1995 Ducati 900 SS

You’re looking at a 1995 Ducati 900SS with the full fairing and pillion cover, a combination that adds an extra layer of sexiness to a bike that wasn’t exactly Shrek in the first place.

With one former keeper before it entered the seller’s family, it’s been serviced and maintained properly before being placed into dry storage in 2016.

Being sold as a non-runner, it will need a degree of recommissioning but this is reflected in the price, so if you’re looking for a honestly priced project you can add value to with every job you tick off the list, your time has come.

“The Ducati 900 is a finely engineered machine. My neighbors called it beautiful and admired its racing lines. The nasty little bugger looked like it was going 90 miles an hour when it was standing still in my garage.” HST. Obviously.

He’s not wrong. The full fairing really does make it look like it’s going fast when it’s stationary – and the bits of the frame you can see give it the look of a Maserati Birdcage and that’s never going to be a bad thing, is it?

The panels are in good shape too, with no sign of having been dropped or otherwise abused. We believe the paint and decals are original.

The 12.5” twin front brake discs almost completely fill the dead space within the 17-inch Brembo alloy rims; the effect is a statement of intent, especially given they’re clamped by a pair of gold Brembo calipers that are in turn bolted to a pair of Ducati-branded forks.

The rear features a 245mm discs, again clamped by a gold Brembo caliper.

Tyres are Pirelli Diablos front and rear. Both are old now and will need to be replaced but the fact they’re high quality and matching says only good things, doesn’t it?

Faults? Well, it does wear a few scratches and chips but that’s only to be expected.

A trio of proper analogue dials – none of your budget-driven digital nonsense here, thank you very much – give the rider all the information they need.

The tank is tidy and unscuffed, the seat is undamaged and firm, and the handlebars and brake and clutch levers are good.

The only thing we can see to do is to tidy up the lid of the hydraulic fluid reservoir.

“My bike is so much faster than yours that I dare you to ride it, you lame little turd. Do you have the balls to ride this BOTTOMLESS PIT OF TORQUE?” (You know who.)

Heady words indeed but first you’ll need to get it running again. The seller tells us it was running perfectly when he laid it up in 2016 and given it ran three years ago when he last fired it up, it might just be stale fuel.

We’d probably throw a new battery at it too, plus sparkplugs and then see what happens – after changing the engine oil and filter to protect that gorgeous V-twin engine, obviously.

The exhausts are genuine Ducati ones and if that doesn’t speak volumes about the owner’s attitude towards originality and maintenance we don’t know what does.

Speaking of his attitude towards maintenance, the service history is recorded as follows:

• 21.04.1995 and 500 miles – service by Pegasus
• 30.03.2016 and 1,566 miles – service by Pegasus
• 21.10.1998 and 3.048 miles – service by Baines Racing, Silverstone Circuit
• 12.05.1999 and 6,234 miles – service by Baines Racing, Silverstone Circuit
• 03.11.1999 and 7,690 miles – full engine rebuild by Baines Racing, Silverstone Circuit
• 27.01.2000 and (unknown) mileage – new chain and sprockets supplied and fitted by M&P Motorcycles Ltd
• 19.02.2001 and (unknown) miles – two repacked silencers supplied by Baines Racing, Silverstone Circuit
• 06.06.2001 and (unknown) miles – full clutch supplied by Baines Racing, Silverstone Circuit
• 26.11.2001 and 11,226 miles – Dynojet kit fitted along with new timing belts, battery and rectifier by RGS Motorsport
• 21.03.2003 and (unknown) miles – oil filter and oil plus gaskets supplied by Baines Racing, Silverstone Circuit
• 19.03.2004 and (unknown) miles – oil filter, oil, brake fluid and a sump plug washer supplied by Baines Racing, Silverstone Circuit
• 22.03.2004 and (unknown) miles – clutch slave piston and cylinder supplied by Baines Racing, Silverstone Circuit
• 14.07.2015 and circa 17,500 miles – service and miscellaneous fettling by Baines Racing, Silverstone Circuit including carbs cleaned, fuel tank sealed, and new cambelt at a cost of just over £1,500.

The V5 might show four former keepers but that figure includes the seller twice plus his ex-wife once. The reality is he bought it when it was three years old and it’s been with him ever since.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clean and the bike comes with its book pack and a couple of brochures in addition to two keys.

The Ducati’s MoT certificate has expired.

Motorcycle News, a magazine that knows a good ‘un when it rides one, wrote of the 900SS:“If you want old school charm, a great twin cylinder sound track, stunning looks and handling to surprise the odd modern motorcycle the Ducati 900SS is worth a look.”

Or, if you prefer your motoring writing a bit more gonzo: “Some people will tell you that slow is good — and it may be, on some days — but I am here to tell you that fast is better. I’ve always believed this, in spite of the trouble it’s caused me. Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube.” (Yea, him again…)

Either way, you’re looking at a bit of a legend. Flawed, for sure, but a bona fide legend nonetheless.

Yes, it needs some light fettling to get it running but then you didn’t think you were going to be able to have a high-maintenance Italian in your life without the high-maintenance bit, do you?

Besides, it’s probably only going to cost you somewhere between £3,000 and £5,000, which is the same money as you’d pay to have an annual service on a Ferrari.

And, it’s being sold with no reserve, so it might even be cheaper.

Time to dust off your old leathers, eh?

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.