5/1/2011 Update: This Ducati has been sold.
3/25/2011 Update: This Ducati was marked sold quickly, and then two different interested parties have strung the seller along for weeks before eventually developing excuses about cash flow or wifely objections. The bike remains available at the same price of $4500. Contact us at mail@throttleyard.com if you are interested.
3/25/2011 Update: This Ducati has been sold. Stay tuned for more TY Exclusives!
From 3/21/2011:
This 1993 Ducati 900SS (VIN ZDM1LC4M5PB007799) is being offered by the original owner who purchased the bike new from Wilson’s Motorcycles in Fresno, California on 12/20/93. At that time it was trucked back to his home to Valencia instead of ridden, and the bike has never been dropped, has never been ridden in the rain, has never been over-revved nor raced, and is always kept covered in the garage. It has 4650 miles. It is available in Valencia, California for $4500.
A major service was done at Pro Italia Motorcycles in Glendale California on 5/17/07 with 4627 miles on the clock. This service included: oil change & filter, brake fluid flush & change, new cam belts, fuel tank drained and cleaned. A new battery was installed in November of ’08 and is kept on a Battery Tender. The engine number is LC4P007944. Up until this month, the bike had been riding on its original Michelin tires. They were, of course, hard and not road-worthy. New tires were installed and balanced on March 16. They are Michelin Pilot Road, in the same size as the original tires: 120/70ZR-17 on the front, 170/60ZR-17 on the rear. The original tires have been saved and can be part of the sale should the new owner wish.
Unfortunately, the bike hasn’t been ridden much in the last ten years due to some long-term health issues and a few too many motorcycles in the stable. Even though it was started, warmed up and ridden briefly once a month or so over the years, I felt that the carburetors and fuel system needed to be gone through and freshened. In early March of this year the Mikuni carburetors were completely disassembled, thoroughly cleaned and reassembled with new o-rings and gaskets. The entire fuel system was also cleaned at the same time and a new fuel pump (a genuine Ducati part, not an aftermarket unit) and both in-tank fuel filters were fitted. The tank is clean and rust-free. New NGK spark plugs were also installed at this time (two new sets of spares are included in the sale).
The bike has the following upgraded parts:
- BOS carbon exhaust silencers (installed in the stock, low position)
- Dynojet kit #7201.001 installed (all of the original carburetor springs, needles and jets are included)
- Carbon fiber rear splash guard
- Custom aluminum license plate holder
- Goodrich stainless brake lines, front and rear
- Fast by Ferracci 39 tooth rear sprocket (stock is 37)
All of the original parts are included in the sale (see photos), and all are in new condition. The bike was not modified in any way for the above upgrades; all could be replaced in an afternoon’s work.
There are a few blemishes on the bike, as documented in the photo album:
- There is a small paint chip on the front face of the rear lift handle
- There are some tiny paint chips on the underside of the left fairing
- A bit of paint has been rubbed off the bodywork where the bottom of the seat/tail assembly meets the rear panel. This is not visible with the seat installed on the bike.
- There is some rubbed-off anodizing on the inside of the throttle housing, probably from contact with a riding glove
The bike retains the complete factory tool kit roll, the owner’s manual and both ignition keys. The seller can also provide PDF versions of the Ducati factory workshop and parts manuals (both are reprints off the Internet). The red rear stand shown in the photos is included in the sale as is as the Battery Tender.
Check out the additional photos in the Flickr album slide-show below.
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Ah, BaT for bikes — brilliant!
And this is a great way to kick it off — a bargain rocket if ever there was one. Bellissima…
Definitely one of the bikes on the list. The exhaust note alone is worth the price of entry.
I had a poster of this bike on my office wall when they were new, but just wasn’t in position to swing the purchase of one at the time. Fast forward twenty years or so, and now I’d have a problem getting in the position to ride it very far.
Such is life. Great bike, worth the money just for garage art if nothing else. Looking forward to Throttle Yard, great idea!
