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Remembering The 1979 Ducati 900 SS

1979 Ducati 900 SS

Aside from its simple, beautiful design, the 1979 Ducati is a fabulous bike with an impressive track record. It comes powered with a 904cc air-cooled engine that is very reliable and fitted with a very competent chassis. This sporty bike has a comfortable position and hard suspension, allowing you to quickly maneuver around sharp bends. Unlike the previous models, the 1979 Ducati came with a greatly improved shifter action, a modern ignition system, and an enhanced square-case engine. The 904 ccs "square case" engine was Ducati's second-gen v-twin engine that made its first debut in 1974 and later fitted in the 900ss superbike. The 1979 Ducati 900ss possesses an exceptionally beautiful original paint job. Like the original 750ss model, the new Ducati 900 SS still retains the unique desmodromic valve actuation that eliminated the use of valve springs. This engine system uses a bevel-gear mechanical linkage to open and close the valve springs. This enabled the Ducati 90-degree V-twin models to become more durable and rev higher than the other comparable motorbikes. The bike's decals are super smooth, representing pure vintage perfection. Here, we will take a closer look at the 1979 Ducati 900 SS.

Overview

According to classic Motorbikes, the iconic brand- Ducati was initially given to the Swedish dealership Biscaya motors in 1979. At the time, Ducati had only allocated twelve versions of the 900 SS model to the nation of Sweden, making it a rare model in the country. The first owner of a Ducati 900 SS in Sweden kept it until 2008 when it was sold to a man in Australia. The 90-degree Supersport Series that began with the legendary 750 SS Desmo has continued to evolve over the years. In 1975, the Borgo Panigale company launched an enhanced version that came fitted with an 860 cc engine. With the launch of the Pantah engine in 1979, Ducati started replacing the 750 cc engine models and their old conical twin cylinders with new "square case" engines that were much smaller and improved the overall performance of the bikes. After Ducati was bought by the Cagiva group, the production of the first-gen twin cylinders was completely stopped. These new "square case" engines came with a number of upgrades, including; an improved oil pump, electronic ignition, a new camshaft drive arrangement, and cartridge-type oil filter.

The gear change was also moved to the left-hand side, and the frame was slightly altered to provide chain adjustment at the swinging arm pivot. The early 1970s was an extremely difficult time for European motorcycle manufacturers due to Japan's onslaught of cheaper and more reliable motorbikes. The British and Italians were also greatly affected. Fortunately, it was after the great win by Paul Smart back in April of 1972 when he won the Imola 200 riding a 750cc Super Sport motorcycle and his fellow Ducati rider Bruno. The latter finished second, and the Ducati models were saved from oblivion. In 1991, the Supersport series became very popular, mainly attributed to the new aesthetic restyling that improved their rideability and appearance. The 1979 Ducati 900 SS came presented in a distinctive black paint job with gold accents to appeal to the British auto market. The standard spoked wheels were also replaced with cast Campagnolo wheels. Over the next few years, the Ducati 900 SS was enhanced into the Mike Hailwood Replica and was eventually replaced by the Ducati 900 Superlight. It was a new style, fitted with upgraded equipment from lightweight rims to carbon ones.

Engine, Power, and Transmission

The Ducati 900 SS is powered by an air-cooled four-stroke desmodromic two-valve 90-degree V-twin engine. This 1979 Ducati is considered by many as the finest model of the square care Supersports, bevel drive, and the 1979 750ccc model. Breathing through huge 40mm Dell'Orto carburetors, the Ducati 900 SS engine produces 72bhp at 7,000 pm, which is a good power output for a top speed of 135mph. This bike also features a five-speed automatic gear transmission with a maximum torque of 50 lb-ft. The 750 SS and 900 SS come with almost the same parts to lower production costs; the 900 model has an engine capacity of 864cc and has the same twin Dell'Orto PHM carburetors. Over the years, several upgrades have been added to the 1979 Ducati model, such as; the right side shifter being moved to the left, crank strength being upgraded, Kickstarter being improved, and better engine timing and electrics were thoroughly de-bugged. The Ducati 900 SS runs on the square case 864cc engine and has the fiberglass fuel tank present in the 750 SS. In addition to the square case engine, the 900 SS has an improved oil pump, electronic ignition, and a new camshaft drive arrangement. The tamer valve spring version of the 900 SS engine is impressively smooth and delivers more power output than the previous Ducati models.

Chassis, Suspension, and Performance

The 1979 Ducati 900 SS comes with a major suspension upgrade, using a front telescopic fork and a rear twin shock. The Ohlins STX 46 shock absorber sets the bike's standard for quality, durability, and impressive road performance. It features rebound damping and adjustable compression, which allows you to change the functioning of the suspension fork to fit your riding preferences. The suspension forks have an external gas reservoir that ensures the bike remains cool even during extreme conditions and allow for easy fork adjustabile.

Final Words

According to Gasoline, the 1979 Ducati 900 SS is the ideal sports motorcycle that guarantees to provide you with practicality, reliability, and better handling, and impressive speeds. In addition to its stunning looks, the 900 SS has a committed riding position and hard suspension, making riding the bike easily. This bike has a low-down torque engine, making it incredibly quick in experienced hands.

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Benjamin Smith

Written by Benjamin Smith

Benjamin Smith is one of the managing editors of Moneyinc. Ben's been focusing on the auto and motorcycle sector since 2005. He's written over 1000 articles in the space and continues to learn about it each day. His favorite car is "any Bugatti" and he's a die hard Harley Davidson fan.

Read more posts by Benjamin Smith

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