1978 Ducati 900 Super Sport
We had just finished celebrating Ducati at an event I organized in 2011 when I was offered a 1978 Ducati 900SS, the legendary Super Sport. I wasn't looking, but threw caution to the wind and went for it. While these machines are not as desirable, in collector terms, as the 750 Super Sport, the 900 SS still rates high on the 'bucket list' of bikes sporting 1970's road machines.
There were some fantastic machines on display and the bellow of Italian L-Twins blatting from Conti pipes washed over me as the bikes left when it was over. Our Special Guests that fall weekend included Cook Neilson, winner of the 1977 Daytona Superbike Race at Daytona Speedway, Nobby Clark, tuner for Mike Hailwood who scored a hugely popular win at the Isle of Man in 1978 on a Ducati 900SS, Dave Hailwood, son of the late World Champion Mke Hailwood and Eraldo Ferraci, whose teams won AMA and World titles on the legendary brand from Bologna, Italy. There was some serious Ducati desire in the air with that company, so it seemed destined to happen.
Cook won the Daytona Superbike race in 1977 on "The California Hot Rod", aka "Old Blue". The bike he and Phil Schilling built was 750SS based mongrel of the first order, utilizing the best bits regardless of the source. Neilson claimed he had the "Unfair Advantage" with the bike. Aside from Paul Smart winning the Imola 200 race in 1972, this was the most significant win in Ducati history, particularly in the United States. http://www.ducati.com/history/personalities/cook_neilson/index.do
Before jetting back to the U.K., Dave and I drove to Eraldo Ferraci's shop to check out the bike which was in for a service. Once I laid eyes on it, it was over. A deal was done and a week later, the bike was at it's new home with me.
The bike had been maintained regardless of cost and is a strong runner. Once used to the starting drill, the Ducati and I became fast friends. I am very fortunate to live near some of the best back roads you could imagine, and this is a bike to experience them on. It stunning silhouette and rapturous exhaust note are reason enough to own one. It's a no-nonsense, take no prisoners sport bike that begs to be flogged.
The 900 Super Sport is, of course, the model that followed the ground-breaking 750 SS, using the same frame and 'all-business' design ethos that made for a great production racer in it's time. This bike had been in the same ownership for nearly thirty years and had a stack of invoices for service and parts showed someone cared a great deal for this superbike of the seventies. Starting the bike up on the center-stand, off the bike's right side is the kicker that makes it all happen easily. No electric starter on this machine. When these were new, the included a spare pair of Conti 'mufflers' along with the stock Silentium pipes. They even threw in a pair of 40 mm carbs to be run without filters instead of the 32mm carbs and airboxes on the stock machine. This bike had all the go-fast goodies and the stock parts too. The original Speedline cast magnesium alloy rims have been replaced by a beautiful pair of shouldered alloys since the originals were prone to cracking.
According to the owner, only fifty-three 900 Super Sports made it to the USA in 1978. That the Japanese manufacturers were offering bikes with electric starters and four cylinders for considerably less money was just one of the problems faced by Ducati. This machine features Bosch electrics. When Mike Hailwood won the Isle of Man F1 Race in the summer of 1978, Ducati's fortunes took a turn for the better. The bike Mike won on was a Steve Wynn prepared Ducati with full fairing and Ducati duly turned out a streetbike replica that is another blue chip collectable Ducati today. It may well have saved the company. In 2009 Ducati launched a MH900E , the Mike Hailwood Evolution sports machine as a tribute to Mike's great comeback on the Isle.
Here's a short video of that historic ride with Hailwood at the Island:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYoC-CuXqEI
A friend suggested the SS on my Ducati stood for Super Scruffy, but I'm pretty sure he's jealous that he doesn't get to ride his trailer queen show machine anymore, it's too pretty to take out and ride. Well, I bought this one to ride, because that's what the former owner did and what I intend to keep doing. When he told on his one "illegal street race" I was shocked to hear it was against a Ferrari 275GTB in the Philadelphia suburbs in the 1980's. He claimed he had the Ferrari covered to around 100 mph when the car stormed by. After that, the Ducati then went to Fast by Ferracci for head work, new pistons and a swap to Mikuni carbs. Dyno'd at 67 hp, top speed was likely in the 130-140 mph range. Raw, rapid and single-minded in purpose, the SS does indeed deliver on what it's looks promise, a real factory built production racer for the road experience.
More insight on the Ducati 750SS and 900SS Wikipedia entry :
Because the price of the 750 Super Sport was very similar to 900, very few 750s were produced with the majority of them being shipped to Australia, Germany or staying in Italy for racing applications.
By 1978 the bike looked identical, but several significant improvements had made their way into the motor making them more reliable and solving problems with engine cranks breaking. The electronics also improved as well as some minor timing tweaks making the bike run more efficiently. Most notable was a majorly redesigned gear shifter that made the bike a lot easier for owners to live with the bike. Most 1978 900 Super Sports also came with a dual seat and lockable tool box. The solo seat was available as an option. The 1978 model bike is considered to be the finest iteration of the bevel drive square case Super Sports. The 1978 900 and 1979 750s were the last to retain close links with the Imola racers and the last to come with the "old fashioned" spoke wheels. it was also in 1978 that the Isle of Man TT Formula 1 race was won by a 900 Super Sport.
