Having been with its original owner until 2022, this 1981 Ducati 900SS is said to be a survivor, wearing its original paint that shows some wear and nicks here and there. Despite that, or maybe because of that, it would draw a crowd of motorcycle fans at almost any gathering, or even at a gas station. It’s listed here on eBay in Elmhurst, Illinois; the current bid is $2,100, but the reserve hasn’t been met.
There’s a local coffee shop where I hang out every once in a while, and it’s known for having motorcycle groups show up and park in front. They open the overhead door in the summer, and it’s pretty cool to see a bunch of motorcycles backed into the curb in front. This type of cafe racer-style (not really the official type or style) has to be the most popular type of bike I see parked there. Here’s a photo of one of the walls in the coffee shop showing a Ducati 900 poster!
Ducati’s Super Sport series was produced in the first round from 1974 through 1981, and this is the last year of what is commonly known as the square-case models. Made in 750 and 900 versions, many reviewers wondered why Ducati took it away once they finally got it right. The V-twin engine was different, with a new and improved oil pump, better, more reliable electronics, an improved cam drive, and the shifter moved to the left side. The U.S. had recently regulated that motorcycles had to have the shifter on the left side. Hagerty is at $7,800 for a #3 good-condition example and $11,500 for a #2 excellent bike.
You can see that this example isn’t ready for Concours duties, but is instead said to be a nice survivor that was recently refurbished. It could use new tires for serious riding duties, as the ones it’s wearing now are well past the decade-long safety deadline. I would absolutely want to ride this one, so new tires would be a must. The gas tank and other painted bits are showing some honest wear and a few nicks here and there. I think it’s a great look; I would not repaint this bike.
The engine is more of an L-twin, basically two single cylinders grafted together at the crankcase, and it’s an 864-cc model with around 65 horsepower. Power is sent through a five-speed manual, and at just under 500 pounds, this isn’t a lightweight, but they were fast in its day, with a 130 mph top speed. The seller says it starts easily and rides superbly. With a couple of modifications (Koni shocks, electronic ignition, etc.), I’d want to put this one back to as bone-stock as possible. Have any of you heard of this model or owned a similar-era Ducati?
A friend had i believe it was a 1983 S2 Ducati That i was able to ride a few times that did everything quite well that it was designed to do. I never owned a street bike but was lucky to have friends that besides the Ducati there was two Honda CBX 6 cylinders, two Kawasaki Z1R and one Suzuki 1100. I was lucky enough to ride all of them multiple times the Ducati on twisty roads was my favorite the Honda CBX just scared the hell out of me but it did have the sweetest sound with a header.
Every time I hear or read about Dacatti I go back to the age of 13 in the summer of 71. After working for my dad I bought my first dirt/ trail bike a blue Suzuki TS 125 Duster. I was in heaven and had graduated from Boy’s Life to motorcycle mags. I remember salivating over the 71 Ducatti Desmo RT 450. The straight exhaust and how it curved in and out of the frame still sticks in my mind. I still to this day think it was one of the most Bad A$$ bikes I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Life was so simple then…go to work, earn money, buy what you wanted. Didn’t care about running out of room, spending too much and losing money, or the wife not approving!
Funny you mention the biker-friendly coffee shop, we’ve got one here in Tucson like that, Black Crown (originally Safehouse). The founders wished there was a gritty, rowdy, unpretentious “roadhouse dive bar” type of place without booze where they could hang out, so they figured there might be others like them with a similar wish and decided to open one themselves.
They knew some guys in the local Sober Riders MC, so to build some clientele and cred they welcomed them and other sobriety/recovery oriented MCs who wanted a place to hang out in public and enjoy some nightlife without the usual temptations and drunk idiots around, and set aside the curbside frontage for motorcycle parking. Being a regular there, I’ve met some great characters from that contingent over the years, generally Good People not least from the lessons learned from their recovery and sobriety.
Thanks for the tip, SubGothius! Tucson is my must-stop city on my way west once or twice a year. I always stop at Exo Roast on North 6th for a chiltepin cold brew, sit outside by myself, and just enjoy the peace and quiet and the nice weather. I’ll check out Black Crown next time for sure.
Exo’s great, or was at the 6th Ave location before a recent change of ownership there several months ago drove out all their baristas and tanked quality. Their other location on Simpson I think is still under the original ownership, last I heard. A few other good alternatives with comparably good coffee and community vibes: Presta, Cariño, Rosebud, Talega.
The sidepanels are SS but the dualseat etc. is S2; the SS had a single seat with a hump…. (?). Dashboard’s different from mine, and the fairing on mine’s like a Pantah one. But! Italian bike factories seemed to fit whatever was available, so you’d have electrical parts from 2 or 3 different manufacturers and you’d have different tail lights on the same model year bike (or something like). Chrome indicators on that and black ones on mine.
Both had the same engine w/40mm carbs (mine’s a year newer, but less original).
Every Ducati that’s passed me sounds great 👍
A coworker had one. You could hear that deep base exhaust note from a mile away. Ducati has a weird valve set up. No valve springs, but a separate cam that pulls the valves closed.
That’s called a “desmodromic” valvetrain, not sure offhand if all Ducatis have that or this model in particular, tho’.
BELLA! She whispers her promises with a mesmerizing lilt-a Caterina Murino of her day. As you dance with her on the asphalt you realize this is a love you must always cherish and protect; the work that is needed to keep that trust is constant but never a chore, more as something that returns to and rewards your soul exponentially.
Lovely machine, Scotty.
Intoxicating…I think I’m going to cry!
Bellissima!
Beautiful Ducati 900SS Desmo. Two days left on the auction. I wonder what the reserve is? If it sells for less than $20k I’d say someone made a good deal. Insure it and ride it.
Good wright up Scotty. Ducati together with Laverda, were and maybe still are in Europe, top grade bike manufacturers. Local mags in the 70’s and 80’s adorned the road holding qualities of Ducati models at the time.
Ducati is still turning out awesome machines but Laverda is napping as part of Piaggio.
It depends on how well the ‘holding’ company treats the sport bike or car. Ferrari did well under the (Gruppo) Fiat, Maserati not so well within Citroen.
fantastic mo chine. Hope it goes for more than that 3K$.
Pretty nice to have it so original.
Never knew Y some merican cop shops had
them till driving one on the local twisties.
Some American cop shops had these?!?? What a recruiting tool!!! “Yeah, we’re gonna buy a Ducati semi-street race bike for you to ride, put some bitchin’ cool lights and stuff on it. You take it home, we’ll pay for the registration, insurance, fuel and maintenance. All we ask of you is to ride around looking cool and on occasion give out a written reminder of the benefits in driving safely..”
What a job.
Ended. Reached $7,100, reserve not met.
Thanks for that update, JoeBob!
I had a customer, who had way more money than sense. He was like a 14 year old with ADHD but had lots of money. A very sketchy combo. I bought and did a few restorations on some vintage cars for him. As he was obsessed with cars, planes, and bikes.
Anyway he had 2 Ducattis 900’s along with about 45 other super high performance bikes of all brands. He had stuff I had never seen before or since. And the thing was he bought them all brand new. Would ride them a couple times. Get bored, and go buy something else. So all the bikes had less than 300miles on them. Absolutley nuts. And his cars were the same. Hardly any miles on any of them.
He wanted me to sell most the bikes, and some of the cars.
I found a bike dealer who would take them all. At a fair price. But when the owner relized what that offer amounted to broken down per bike. He killed the deal.
But did manage to sell off some of the high value cars. What a trip
Ended at $18,100.
Reserve Not Met.
46 bids.