Have owned one of these for years – great bikes. Replaced a ’72 750 SS replica that was just too user-unfriendly for frequent use and a 600 Pantah TL that was just too slow. These are light-handling with great power, and now they look pretty darn “classic,” in their own way. Sound great too with these pipes. Great way to bridges gap between true vintage bevel-drive and the newer, more modern Ducks. Great price for this one since it looks very well maintained, and has had all the “been-sitting-for-a-while” work done to it (that I regret to say, my bike also needs).
When the “new” SS came out in ’91, these things made me crazy. After only ever buying used bikes, I actually bought a new ’92 900SS. It joined a Darmah and several older 860 & 900 variants in my garage.
I’ll never sell it. Still my favorite bike…EVER.
Get some unrestrictive cans, and listen to the music. Love the looks…too bad that later iterations got “re-styled” by a Frenchman claiming to be a “motorcycle designer”. Yeesh…stick to neck ties and prom dresses, dude.
Ferrari…Lamborghini…Maserati…blah blah blah. The Italians know how to build BIKES.
A SMOKIN DEAL!!!!
This is a great deal: at this mileage and with recent service you’re getting a virtually showroom-new bike at about half price. Has all the right first mods, too. Your next steps would be FCR carbs and hi-compression pistons, but you start to sacrifice streetability (although that’s in exchange for it becoming a wheelie-monster so some might consider it a worthwhile sacrifice.)
If you’ve never owned one of these, you should… this is quite possibly the best all-around bike Ducati ever built.
I’ve had a ’92 (white frame) for the last 10 years or so – fantastic machine. It’s been crazy reliable, and nobody can believe it’s 20 years old! It still draws admirer’s whenever I take it out.
Another reliability note: I was driving my Fulvia in the rain, and a guy on a half fairing ’92 pulled up next to me at a light to comment on my car – and I said “I like your taste, I’ve got the same full-fairing bike at home”. He went on to tell me he had turned over 200k miles on it without a full rebuild!!
I’m amazed at how cheap the price is on this one – like everyone is saying – it’s a steal!
Such a beautiful iconic Duc!
This is my next bike. My most recent bike is less than two months old, and it kills me to pass on this.
Just recently [6 mo] sold my 91. The description of this could have been quoted from the description of mine. Only difference is that mine was a 91 with the white frame and white wheels ; significantly more attractive IMO, but harder to keep looking good. Even the price is similar. This bike is a deal – I had to sell mine too due to health issues keeping me from riding anything with clipons.
As has been noted, this is probably the best all round bike Ducati has made in recent history. I kept mine over 2 years after I could ride it much just to fire it up and listen to it!
You owe yourself a 900 SS if you’ve never owned one. You wont be sorry.
Now nearly 20 years old, they definitely owe more to the past than the future. My 96′ ss/sp feels modern compared to my 860 gt, but completely archaic and leaden next to any Asian 600cc. They where never quick, and still aren’t and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The guy that suggested high comp pistons and flat slides is dead wrong, just ride it. It takes a concerted effort to make any appreciable gains to these motors and then to what end? P.Terblanche’s styling (S.African, not French) effectively ended the Supersport’s appeal for most die hard fans. These old air cooled ducatis are best admired for their beauty and ridden on a winding back roads, carrying speed smoothly through turns while listening to that under stressed big bore exhaust note. The riding position is sporty, but not extreme or uncomfortable. Here in the states $3500 will buy you a very nice example, and this one @ 4500 is a no-brainer.
Jim – you nailed the whole 900SS experience perfectly. These are especially fun on a back road with fast, broad sweepers….just get into a nice groove with it: quick, but calm. The fast/frenetic thing is also fun, but that’s a different day, different road, different bike (Gamma 500? 917? MB5?)