In 1979 the Super Sports were painted black with gold accents to appeal to the British market. Cast Campagnolo wheels replaced the Borrani alloy rims and a Mike Hailwood Replica was made available in very limited numbers painted in lavish green and red schemes. The new changes, specifically the black and gold paint and cast wheels were very successful at making an aging design look more modern. The 1980 model stayed essentially the same with no notable changes. Essentially, the Super Sport was being transitioned into the Mike Hailwood Replica.
There were some fantastic machines on display and the bellow of Italian L-Twins blatting from Conti pipes washed over me as the bikes left when it was over. Our Special Guests that fall weekend included Cook Neilson, winner of the 1977 Daytona Superbike Race at Daytona Speedway, Nobby Clark, tuner for Mike Hailwood who scored a hugely popular win at the Isle of Man in 1978 on a Ducati 900SS, Dave Hailwood, son of the late World Champion Mke Hailwood and Eraldo Ferraci, whose teams won AMA and World titles on the legendary brand from Bologna, Italy. There was some serious Ducati desire in the air with that company, so it seemed destined to happen.
Cook won the Daytona Superbike race in 1977 on "The California Hot Rod", aka "Old Blue". The bike he and Phil Schilling built was 750SS based mongrel of the first order, utilizing the best bits regardless of the source. Neilson claimed he had the "Unfair Advantage" with the bike. Aside from Paul Smart winning the Imola 200 race in 1972, this was the most significant win in Ducati history, particularly in the United States. http://www.ducati.com/history/personalities/cook_neilson/index.do
Before jetting back to the U.K., Dave and I drove to Eraldo Ferraci's shop to check out the bike which was in for a service. Once I laid eyes on it, it was over. A deal was done and a week later, the bike was at it's new home with me.
The bike had been maintained regardless of cost and is a strong runner. Once used to the starting drill, the Ducati and I became fast friends. I am very fortunate to live near some of the best back roads you could imagine, and this is a bike to experience them on. It stunning silhouette and rapturous exhaust note are reason enough to own one. It's a no-nonsense, take no prisoners sport bike that begs to be flogged.
According to the owner, only fifty-three 900 Super Sports made it to the USA in 1978. That the Japanese manufacturers were offering bikes with electric starters and four cylinders for considerably less money was just one of the problems faced by Ducati. This machine features Bosch electrics. When Mike Hailwood won the Isle of Man F1 Race in the summer of 1978, Ducati's fortunes took a turn for the better. The bike Mike won on was a Steve Wynn prepared Ducati with full fairing and Ducati duly turned out a streetbike replica that is another blue chip collectable Ducati today. It may well have saved the company. In 2009 Ducati launched a MH900E , the Mike Hailwood Evolution sports machine as a tribute to Mike's great comeback on the Isle.
Here's a short video of that historic ride with Hailwood at the Island:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYoC-CuXqEI
A friend suggested the SS on my Ducati stood for Super Scruffy, but I'm pretty sure he's jealous that he doesn't get to ride his trailer queen show machine anymore, it's too pretty to take out and ride. Well, I bought this one to ride, because that's what the former owner did and what I intend to keep doing. When he told on his one "illegal street race" I was shocked to hear it was against a Ferrari 275GTB in the Philadelphia suburbs in the 1980's. He claimed he had the Ferrari covered to around 100 mph when the car stormed by. After that, the Ducati then went to Fast by Ferracci for head work, new pistons and a swap to Mikuni carbs. Dyno'd at 67 hp, top speed was likely in the 130-140 mph range. Raw, rapid and single-minded in purpose, the SS does indeed deliver on what it's looks promise, a real factory built production racer for the road experience.
More insight on the Ducati 750SS and 900SS Wikipedia entry :
Because the price of the 750 Super Sport was very similar to 900, very few 750s were produced with the majority of them being shipped to Australia, Germany or staying in Italy for racing applications.
By 1978 the bike looked identical, but several significant improvements had made their way into the motor making them more reliable and solving problems with engine cranks breaking. The electronics also improved as well as some minor timing tweaks making the bike run more efficiently. Most notable was a majorly redesigned gear shifter that made the bike a lot easier for owners to live with the bike. Most 1978 900 Super Sports also came with a dual seat and lockable tool box. The solo seat was available as an option. The 1978 model bike is considered to be the finest iteration of the bevel drive square case Super Sports. The 1978 900 and 1979 750s were the last to retain close links with the Imola racers and the last to come with the "old fashioned" spoke wheels. it was also in 1978 that the Isle of Man TT Formula 1 race was won by a 900 Super Sport.
In 1979 the Super Sports were painted black with gold accents to appeal to the British market. Cast Campagnolo wheels replaced the Borrani alloy rims and a Mike Hailwood Replica was made available in very limited numbers painted in lavish green and red schemes. The new changes, specifically the black and gold paint and cast wheels were very successful at making an aging design look more modern. The 1980 model stayed essentially the same with no notable changes. Essentially, the Super Sport was being transitioned into the Mike Hailwood Replica.
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