Brand new 900 S for £4000!

**Desmo Dave** · 05 Jul 08, 09:30 AM

I've seen on the Biketrader site that there are dealers selling brand new '07 900 sports for as low as £4000.

This seems quite a bargain and very tempting, especially when I'm considering getting something sporty but practical to replace the costly high maintenance 748R.

I assume that the sport models are downgraded Supersports, so what's the differences and what are peoples experience of them? How much did these models originally go for?

Cheers!

**AdrianK** · 05 Jul 08, 12:33 PM

Have a distant memory of a test of a 900S ( BIKE perhaps?) which wasn't very flattering. I think you're right about it being a 'budget' SS. I seem to remember the test bike was matt black.
May not seem such a bargain if you're faced with spending a lot of money to bring it up spec? I'm sure someone will come along with info about the actual differences. Quite a few low mileage SSie's around.

**Douglas** · 05 Jul 08, 01:21 PM

Hi

I looked at these last year at KJM Superbikes. Firstly they are about three years old now, although unregistered. Ducati havent made 900s and ss for three years. IU suspect they would have to have registered them all in March 07, as their type approval would have run out then.

They were all matt black, but they could supply them in red for about £600 more. They had single front discs and unadjustable suspension. There was also an additional cost to PDI and tax etc them, so the on the road price for a red one was almost £5k

However the deal breaker for me was the lack of a Ducati warranty, and the fact they refused to change the oil, belts and brake fluid, all of which needed changing, because of the bikes age, according to Ducati recommendations.

Also I quite frankly didnt trust the guys at KJM, who I felt tried to mislead me about the issues mentioned above, despite my asking them directy about them. By contrast both Ducati UK and Nelly at Cornerspeed were very helpful, and could have got me a Ducati warranty for a reasonable extra fee.

In the end I bought a used 750ss, and was very happy with it for a lot less money.

**MrTurner** · 05 Jul 08, 01:45 PM

You can still get them new at KJM by the look of it. £4k, or £4,699 for an SS.

I was put off by these guys as the warranty is only as good as the place supplying it. I didn't fancy trying to explain why my MY04 bike was registered in 2008 either when it came to sell. As per Douglas, I ended up just getting a mint used one for a lower price.

**stevel** · 05 Jul 08, 02:03 PM

I know someone who got one of those from KJM, got a good deal and they repaired it later when the clutch failed, but my experience of them was that they lied and connived to get me into the shop on false promise, and then tried to sell me what they had in stock.....in my case a bl00dy Benelli! Not impressed

**NedLudd** · 05 Jul 08, 04:14 PM

I think the respondents have said it all. Avoid, and get a used, mint, better spec/d SS for nearly half that price, eg:

900ssie - FREE Ducati Classifieds
or
1996 900ss - FREE Ducati Classifieds

**AdrianK** · 05 Jul 08, 04:14 PM

Have you looked at the Forum Classifieds? Pax has a nice SSie for sale!

**Pax** · 05 Jul 08, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianK

Have you looked at the Forum Classifieds? Pax has a nice SSie for sale!

I have and its gone, being collected tomorrow, barring any unforseen disasters. Could have sold it quite a few times though. So you have to be quick with good ones.

**Desmo Dave** · 06 Jul 08, 11:17 AM

yeah I saw the ads. I didn't really want a yellow one anyway to be honest. The other one looks nice, but I'm leaning towards an injected model at the moment. I always prefered the classic look of the older ones, but lately I've come round to Terreblanches, supermono influenced, styling.

I've never ridden an SS, what are they like? and has anyone had experience of both versions? Do the early ones suffer from carb icing in the winter?

**AdrianK** · 07 Jul 08, 08:44 AM

Never ridden an SSie. The styling is a matter of taste

! Early carb'd SS's do suffer from carb iciing but this can be apparently be alleviated by a fuel additive (FST Pro?). Later bikes had extra plumbing to route engine oil up to the float bowls to prevent carb icing. My '96 bike had this carb heater mod and no problems at all with carb ice. Aftermarket Keihin FCR carbs don't suffer from carb icing...you might be lucky enough to get a carb'd SS fitted with them?
Early bikes could have problems with cylinder head studs snapping (different type of stud used on the later bikes) and also frame cracking around the headstock.

What are they like to ride/own? Firstly they are not perfect...as evidenced by the thousands of words on this website devoted to modifications! You could probably run a CBR600 for years without ever servicing it...not so with a Ducati. They are not cheap to have serviced and it pays (if you're not going to do the work yourself) to take the trouble to do some research before giving the bike to ANYONE for servicing.....some 'experts' think that if you own a Ducati it means it is 'open-season' on your bank account!

That having been said you'll find bike magazines STILL running articles about Ducati reliability. The only significant mechanical or electrical problem I've ever had to deal with was replacing the starter motor (Nippon Denso!) and the bike has never let me down on the road.

This forum is a gold mine of information on everything from which places to use for servicing, how to do much of it yourself, common problems and the numerous possible modifications.
The 900SS rides like 'a real motorbike' and becomes involving in a way that no Honda ever could. I also have a 954 Fireblade; great bike but it only gets routine servicing whereas I've had my 900SS for about 11 years, it has had lots of modifications and the Ducati is the bike I take on trackdays....
...and when the snow is on the ground and I go into the garage, which bike do I still enjoy looking at?.....
Enjoy
A.

**AdrianK** · 07 Jul 08, 01:39 PM

Dave,
A thousand apologies

! I read your last and replied as if you were new to the marque...which you are obviously NOT...Doh!!! I should have paid a bit more attention! Sorry.
So in terms of what they're like to ride..... a well sorted 900/944SS will make about 85 BHP at the rear wheel with peak torque around 68ft lbs. With a few necessary mods (particularly a rear shock which provides ride height adjustment) they handle well but the 748R will be a hard act to follow! You might notice a difference in the riding position comfort especially if you're 6ft+.
Apologies again for the previous...I'll get my coat!!

A.

**Pax** · 07 Jul 08, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desmo Dave

yeah I saw the ads. I didn't really want a yellow one anyway to be honest. The other one looks nice, but I'm leaning towards an injected model at the moment. I always prefered the classic look of the older ones, but lately I've come round to Terreblanches, supermono influenced, styling.

I've never ridden an SS, what are they like? and has anyone had experience of both versions? Do the early ones suffer from carb icing in the winter?

I have ridden a 748 and it was a great bike handling wise, but I was not keen on the power delivery against the desmodue engine ( beauty is in the eye of the holder etc )
My 900ssie was a great bike. I found it to be very stable and sure footed, it stayed planted in the bends and turned in reasonably well. The engine was solid and reliable and while the carb versions are fine, I think the injection smoothed out the power delivery with plenty of punch all the way through the rev range. There are also no problems with winter starting/running. I would never have any hesitation in recommending one to a friend and I think you should ride one as they are a bit like fungus and tend to grow on you.