Would you trade your Commando for a Ducati 900ss?
- Thread starter DonOR
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bwolfie said:
From what you're describing your friend beat the piss out of that poor bike. I had zero issues with my 97 900SS. Just a great bike. I only sold it so I could get a GT1000 with the more upright riding position. My neck can't handle the sport bike riding position any more.
The Italians have a very sick sense of humor these days when it comes to Ducati's. I have been badgering a guy about selling me his original owner '68 350 Mark 3 Desmo for the better part of 10 years. Simple bike, but absolutely brilliant as an art form. Would I trade my C'do for it? Not on a bet.
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I recently swapped my 99 900ss ie for a Triumph Thruxton as I never really took to the SS. Riding position is fairly prone and I changed the clip ons, fun to ride out of town, horrible to commute on. Maintenance is pretty straight forward including the belts, ran up about 30 000 kms , no issues with reliability....probably why I never took to it...bugger all spannering :roll:
I did like the torque and power delivery, the motor is strong but not very pretty to look at. The styling was described in one review as " the result of a fire in a plastics factory" :shock:
They are about 1/2 the price of a good running Commando here.....if you can sell it...market here is flooded with used bikes due to economy and huge hike in road charges.
I bought my Combat about a year ago and currently its my favourite old bike, to the point that my Ducati Darmah has the rego on hold ( as it attracts modern bike road user charges)
I can't say that modern bikes do much for me but I like the ( press-and-go) Thruxton more than the SS despite it having less power....I can throw it around easier...and its more fun to punt a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow....
I did like the torque and power delivery, the motor is strong but not very pretty to look at. The styling was described in one review as " the result of a fire in a plastics factory" :shock:
They are about 1/2 the price of a good running Commando here.....if you can sell it...market here is flooded with used bikes due to economy and huge hike in road charges.
I bought my Combat about a year ago and currently its my favourite old bike, to the point that my Ducati Darmah has the rego on hold ( as it attracts modern bike road user charges)
I can't say that modern bikes do much for me but I like the ( press-and-go) Thruxton more than the SS despite it having less power....I can throw it around easier...and its more fun to punt a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow....
For a 99 with that ugly Terblanche styling and too low bars, no. For a mid-90's
carb model SP with a 944 kit , a port job , 41mm FCR's , Ohlins shock , and
some BST Carbon Fiber wheels , YES DEFINITELY , especially if your riding
involves long , high speed , sweeping curves.
Two totally different animals really. I LOVE my Commando ! But I also LOVE
my modded 96 SS/SP at least as much. Not even Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries
sounds as good as a 90 degree desmo twin on song
And those 4 piston
Brembo brakes remind me of my days snagging the 3 wire on the USS
George Washington .
carb model SP with a 944 kit , a port job , 41mm FCR's , Ohlins shock , and
some BST Carbon Fiber wheels , YES DEFINITELY , especially if your riding
involves long , high speed , sweeping curves.
Two totally different animals really. I LOVE my Commando ! But I also LOVE
my modded 96 SS/SP at least as much. Not even Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries
sounds as good as a 90 degree desmo twin on song
And those 4 pistonBrembo brakes remind me of my days snagging the 3 wire on the USS
George Washington .
Interesting comments. I have had various Nortons, admittedly mostly featherbed machines, for about thirty years now, and only last year broke down and bought my first Ducati, a hot rodded '92 900SS, and added it to the stable. My advice is that if you get into a financial situation to afford it, own both! The 900SS carbies are cheap (bought mine for little over $3K) simple, reliable, and an absolute blast to ride. I view them as perhaps the best of the "old" technology, before fuel injection, water cooling, computer controls, etc., made owner maintenance unrealistic. The mid range power is like a strong Norton, just (much) more so. However, I did enjoy taking out my '66 650SS the other day, for a completely different riding experience. I would hate to have to choose just one machine....
Paul R.
1955 AJS 18S
1966 Norton 650SS
!971 BMW R75/5
1992 Ducati 900SS
Paul R.
1955 AJS 18S
1966 Norton 650SS
!971 BMW R75/5
1992 Ducati 900SS
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For the original question, it can be a tough one. For me the answer to a similar question was no.
I sold my White framed '92 750SS because I Wanted to pair down my collection and It was between the R90/6, 750SS, and the Norton.
The Ducati was a great fun machine, that was easy to maintain and no more expensive (possibly less than) the Commando. It had soul, handled beautifully (tuned 851 front end and Sachs/Ohlins rear), dynoed at 64 rwhp (decent for a 750), and had decent brakes. I used it for a commuter as well as a touring machine, and I love and Do miss that machine. It took on the roles of both my Norton and BMW, and was probably the mor practical of all three.
That said, the Norton was my first bike and I do enjoy it more when she's running right. I found that most of my extra bike cash was going into upgrading the Ducati and to track days (I even started collecting the bits and info to convert her to right foot shift), and maintenance on the Norton and BMW suffered.
So, I sold the SS, and started to put the money into the Commando where it should have gone in the first place. Was going to sell the BMW as well, but the wife talked me out of it for now. Well see once the interstate tank is on and a few shake down miles under her.
RSR
Leaving Hawaii to return to cold and wet New Hampshire.
I sold my White framed '92 750SS because I Wanted to pair down my collection and It was between the R90/6, 750SS, and the Norton.
The Ducati was a great fun machine, that was easy to maintain and no more expensive (possibly less than) the Commando. It had soul, handled beautifully (tuned 851 front end and Sachs/Ohlins rear), dynoed at 64 rwhp (decent for a 750), and had decent brakes. I used it for a commuter as well as a touring machine, and I love and Do miss that machine. It took on the roles of both my Norton and BMW, and was probably the mor practical of all three.
That said, the Norton was my first bike and I do enjoy it more when she's running right. I found that most of my extra bike cash was going into upgrading the Ducati and to track days (I even started collecting the bits and info to convert her to right foot shift), and maintenance on the Norton and BMW suffered.
So, I sold the SS, and started to put the money into the Commando where it should have gone in the first place. Was going to sell the BMW as well, but the wife talked me out of it for now. Well see once the interstate tank is on and a few shake down miles under her.
RSR
Leaving Hawaii to return to cold and wet New Hampshire.
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All well and good but it is widely accepted that a Commando will out handle any modern elite bike, including Ducatis.
It's all about the frame geometry and skinnier tires that Commandos are blessed with.
A Commando is truly THE model of frame, rake and trail, and swingarm that moderns only wish they were based on.
Good thing Norton patented their superb Commando frame, all top street elites can only stare and drool in envy.
It's all about the frame geometry and skinnier tires that Commandos are blessed with.
A Commando is truly THE model of frame, rake and trail, and swingarm that moderns only wish they were based on.
Good thing Norton patented their superb Commando frame, all top street elites can only stare and drool in envy.
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rightshiftrick said:
I would have ditched the /6, they are plentiful and not as desirable.
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swooshdave said:
That's the problem with Airheads right now, not desirable. I had it listed for quite a while with only a few inquiries and no bites. Right now it's worth more to me than what I could sell it for. The Duc was snatched up within 2 days of listing it.
RSR
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