1977 Ducati 900SS
1977 Ducati 900SS
Frame no. DM860SS087148
Engine no. 087187 DM860
• Dry stored in a climate controlled environment
• Wonderful example of Ducati's highly desirable 900SS range
While the town of Imola isn't on the Italian tourist map, in the early 1970s it was certainly on the minds of motorcycle racing enthusiasts around the world, being the site of the richest two-wheel race in Europe. Taking a leaf from Daytona's book, in 1972 the inaugural 200 Miglia di Imola race was the first-ever American style 200-mile event, with a winner's purse of £24,000. That Paul Smart won the race on a new Ducati 750cc desmodromic v-twin is well-known, but few know he only raced because his wife, Maggie, had taken a phone call from Ducati chief Fredmano Spairani, and promised Smart would accept a ride on the untested machine "because the money was excellent!" No top-tier racer wants to risk his time, reputation, and possibly health on an unknown quantity, and while first testing his racer at Imola he made a mental list of ten items needing immediate correction. The response from Ducatis' mechanics; he had just broken Agostini's lap record!
Ducati capitalized on their success one year later by introducing the 750SS "Imola Replica", their first v-twin using desmodromic valve operation. The 750SS was a hand-built, limited-production model, and did well subsequently in the hands of production racers.
In 1975, Ducati took advantage of rule changes allowing larger engines in racing and developed the "limited edition" 900SS.
The 900SS presented here is a beautifully restored example which was restored under the direction of Doctor Desmo, who is considered to be the go to guy for 900SS's. This machine comes from a well known car collector that 15 years ago, decided to buy what he thought were the most iconic motorcycles of the 1970's and 1980's and set out to find the ones in the best original or restored conditions. All machines are maintained by the Guzzi Doctor in Illinois and have been kept on a trickle charge ready for a warm ride, they have been stored in a climate-controlled environment set at 65F and are ready to ride away.
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1977 Ducati 900SS
Frame no. DM860SS087148
Engine no. 087187 DM860
• Dry stored in a climate controlled environment
• Wonderful example of Ducati's highly desirable 900SS range
While the town of Imola isn't on the Italian tourist map, in the early 1970s it was certainly on the minds of motorcycle racing enthusiasts around the world, being the site of the richest two-wheel race in Europe. Taking a leaf from Daytona's book, in 1972 the inaugural 200 Miglia di Imola race was the first-ever American style 200-mile event, with a winner's purse of £24,000. That Paul Smart won the race on a new Ducati 750cc desmodromic v-twin is well-known, but few know he only raced because his wife, Maggie, had taken a phone call from Ducati chief Fredmano Spairani, and promised Smart would accept a ride on the untested machine "because the money was excellent!" No top-tier racer wants to risk his time, reputation, and possibly health on an unknown quantity, and while first testing his racer at Imola he made a mental list of ten items needing immediate correction. The response from Ducatis' mechanics; he had just broken Agostini's lap record!
Ducati capitalized on their success one year later by introducing the 750SS "Imola Replica", their first v-twin using desmodromic valve operation. The 750SS was a hand-built, limited-production model, and did well subsequently in the hands of production racers.
In 1975, Ducati took advantage of rule changes allowing larger engines in racing and developed the "limited edition" 900SS.
The 900SS presented here is a beautifully restored example which was restored under the direction of Doctor Desmo, who is considered to be the go to guy for 900SS's. This machine comes from a well known car collector that 15 years ago, decided to buy what he thought were the most iconic motorcycles of the 1970's and 1980's and set out to find the ones in the best original or restored conditions. All machines are maintained by the Guzzi Doctor in Illinois and have been kept on a trickle charge ready for a warm ride, they have been stored in a climate-controlled environment set at 65F and are ready to ride away.
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