This bike has the “standard” 900SS mods: the 39-tooth sprocket, and aftermarket pipes/aircleaner with the ubiquitous Dynojet kit. The only thing missing that a lot of people added was a better rear shock. And I totally agree with Jim to leave the engine alone (bike does decent wheelies in stock tune, byw). Steve’s engine mod suggestion, however, makes me curious to what 917′s are selling for these days…
Like some other commenters, I also have the white frame and wheels, too, and the black bodywork, which I love). But a red Ducati can never be wrong. I like the red with the silver frame a lot – were most of the SS frames painted silver like this or white? And I agree that Terblanche’s styling change ruined the SS’s looks – but that just makes this version even more timeless.
I pledge (to myself, I’m not assuming anyone else cares…) to get mine out of the cobwebs this weekend. What a waste. So thanks again TY/BaT for some inspiration (already bought a car off the BaT site). Might need to finally get some risers/extenders for the clip-ons though!
@penp – the only white framed 2 valve bikes were 91s, and 92s with black bodywork. Red 92s had the silver/titanium/goldish frame. that’s officially at least; with Ducati, things are seldom ironclad. For instance, my SS did not have the gold Brembo calipers, but had the same ones as the 851/888 Superbike. The guys down at AMS, and few know their stuff more than them, said they didnt even recognise the hydraulics on the clutch… so never say never. Granted, mine was very early production, but still…
I’ve had a few of these over the years, and still have one in the garage waiting for me to put her back into service. I road raced a 96 for 2 seasons. Wasn’t fast at all compared to modern bikes, but fairly competative in Supertwins, Heavyweight Sportsman, etc. The slighty built race motor made 90+ hp at the wheel and would turn to 10.5k. Short Manifolds and 41mm Mikuni’s are the ticket for race motors. I would still get passed on the high bank of Daytona by 600′s like I wasn’t moving. lol
I agree the mods that are on this are the way to go for the street. The FCR’s are nice, but you’re screwed if it’s cold – no chokes. Drop in high comps are good bang for the buck. Early motors like this should have the silver head studs updated to the later type if you ever open the motor for any reason. Frames can crack up around the top of the headstock. Ducati would replace the frames for years after the bikes went out of warranty, but that has come to an end. Rear shocks on the early 900′s and all the SP’s are Showas, not the crap they put on the later CR’s (Sachs/Boge’s??).
The 93′s on had a wider crank on the alternator side. Maybe a bigger stator/rotor? I can’t remember. Something to think about if anyone ever needs a crank. They are swapable, but only with the correct side cover for the crank.
Upgrading to the later 916 style shift drum is a good mod too. Makes shifting much smoother with less mis-shifts during hard charging.
Have I rambled enough? Somebody go buy this bike!
Time to go look at my 92 sitting in the garage. I think I built that one with a Falicon crank…
I had a 1996 900SS-CR which I loved. The sound, the feel, the looks, TORQUE! But I just could not bear the niggling little problems The final straw was the bolt that attaches the gearshift sheared off, which put unwanted tension on the return springs, which promptly failed. $60 for a tow, $10 for a new bolt and springs, $350 for labor. Fahgetabout it. I traded it straight across for an immaculate KTM Duke Supermoto. Six months later, missing those Ducati virtues I bought a Honda Superhawk which was so technicallly similar to the late ’90s Ducati Superbike that Honda should have been sued. All the famiilar Ducati clues, but with much less personality and a lot more reliability. These days, and older wiser me rides a BMW 1150 GS (aka The Angry Platypus) and is quite content. But I sure do miss that L-twin bellow….
@jh: My ’92 was delivered red with white frame, but was promptly converted to yellow SL bodywork (save for the double seat) by Pro Italia for the original owner.
@ cycletech: would love to hear more about the 916 shift drum conversion – straight swap? The only thing that bothers me is the vague shifting, and often complete refusal to go into neutral at a stoplight. Has been like that the entire time I’ve owned it.
Peter Egan has gone through a buy-sell-miss-buy-sell-miss-buy ownership program for this bike, and it’s still represented as part of his column header in Cycle World. Easy to see why, though at some point you’d hope he would just hang on to the one he has and skip all the middle steps.
