: 1980 Ducati 900SS Darmah

After the resounding sales flop of the Ducati 860GT, the Bolognese brand was in financial ruin and needed a Hail Mary to get back on its feet. The moonshot came in the by mass producing the extremely popular 900SS, which helped the marque pull out of its nosedive. The 900SS Darmah had a few internal updates to the square-case bevel engine, including the shift drums and the crank pins. That, and a really cool tiger graphic aping the Darmah’s namesake.

1980 Ducati 900SS Darmah for sale on eBay

The 900SS had originally been intended for low-production like the 750SS, but its ability to move off dealers’ inventory lists scuttled that plan. Isle of Man TT wins by Mike Hailwood aboard the 75-horsepower L-twin did not hurt the bike’s sales prospects, and a star was born.

This 1980 Ducati 900SS Darmah appears to be in beautiful condition, though the seller is light on details. It certainly has not spent its life as a garage queen, racking up 35,000 miles over the last 39 years. Still, that’s less than 1,000 miles a year, and the clean cases and solid paintwork make the case that this bike has been loved.

From the eBay listing:

1980 Ducati 900 Super Sport Desmo Darmah

A total of 1,440 SSD motorcycles produced from 1978 to 1981, this is one of the 705 produced in 1980.

From 1979 DM900SD frame numbers where from 950001 – 951000, and this is one of the last one produced in 1980.

Everything works as it should. In perfect running conditions.

Great piece to add to your collection. You will not be disappointed.

Prices for big classic Ducatis are strong, so we suspect someone will jump quickly on this one at $17,900 buy-it-now.