FYI: Great read... Hunter S Thompson "Song of the Sauage Creature" a short story regarding his time on a Ducati 900 SS/SP .. We would check the belts using the 5mm allen key method..take it out for a spin, get things hot then adjust again.. always got us right close to 110Hz -ish.. I owned my 999 for nearly 10 years.. Had FBF prepped BCM 102mm over bore kit, 13.5:1 Pistal pistons which were so beautiful i didn't want to install them.. crank was race spec balanced.. up rated S cams, all sorts of internal goodies for 148.99 RWHP/ 86ft lbs... so says Mr Ferracci.. aftermarket Ohlins R/Ts and DU301 shock, 168 damper... holy cow what a machine....loved working on it, super simple.. could tear the dry clutch down w/in 6 minutes, radiator would come off in 10 or less.. My neighbor had a 900SS/SP we would terrorize the neighborhood w/ our Termis LOL !!!
Love it!! Been a fan of the way you convey the message since the Cycle Canada days. The part when you said “they made opening and closing of the valves, romantic” put a huge smile on my face. Thank you for the videos and good luck 👍
Excellent video! Leaking float bowls onto hot exhaust - been there too, recently with an old Yamaha. This makes me want to consider an older Ducati for my next project. Thanks!
Brilliant, well written and entertainingly presented! Wonderfully unique motorcycle show format. It's like your CC articles and stories brought to life. Thanks!!
Great summary of what it is to live with and ride one of these. Note: check cylinder head studs also as the early chrome looking version did tend to break.
Really enjoyed the video, great content. I’ve owned a 996 for 21 years. I’ve always admired the SuperSport from afar. Hopefully one day i’ll be able to add the old school 2 valver alongside my 4 valve hot rod.
I feel the same way about my 996 and my 350 wide case. Owning vintage Hondas and Ducatis, I can attest your description of Italian and Japanese bikes is quite accurate.
My most recent example, motor looses power in my little Ex at Mosport in August. Start disassembly in March, order parts in April, assemble 2 weeks before first race and after I’d paid entry fees. Still puttering on the R6 I replaced the transmission in. Only started that project 3 years ago. At the time it was much faster to just buy another bike. Motivation is now just getting back the space in the garage.
A friend of mine had one sitting in his garage for ages, I always wanted to ask him if he would sell it to me, but I never did. Then one day it was gone. After seeing your brillant video I just kicked my ass.
I had a Honda 1998 VTR1000 Superhawk. Same red color. I believe that was Honda’s version of your 900. I do miss that bike. It was very similar at being the master of non but what a great bike…
My old 2001 Monster 900ie was definitely one of my favorites. I've done valves on it and it wasn't any more difficult than shim under bucket. Not nearly as easy as my R1200RT, but definitely not scary or intimidating. There's only four of them too... 🙂
Kool, maybe this video will get me motivated to get my '93 900 SS/CR back on the road. Was/is in track bike mode. 2002 R10 front suspension/ brakes No plastic, dash , fairings. Rat/brat looking. Suspension, brakes, tires, good. Two sets of rear wheels , 4" ( for the 160s) and 4.5 " for the 180s ( I think ).😮 Plus it gave some things to check out while getting back on the road. Liked & Subscribed !
Can't say i have the same attraction to Italian bikes, as i do the cars, well, some of them., but i can respect those with different tastes. I drove an older Ferrari last summer, and you could not pay me to own the thing, let alone drive it, which was surprising and disappointing. Gotta say i do like the Ducati ST and some MV bikes, and, many Ferrari's over the years. But i also must admit, i would rather tour the Italian countryside, hit the vineyards, and the food establishments, while riding my Honda . Enjoyed the video though :)
Those pesky flanges on the outside of the cam pulleys? Pull them off with a pair of pliers and deposit them in the trash. Later years didn't use them, earlier years don't need them. Valves - I don't bother with shim kits, the past few bikes I've checked needed shims the kits don't come with anyway. Once you know what you're doing, the hardest part of adjusting valves on that era 900 is getting to them. I love those bikes but they were yestertech from brand new. If the 851 was a prize fighter, the 900 was a bar room brawler. Low tech but attitude for days. I've had four of them now. The first in '95. Sold that to get a 996. I missed the 900 so I bought a used '97 SP. Sold that a few years later. More recently I began the search for the nicest condition M900 I could find. Came home with a beaten/abused 900ss track bike instead. A year after that a neglected 900ss Superlight came knocking on my door. I tried to send it away but couldn't - the '91 851 I had rescued earlier had to go away. There aren't many bikes I would have considered selling an 851 to get. Super Sports are addictiing, but back when they were new I never would recommend a Ducati to anyone. My thought was if you needed to be convinced to buy one, you shouldn't buy one. If you were truly bitten already nothing I said mattered anyway. As for bringing one back in 48 hours? Yeah... right. If the bike has been sitting 10+ years I figure it's going to need all of that first season to work though the bugs. But if you see it through, they are in fact quite reliable. High maintanence, yes. Unreliable? Not in my experience. And that sound!
