Hi all, just got around to getting another bike. I have no idea why it's taken 20years! Finally realising a dream and have a red 1994 900ss. love the ride, love being back on a bike. Long last the sun!!! I've already had the spanners out. Started by raising the clip on's up to a more comfortable level (2 bolts sheered, I had to weld on some nuts to what thread was left protruding to replace them) front brake micro switch was testing fine and the circuit was good when touching the live to the lamp wire. turned out to be the micro switch was ever so slightly out of line on the brake lever. a tiny amount of pressure with some long nosed pilers and it's all working great. I managed to run out of fuel as the warning light doesn't work (winter project) and the petcock was left open by the previous owner. I really should have checked that! new slave cylinder on order as the current one is leaking badly. Looking at the master it also looks not long to this world!! (any ideas for a replacement, remote revisor type) what an entry to Ducati life, but the 150miles I've managed in the sun so far are more than making up for it.
The little one is fascinated, by the big noisy bike. (I panicked and took her picture off, I'm not on any forums or social media and suddenly thought it may not be the done thing to have your child on a bike!!) Thanks for the welcome
Cheers all, some new bits ordered with the help from the forum already. A few simple nudges in the right direction were really helpful. Can't wait to get back out on the bike. I think the biggest advancements in motorbiking in 20yrs are BIKE JEANS!!!! comfy and safe! and a flip down sun visor in a helmet that is less than £300!! simple pleasures.
Well managed to get some pics, It's not a minter but is respectfully tidy unless you go looking close up! lot's of bits to tidy and play with (during the winter! barn conversion is also underway!) My friends say that a 900ss is how a bike should look, they don't even ride!
Welcome Gareth I too have a ‘94 900ss my first and only ducati, on paper they look the poor power cousins to the four valvers however on they road they well exceed the sum of their parts, enjoy
Thanks for the comment. I'm riding for fun and top speed really isn't important on the road to me. I'm loving the handling and brakes! I'm struggling a bit at the moment with the 3000rpm flat spot. Not sure if I've just got to get used to it, or if there is some carb / ignition stuff I should be looking at to smooth in out a bit? how do you find yours around 30 -40mph when your not accelerating? mine stutters coughs and bogs down quite a bit. lovely on an open road mind. on E5 fuel
Wouldn’t hurt to give the carbs a strip and clean by the sounds of it Gareth, on standard gearing as mine is I’m in 2nd up until around 45mph and slip the clutch below that for smoothness but no coughing, stuttering or bogging down the latter two tend to be down to overfuelling so check your float heights, ideally do one thing at a time when working on the carbs then go for a ride after each thing you do and keep notes including the carb settings prior to stripping them so you have a baseline to work from. I use E5 too the odd tank full of E10 won’t hurt them when that’s all you can get however if you don’t ride it for three weeks or more which is easily done then drain the float bowls prior to switching the fuel on as E5 in the float bowls goes off very quickly.
Ok Gareth Good luck and please don’t think I’m trying to teach you to suck eggs but write down, preferably on a white board hung where you work on your bike, CARBS then underneath list floats, float needle and work on them then note results then next if that doesn’t cure the rough running jets, sizes and cross reference with std, idle screw settings etc. Build the list as you go along and that will keep you methodical and, more importantly keep you focused, this is the time of year to be riding so keep the jobs small and manageable, it’s to easy to get distracted with other things you notice and before you know it the whole bike ends up in pieces. Lots of good knowledge on this forum so don’t feel your on your own fella.
I appreciate this, great advice. Your so right about the list growing and turning a working machine into a full project! I'm keeping the jobs small and will keep out while the weathers great!