@JeffB – like I said, never say never with Ducati… I am curious though as to production date on your bike. Ducati sent 200 91s to the US – 80 [approximately] of them were promptly sent back to Europe, with a few [20] of that number going to japan according to everything I have read. I wonder if yours wasnt a very late production 91 sold as a 92? Memory tells me 91s didnt come out til “late” and were sent here in big consecutive batches, early in the production run. Mine was within the first 100 made [cant remember the number offhand and too lazy to go look it up]and was estimated from someone who knows much more than I, [Stuart at AMS] to have been within the first month to 6 weeks of regular production. Just a theory. Doesnt really matter.
Oh, and I prefer the yellow actually myself! And mine never wanted to find neutral at the stoplights either. Congrats on what i know is a wonderful motorbike.
@jh & JeffB: it’s odd I guess from your comments, but the only ’92s I’ve ever seen – and that has to be at least a dozen bikes over the years – have all been red with white frames; I’ve never seen a black one.
The bike in this listing, by the way, is mine. Many nice comments about it and the pre-’94~’95 or so 900SS in general – good to hear. It’s a lovely machine and I’m already missing it’s leaving on many levels…
@DavidR – It is a lovely bike. As I said earlier, could have “lifted” your ad copy from mine; Mine was the only name ever on a title, several easily reversible modifications, etc. I even had the original airfilter [which was never used-did the Ferracci airbox mod and pipes before even riding it] and everything else in bags. approximate same mileage. As I stated, I kept it for 2 years after I could no longer ride it more than around the block. And i miss it / kick myself nearly every day… Trust me on this one – reconsider. Seriously reconsider… Put it in the living room or something. Just think about it some more. And if it sells, congratulations to the new owner! you WILL love the bike..
@David R. : The metallic black one’s were, I believe, limited edition. They are stunning, and that’s what I was looking for when I came across mine, done up like a 2 seater SL: http://www.flickr.com/photos/13463758@N04/1373406328/in/set-72157601996172567/
Good luck with the sale!
@jh: I’ll have to check on the build date of my bike.
If the frame and swing arm on this have never been replaced, then this thing should continue to be a garage queen as it has been its whole life. I’ve snapped 2 of these frames and 2 swing arms on these same bikes. Buyer beware (if you plan on riding it)
@JeffDisant – wonder what model years you had problems with? the only ones I had heard of having issues around the steering heads were 96s. Had not heard reports of earlier ones having a problem.
As far as this bike goes, it’s too nice to beat on anyway; should be kept as a sunny Saturday enjoyment imho.
Condolences to DavidR and congratulations to the new caretaker!
“…excuses about cash flow or wifely objections.”
Head shake, eyeball roll, etc.
That’s BS – telling a guy you’ll buy something and then backing out… You oughta have your cash in hand before offering up and as far as wifely objections…well, you oughta have that in hand too. BUT, look at it this way ; DavidR WILL regret selling the bike. Maybe the Hand of Providence is just protecting him from future grief! :)
Sounds nice, but a bike you can’t ride in the rain seems defective.
Mmm, nice older 900 SS. All this needs is some FCR’s flatslides. Nothing beats the sweet chirping sound they omit.
So, boys… If any of you saw your girlfriends, wives, or a hot chick riding on one of these, how would you react? As a woman, I’d rather see a guy on one of these beauties than on the recent rockets of late- tacky and tasteless. Totally a steal at only $4500!
Peter Egan’s paramour is a bevel drive 900SS I believe. I recently purchased an 03 800SS. That South African gentleman’s styling has grown on me over the years. Interestingly, a slight but vocal majority of die hard Ducati fans don’t like the bike. General interest motorcyle fans and John Q Public seem to all think it is a beautiful bike judging by the gawkers it draws. It still rides like an air cooled SS and most of the niggling problems on the older bikes have been worked out. You might even say a quick dyno tune and download to a Power Commander is easier than dicking around with carburetors.