1981 Ducati 900 SS Desmo

- Frame no. DM860SS 090061;

- Engine No. 091074 DM860.

68 hp, 864 cc, 90-degree desmodromic SOHC V-twin engine with Dell’Orto PHM 40 AD carburettors, five-speed manual gearbox, Marzocchi cartridge front suspension, twin shock and swing-arm rear suspension, and front and rear Brembo hydraulic disc brakes. Wheelbase: 1,500 mm

As an honourable successor to the 750 SS, the 900 SS represented one of the most fascinating superbikes of the 1970s, as it combined the impressive look of the 750 SS with even greater performance. In 1979, the 900 SS exchanged wire wheels for gold Campagnolo alloys and received a handsome black and gold paint job. The 900 SS was a big success for Ducati, and it was produced with only minor changes until the beginning of the 1980s.

The bike on offer is one of one thousand eight-five European 900 SS models sold in 1981. It remains a spectacular example, with the optional Conti pipes and solo seat. A dual seat and Silentium exhaust pipes are also included, as well as the original owner’s books, Ducati workshop manuals, and extra keys. It also sports a Bosch BTZ ignition system.

The bike’s provenance can be traced back to Motorrad Pabst Hamburg, where it was ordered on 10 November 1980. The first owner was Carl-Herbert Glanz, who bought the 900 SS on 28 April 1981 and rode it for only 1,800 kilometres. