Ducati Monster Forum

Seriously thinking of buying one when I sell my Torino. The price is right. From what I read, It's the last year of the Cagiva bikes. Oppinions? Are they parts eaters? Are the basic parts the same as Monsters/SS? How about exhaust? It's really a nice looking bike, and the half fairing would be nice on the freeway and in the wind. Asking price is $2900.

Not the actual bike
(http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/LowThudd/782_0_1_4_ss2090020c_Image20credits.jpg)

I hear those carbs are a nightmare to get working properly and they are very naughty when it's cold and trying to get them warmed up.  that said, one of my favorites along with the full faired ones and the 998.  for that price you can buy new carbs!

96 was the last year of Cagiva. Exhaust is different. Many of the engine components are shared.

I have a carbed Monster and that hasn't been my experience. I'll suffer with a little icing to not have to deal with an immobilizer. Flat slides will eliminate the icing, but add some issues of their own IMO.

I've never had issues with any carbed bike I've owned but I repeat.........for that price BUY IT.

Buy it and upgrade to the full fairing set. [thumbsup]

Nah, I like the half fairing. The engine looks to nice to cover up.


Is it the same exhaust as the regular 900ss? I'm having trouble finding available exhaust.

Yes. All SS from that era are the same, and I wouldn't be surprised if some later stuff would work.

It is different from Monster

It is a great bike, and as easy as any other monster or such to work on. But you also get adjustable forks, Goldline brakes, and some other goodies. I have the older 93 SS full fairing and parts are still easy to get. Some from dealers, others such as Chris from Ca-Cycleworks. I upgraded to the FCR's and they perform better but you transfer to different problems.

Thudd, you are all over the place.  You're looking at a Cagiva Gran Canyon, Streetfighter, Monster Chromo and who knows what else.  It is an exiting time when you know you are going to buy a new bike.  I'm the same way.  I like the 900 SS/CR though.  The half fairing looks awesome.  My only nitpick would be the square headlight should be round, but that is minor and otherwise the bike is perfect.  There is so much that can be done for that bike too like lighter wheels, flatside Keihin carbs, and a 944 kit.  Also, you will never see another one while riding yours.  I don't know how many were made, but I never see them out on the road.

What kind of problems?  Hard to start? 

yes, but few companies are still making them.  look on the european and UK ebay sites.  if you just want cans, you can find them, full exhaust might be $$$$$

the main things you want to do for it are simple.. upgrade the primary starter wires, upgrade the coils to the dynas, and fully clean/rebuild the carbs and put a jet kit on them..

the stock carbs are ok.  if you swap to FCRs you lose the starter circuit, so can be harder to start when cold.

there are some issues with the crank galley plugs and the alternator end bearing (read LT Snyder's book for details)


not on the CR model

SP had adjustable forks, iron full floater rotors, alu swingarm, and a floating real caliper..

CR model did not have these items.

Thanks for the input. Fortunately, the carbs have already been rejetted for the K&N filter it has. So no worries there. I've now found several different exhaust systems around, for various prices. I just wasn't sure if there was any difference on the CR models. All good info. I sure hope I get that torino sold so I can get this bike. It would be tough missing out on two Ducati deals in one year.

if you get a CR model, it's not "bad" it just doesn't have the nicer stuff the SP model does.  it is the SAME engine

this is Chris's FAQ on the differences http://www.ducatitech.com/2v/sp_cr_faq.html (http://www.ducatitech.com/2v/sp_cr_faq.html)

you can find parts to upgrade a CR to an SP (some easier than others).  the only one that's really hard tofind is the rear floating caliper hardware.. the swingarms pop up on ebay now and then.. i have two on my shelf in the garage..

Ah. CR=Cafe Racer. Now I get it. :D

http://www.superstreetbike.com/features/0802_sbkp_1995_ducati_900_ss/index.html (http://www.superstreetbike.com/features/0802_sbkp_1995_ducati_900_ss/index.html)

(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/Ducshop002-2.jpg)

(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/Ducshop001-2.jpg)

(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/Ducshop005-1.jpg)

(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/Ducshop003-1.jpg)

Wow! That is the coolest CR I've seen.  It looks like it has a DS100 engine transplant to along with those BSTs and the Ohlins suspension.  Who makes the body work?  Whose garage is it or is it a shop? 

I am happy "Settling" for the the CR because I love the half fairing. I am not a huge fan of full fairings. As far as the AL swingarm goes, what mods need to be made to the brakes to make it work? Or will the CR brakes work with it? I see one on eBay for next to nothing, I think I may have to pre-emtively buy it just in case I get the bike.

The bike belongs to the owner of Touring Sport Ducati. It was at the Ducshop getting tuned.

The swingarm is drop in.  You can use either brake mount with it.  You can use the bigger wheel with it.


OP said that bike is not the one he found

I love it when a bike is taken to another level like that, sort of like your Monster.  They don't make a 900CR anymore so this guy built one using the latest quality stuff.  Awesome. 

I'm diggin your latest avatar.  This one may have to stay more than a day.

<raises hand>
I have a 95 900SS/SP
I paid $700 for it
(well, and a 96 DR650)

its my 2nd SS....good bike.

My dad picked up a 96 900SS/CR last summer. As mentioned, the CR lacks a lot of the performance bits and pieces of the SP. However, a few bucks can go a long way with a CR. We had the front non-adjustable forks rebuilt with Racetech parts and it made a world of difference in ride quality.

In my opinion the '90s era SS's are really undervalued, modern classics. For a couple grand you can have a lot of fun and look great doing it.
 :)

THE CR is one of my favorites of all time. the look is just great to me. The carbs are touchy and will flood out in a millisecond when cold starting and they eat batteries but I'd still own one if I could.

havent had any trouble with carbs....
would recommend a large-ish sealed battery, new voltage regulator, and the coil package from ca-cycleworks
and if you are worried about the carbs...
-flatslides  [evil]

friend of mine with a 95SP did 41 flatslides, high-comp pistons and coils
has great get up n go

If you do a bit of searching through other Ducati forums, there is a small cult of folks who are taking the older SuperSports and transplanting in the newer DS1000 fuel injected engine, electrical, gauges, etc.  Pretty easy to build and definitely worth the effort -- and the older Supersports are now pretty cheap.  Local one in good condition is $2000 and I've seen numerous ones in the same price ballpark.  (The "superleggera"/"SP/SS" ones still get a large premium especially if in yellow -- which is what I'm looking for to use)

the battery problem is solved by replacing the grounds with a larger single cable AND adding a smaller one to a separate location. 

This happens on a lot of older bikes but seems to be more common on Ducatis.

Very simple solution:
1.  Throw out old ground wire.
2.  lightly wire brush frame connection. 
3.  make a new ground wire using small strand copper and minimum of 4 ga wire with a second 10 ga small strand wire.  have the ends swedged on and sealed at a place that does high end speaker applications.  the ends are standard sized right-angle small battery terminal on one end and an 8mm (or 6, i forget) straight on the other.  small strand is much better than large strand and costs more.  both wires should be swedged together on the BATTERY side.
4.  bolt the large wire back on the frame location and cover it with electrolytic grease.
5.  run the smaller wire directly to the regulator, i think it's the green wire coming from the reg.  on the older bikes, the regulator grounds to the frame, ugh.  by running a wire directly to the regulator, your reg gets a perfect circuit for what the battery status is.

main reason regulators (and batteries) fail is the ground goes bad and the regulator sees that as a low-charged battery so ends up over charging it = net result is that either the battery fails or the regulator cooks.

Please keep the Torino...please !!!

Why is that?

I know this isn't much help to you guys over the pond but over her in the UK theres a couple of dealerships selling new unregistered 2002-2003 ducati 900ss in either mat black £3999 or met.gray £4599 I know that they will need a full service and belt change plus new tyres but still to my mind a bargin if thats the kind of bike you want  [thumbsup]

 [coffee]

1995 900ss > 2002/3 900SS

i believe that's a later model SS, look at the gas tank.  the 1000SS had a DS engine.

here's a similar one

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2007/October/october8-14/oct1007roadtestducati1000ssgallery/?R=EPI-95487 (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2007/October/october8-14/oct1007roadtestducati1000ssgallery/?R=EPI-95487)

Great bike, and great for the price...

Check the steering head for cracks...

Carbs just need a Factory Pro tuning kit and a good sync... then you never need the choke..

Small rear wheel stock (160 rear tire) but you can fit a real rear wheel to it and get a 180 opr a 190 if you want a real tire... (you can still get good sport touring 180's but no real supersport tires)

Reg/rect fried often, but for sure its been replaced

Forks suck, but can be re-worked, ground clearance is compromised without a proper rear shock

One of my all time favorite bikes...

Will

For the street I agree.

The later SS's were a better track bike IMO.

Anyone ever heard of hard bag(or soft) on an SS? It's a great bike, and definately my first choice, if I can get to it in time.

Ducati never intended the SS to be a tourer.

Well, someone did:

(http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/LowThudd/200720SS800T.jpg)

I think I'll PM this guy and see what he did. Found lots of soft bag users. I can pack light, soft bags should be fine.

You can bolt whatever you'd like to it...

doesn't make it a tourer. ;)

why do you say that?  I think the older models are easier to track, given the correct work ...although I can't say there is such a difference in them beyond the styling and small changes like the brakes (40mm vs 65mm) and those are minor.. Surely not the EFI system?

you would be much happier with an ST.. I love the ST2 engine, it's a desmodue but watercooled.  similar styling but much better seat and bars.  check them out, you will be surprised.

Seat position.

The early SS had you sitting in the bike similar to a Monster.

The later bikes had you higher and more weight forward.

Every Ducati works better with weight forward.

i think that's if you're sticking to the stock seat.  for track, i would just use a bump pad seat as on the SL... i believe the tank mounts are nearly the same geometry from the forks, but the later style tank is higher on the rider side.

Can't afford the ST or I'd get one. My hope for this SS is a daily rider and part time tourer. Probably not the best bike for touring, but the Bimmer K100LT I like wouldn't be a good daily rider at all, or good in the canyons(lot's of twisties in SoCal). I have to find a middle ground and I think the CR can handle it. Doubts?

You'd know better than I.

I've ridden both bikes and think the seat is higher on the later bike...at least over an FE.

Like I said before...

The later SS was a better track bike (as delivered) IMO.
I think you'll love it..

i haven't seen a used SS of that era that didn't need some TLC, I think for a tourer/daily rider you might be buying into some trouble.  with the right TLC, you could get it there though.

i still say look for an ST.  ST2 has excellent record, and you can find them in the 3500-4000 range with miles (and nothing wrong with a bike that's got 40k miles and well taken care of).  i saw a silver St2 on craigslist a while back (norcal) that was going for 4500 which included factory bags and pillion bag.. it had 45k miles and the guy had service records from hattars, including oil changes

i say look at them.


ST2 in portland, $4k, has 35k miles, one owner and factory bags.
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/mcy/1514236408.html (http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/mcy/1514236408.html)

Downloaded an original Ducati 900ss accessory catalog. Man, I wish that book was still active. However, on looking at a closeup of the CF tank, it was real poor quality compared to today. If anyone wantsa copy I can Email it to you.

Good catch.  You can definitely tell by the tank and tail section that it was a later model SS with the fairings removed.

Found panniers.

https://www.euromotoaz.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=1027 (https://www.euromotoaz.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=1027)

That makes it a go. SS bikes are running cheaper than monsters or I'd probably seek out a M900. But the CR fairing is about perfect for touring(with proper wind screen). I have read quite a few threads last night by those who have toured with the early SS, and loved it. I think I'm sold.

Hey LowThudd,
If you get this bike I have a set of adjustable forks off of my '95 SS/SP
I am in Westchester near L.A.X.

Dan..

The Tourmaster cortech sport saddle/tankbag combo fits nice on the SS too.

was planning to make mine more tour oriented with a double-bubble screen, taller bars and bags.
will prob sell in the spring instead  :P

i rode my 93 SS from Fresno to Vegas (400 miles) definitely better than a monster on a longer trip
(that bike is getting close to 70k with the new owner...same motor no rebuild)