It's like "an 8 year old that won't stop talking"? No thanks! And wouldn't any bike, given "sweeping corners and warm, dry pavement" become "an extension of your body"? Think I'll stick with my Honda. Less time wrenching, more time riding. Don't get me wrong. Entertaining video as always Neil. Guess I'm just not a romantic at heart.
NIce 900ss Carbs shown are keihin FCR's not oem, great addition to these bikes but more prone to overwhelm the floats. 1993 and prior were not known to crack frames this problem was mostly contained from 1994-1997. Great bikes.
1999 Laverda Black Strike Cafe Racer, 1995 Laverda 650 Sport, 1982 Laverda 1200-TS 180° in 3C style, 1962 Velocette Venom Clubman MK2, 2002 KTM EXC 450, 2018 Indian Chieftain Limited. Can’t live just with a 900SS, but it may join some day.
Your video is a rare gem. Thank you!
FYI: Great read... Hunter S Thompson "Song of the Sauage Creature" a short story regarding his time on a Ducati 900 SS/SP .. We would check the belts using the 5mm allen key method..take it out for a spin, get things hot then adjust again.. always got us right close to 110Hz -ish.. I owned my 999 for nearly 10 years.. Had FBF prepped BCM 102mm over bore kit, 13.5:1 Pistal pistons which were so beautiful i didn't want to install them.. crank was race spec balanced.. up rated S cams, all sorts of internal goodies for 148.99 RWHP/ 86ft lbs... so says Mr Ferracci.. aftermarket Ohlins R/Ts and DU301 shock, 168 damper... holy cow what a machine....loved working on it, super simple.. could tear the dry clutch down w/in 6 minutes, radiator would come off in 10 or less.. My neighbor had a 900SS/SP we would terrorize the neighborhood w/ our Termis LOL !!!
Love it!! Been a fan of the way you convey the message since the Cycle Canada days. The part when you said “they made opening and closing of the valves, romantic” put a huge smile on my face. Thank you for the videos and good luck 👍
"but don't run out and buy one"
Ha, try and stop me.
This is pretty good content. I'm surprised your subscriber base isn't at a higher number.
Excellent video! Leaking float bowls onto hot exhaust - been there too, recently with an old Yamaha. This makes me want to consider an older Ducati for my next project. Thanks!
Enjoyed your video, makes me want to get my 82 RD 350 back on the road.
Brilliant, well written and entertainingly presented! Wonderfully unique motorcycle show format. It's like your CC articles and stories brought to life. Thanks!!
Great summary of what it is to live with and ride one of these. Note: check cylinder head studs also as the early chrome looking version did tend to break.
Really enjoyed the video, great content.
I’ve owned a 996 for 21 years. I’ve always admired the SuperSport from afar. Hopefully one day i’ll be able to add the old school 2 valver alongside my 4 valve hot rod.
I feel the same way about my 996 and my 350 wide case. Owning vintage Hondas and Ducatis, I can attest your description of Italian and Japanese bikes is quite accurate.
Beautiful video.
Saw this appear thanks to the algorithm - INSTANT SUBSCRIBE!
Incredible presentation!
Top Work!
2002 900ss was my first bike.
My most recent example, motor looses power in my little Ex at Mosport in August. Start disassembly in March, order parts in April, assemble 2 weeks before first race and after I’d paid entry fees.
