'95 900ss
Written: May 26 '00 (Updated Nov 10 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: solid frame eats up bumps, beautiful design
Cons: high maintenance, potential money pit
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| zina's Full Review: 2000 Ducati Super Sport |
Before I bought my '95 Ducati 900ss, I had a BMW K75s. I wanted something smaller and sportier so a friend told me to try a Ducati.
I bought it because the size, weight, and seat comfort was perfect for me (5'7", 120lb. female). Because men tend to have longer upper torsos, the reach on several sportbikes felt uncomfortable; this wasn't the case with the SS.
Because of EPA regulations, the Ducati was sold with extremely lean jetting that caused low-speed bucking and stalling -- it was almost impossible to ride because of it. The first required modification was a Dynojet Stage II Jet kit with K&N and air box mod. After that, I had other modifications done to slowly dial it in to my ride (I would say the upgrade in the brake components and the Nichols flywheel were among the most important to me).
The biggest problem with Ducatis is their frequency of maintenance (which also leads to cost). If you don't have the desire to be diligent about maintenance and inspection, you'll probably be visiting your shop more than you care to. How well your Ducati holds up also depends a bit on inventory roulette. Some people have had major ongoing problems (definitely disproportionate to Japanese bike owners), while others have had no problems.
I can't speak for the new fuel-injected 900ss models, but carbureted SS models don't have a lot of horsepower (mine might make about 70; new Japanese sportbikes easily offer over 100). You can make changes to get more horsepower, but in the end it won't be enough to beat a Japanese bike in a straight-away. If you enjoy track riding, you'll have a great time in the curves, but once you hit the straights you'll be staring at the back-ends of GSXRs, R1s, VFRs, and everything else. If raw speed is what you seek, this is the wrong bike.
Although I know people who've purchased the 900ss as their first bike, I wouldn't recommend it (at least not a carbureted one). I would've been miserable if it were my first bike. When you're learning the ins-and-outs about shifting and gear selection, you don't want a fussy bike acting like a bronco wearing cement shoes just because you're off a gear going through a turn.
I'm willing to bet again on Ducati as I've placed an order for the MH900e. There's also a 916 in the garage; this belongs to the husband/mechanic.
Although there are issues that make it imperfect, the smile it will give you after a mountain ride outweighs all the problems. Nobody expects a Ferrari to be as easy to maintain as a Honda...
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
zina
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Member: Zina Kelley
Location: San Diego
Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 5 members
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