I'm a real fan of the 900ss, mostly the 95. The new series of supersports looks interesting, especially the 1000DS.
I have two 95 900ss's so all this mostly applies to that year. One I bought as my second bike and have had it new since 95. The biggest reason I bought it was that it fit when I sat on it. I already knew of the other aspects of Ducati's, but sitting on it did it for me. I didn't feel as if I the was reaching around the tank to sit on it. Once I learned how to ride a the thing.....I haven't wanted another bike. I really have no desire for anything else. It just fits the way I ride and where I ride. Same story as others....handles great, stops great, with a few adjustments, comfy for long rides, and then the motor. A well set up 900ss is a fun thing to ride.
In the hills, I do not have to shift as much as in line 4 when going at a really quick pace. Since the 900ss weighs the same as 600's, it really is easy to turn, flick into the turns and stable once its there. Since the power comes on smooth and linear, powering out of turns is not a issue and from lower in the rpm range than inline 4's.
Since I do most of my on maintance, the cost of maintance is not the same as others. At 24,000 miles I needed to have one valve adjusted. The maintance is really easy on the 900. Check the battery, remove seat, and lift the gas tank and prop it up with its stand. Replace spark plugs, 2 only, without removing any body work and in 15 minutes, 30 w/beer. The lack of a cooling system is a nice thing really. Once less thing to worry about or break. Body work, removal is like 5-10 minutes max. Thats everything, front and rear side panels, nose panel and tank.
They are really easy bikes to work on. You can learn to do most if not all your on maintance.
I put 35k on the bike before I set up for race only. In three years of racing, only a loose nut in the carb made be miss one practice session. All the other times was show up and race. I have spent time on the track in 107 degrees temp without any problems.
900ss number two I bought from a friend. I am the seond owner. I bought it with 63k on it, but the top end only has about half that. This one runs real good. So much so that I'm setting up my race 900 motor like this one. This one is my play toy in the hills.
My first 900ss has not been trouble free. Only two things.....I had a side cover gasket blow out, no biggie, and the frame cracking. That happen on the street 900, but the frame was replaced by Ducati. My race 900, I just had the frame welded and since I was setting it up for racing , I also had some bracing added in the front .
I've spent 700 mile days in high heat on my 900 and enjoyed every minute of it. I can only spend 70 miles on it and get the
same joy. Commute 6 miles to work, same joy. The bike just fits well as a all around fun ride.
Twisting the thottle has a direct affect on how big my smile is.