Still puttering on the R6 I replaced the transmission in. Only started that project 3 years ago. At the time it was much faster to just buy another bike. Motivation is now just getting back the space in the garage.
wonderful vidéo, I feel the same about my 749 from 2003.
A friend of mine had one sitting in his garage for ages, I always wanted to ask him if he would sell it to me, but I never did. Then one day it was gone. After seeing your brillant video I just kicked my ass.
Many people 'don't get it' - seems you do !. Noische editing and awesome Vid' , well done - shared to a Ducati group who'll likely Subscribe.
I had a Honda 1998 VTR1000 Superhawk. Same red color. I believe that was Honda’s version of your 900. I do miss that bike. It was very similar at being the master of non but what a great bike…
For me it is simple: no other bike gives such a symbiosis. You ride it with your thoughts.
My old 2001 Monster 900ie was definitely one of my favorites. I've done valves on it and it wasn't any more difficult than shim under bucket. Not nearly as easy as my R1200RT, but definitely not scary or intimidating. There's only four of them too... 🙂
You earned that subscription like a mf’er. Great video.
Nice video..... Love my 1996 900SS SP.... and my 2007 Triumph Speed Triple !
Kool, maybe this video will get me motivated to get my '93 900 SS/CR back on the road.
Was/is in track bike mode. 2002 R10 front suspension/ brakes
No plastic, dash , fairings. Rat/brat looking. Suspension, brakes, tires, good.
Two sets of rear wheels , 4" ( for the 160s) and 4.5 " for the 180s ( I think ).😮
Plus it gave some things to check out while getting back on the road.
Liked & Subscribed !
Can't say i have the same attraction to Italian bikes, as i do the cars, well, some of them., but i can respect those with different tastes. I drove an older Ferrari last summer, and you could not pay me to own the thing, let alone drive it, which was surprising and disappointing. Gotta say i do like the Ducati ST and some MV bikes, and, many Ferrari's over the years. But i also must admit, i would rather tour the Italian countryside, hit the vineyards, and the food establishments, while riding my Honda . Enjoyed the video though :)
Those pesky flanges on the outside of the cam pulleys? Pull them off with a pair of pliers and deposit them in the trash. Later years didn't use them, earlier years don't need them. Valves - I don't bother with shim kits, the past few bikes I've checked needed shims the kits don't come with anyway. Once you know what you're doing, the hardest part of adjusting valves on that era 900 is getting to them.
I love those bikes but they were yestertech from brand new. If the 851 was a prize fighter, the 900 was a bar room brawler. Low tech but attitude for days. I've had four of them now. The first in '95. Sold that to get a 996. I missed the 900 so I bought a used '97 SP. Sold that a few years later. More recently I began the search for the nicest condition M900 I could find. Came home with a beaten/abused 900ss track bike instead. A year after that a neglected 900ss Superlight came knocking on my door. I tried to send it away but couldn't - the '91 851 I had rescued earlier had to go away. There aren't many bikes I would have considered selling an 851 to get.
Super Sports are addictiing, but back when they were new I never would recommend a Ducati to anyone. My thought was if you needed to be convinced to buy one, you shouldn't buy one. If you were truly bitten already nothing I said mattered anyway. As for bringing one back in 48 hours? Yeah... right. If the bike has been sitting 10+ years I figure it's going to need all of that first season to work though the bugs. But if you see it through, they are in fact quite reliable. High maintanence, yes. Unreliable? Not in my experience. And that sound!
It's like "an 8 year old that won't stop talking"? No thanks! And wouldn't any bike, given "sweeping corners and warm, dry pavement" become "an extension of your body"? Think I'll stick with my Honda. Less time wrenching, more time riding. Don't get me wrong. Entertaining video as always Neil. Guess I'm just not a romantic at heart.
NIce 900ss
Carbs shown are keihin FCR's not oem, great addition to these bikes but more prone to overwhelm the floats.
1993 and prior were not known to crack frames this problem was mostly contained from 1994-1997.
Great bikes.
1999 Laverda Black Strike Cafe Racer, 1995 Laverda 650 Sport, 1982 Laverda 1200-TS 180° in 3C style, 1962 Velocette Venom Clubman MK2, 2002 KTM EXC 450, 2018 Indian Chieftain Limited. Can’t live just with a 900SS, but it may join some day.