A thickening plot….

The Buell XB9S is gone.  Those who are true Ducatisti, will say that I am once again PURE – but I have to say in all sincerity that I will miss the brute.  It was PURE FUN in the city and introduced me (and those foolish enough to join me on my rides) to the Urban GP.  It was the kind of bike you could jump on and whistle down to the store for a pack of smokes, slap on number plates and tear around the track, and oddly enough – it introduced me to cruising.   Must have been the Milwaukee iron squeezed into the Verlicchi frame, but I found myself on more than one occasion pooting down a not-so-winding back road at 2,000RPM in top and almost enjoying myself.  In what passes for the motorcycle scene in Ottawa, I was shunned by the Sport Bike Crowd (they actually averted their eyes) and tolerated by the hard-core Harley Owners.  Women loved it.  Go figure.

Now, I have a NEW BIKE.  Again.  Or should I say, still.  Seems I’m only happy when I’m creating the next Rev of whatever’s in the shop and in this case, it’s the resurrection of the 1990 Ducati 750 Sport. I can’t put my finger on why, but I really like this bike.   Maybe it’s the prior owners’ karma reflected in its mechanical and cosmetic condition or just the fact that Ducati only brought about 500 across to North America.  There was also a sense of respect for the design and workmanship when I was tearing it apart for eBay.  A production bike, but not with that mass-produced feeling.  Less fasteners used than on the F1.   Light looking.  But the motor has gone to Shannon’s F1 and the 16” wheels suck.

Having noticed during disassembly that the frame was a later version designed for the 1st year 900SS, it occurred to me that I might be able to transplant some later model 900SS stuff onto the package, part the remains of the 900 on eBay and come out cash neutral.  Of course, that cash neutral feeling goes away real fast when you hang out with Guy Martin – “Steve, you need FCRs!”  …….  But, the deal is done and I’ve purchased a ’95 900SS/SP  from a fellow in North Carolina and the motor, wheels, swing arm, suspension, brakes, exhaust and wiring harness are destined for the Sport.  Looks like an easy swap, although I’m still doing some head scratching on frame geometry given that the SP’s forks will drop the front end by .75” and I can’t use the 900SS shock ‘cause it’s .5” (which equates to a lot at the axle) shorter than the Sport’s sacked-out and low-tech Marzocchi.  I’m sure something that won’t cost a bunch of money will occur to me soon.

Comments

[Jan Nienaber]

You have an absolutely GREAT site.

I love the 750F1 series of bikes, but could never buy one in South Africa (where I am from originally) - had to move to Canada, by that time the closest to an F1 was a 900SS.

Ended up buying a '99 900SS, still hankering after a 750F1 though ;-)