Nice 900ss Bevel on Pistonheads

[Steve GD]

Originally Posted by Mr.R

If it's a valve spring model it'll have a motor from a 860 GT or 900 GTS, which is why it's so cheap!
Just had another look it's a tarted up GT 'NOT' a bevel 900ss.
Definately not the real deal.

Steve

Quick techie question....would not a valve-spring head place a much greater load on the bevel gears than a desmo one?

[Mr.R]

Steve,
Yes there would be more load on the bevel gears, but they're very strong, rarely give trouble if set up correctly on the square case motors.
The valve spring models were mostly a lot softer tuned, so don't suffer that much wear if the oils changed regularly.

Steve

[DM]

"Dramas, Lardy Bus" - words recently used to describe the excellent Ducati Bevel tourer:- aka the Darmah.

One can argue that it had pretensions later on when the SS/D was introduced, but the faithful Darmah was never a "Lardy Bus" & the only "Drama" they ever made was when the crank gave in (as with the SS).

Leaving the tech side out of the equation, the Darmah was only ever intended to combat the sports tourer market and therefore should be judged in that field alone, not slagged off as a wanna-be, just because "my bikes faster than yours - or louder".

I can see that many Ducatisti have Darmahs` (including me - & an SS) therefore they have a loyal following in their own right. Lets not become elitist and alienate one of the Ducati faith full (good or bad).

Excellent site, open forum, respect due.

Regards,
DM.

[Mr.R]

Hi,
Oh dear I seem to have upset someone, this doesn't usually happen to me!
Everybodies entitled to their opinion and I'll stick with mine.....
The best thing to do with a broken Drama is to break it for spares or use it as a donar, to build a light weight special.
Many people have gone down this route over the years, I've built several for fans of the bevel bikes.
The Darmah was built to cash in on the legend of the Desmo Headed Super Sport models and was aimed/sold to people who couldn't afford the top of the range bikes back then.
In the last 30 years I've met very few Darmah owners who wouldn't have prefered to own a 750/900SS.
As the years roll by all sorts of quirky bikes have gained a loyal following, the Drama is no different.
The fact remains that most of the cafe racers/ specials based on the bevel motors are in fact tarted up Darmahs, which lugg the extra burden of the overweight chassis, unless the builder was flush enough to buy a lightweight 900SS replica frame or any of the other lightweight frames that have been available over the years.
Now 30 years on a nice example of the Darmah is probably worth a bit more than a non standard lightweight special unless that special is something very trick.
But I still ask the question........
"What's the point of over complicating a motor to gain extra power, then saddle it with to much weight to pull along, defeating the object of the extra power?"

Steve

PS I do know of a very nice Andy Sidlow framed 900 special for sale it's parked along side a standard Drama rolling chassis, the canny buyer could either ride the super lightweight razor sharp handling Sidlow or remove the motor, replace the electric starter (the sidlow frame is so small there was no room for the starter, so I converted it to kickstart, I even had to shave some of the motors fins to get it in, the bikes so small it fits inside a 250 K1S Kawasaki fairing )and replace it in the standard rolling chassis.
I know which option I'd prefer.
I'd buy it myself if I had the spare cash, I know how few miles it's done and know what little work it needs to get it spot on.

[Weekend Warrior]

Originally Posted by Mr.R

Royum,
Well spotted that man!.....The bike is however only a Darmah SS and not the real deal, they were the poor mans "SS".....
Less power, too much weight and a chassis that wasn't in the same league.
In short a lardy bus!

Steve

That's fighting talk were I come from, second only to, 'would you like a fight?'

[Mr.R]

Bring it on Chris, I'll get Ness to tie one hand behind my back!

Steve

[royum]

Originally Posted by David.Hicks

1977 in music - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

... and all you remember is the bleedin' Eagles ... where were you?

Not listening to the same cr*p as you were obviously!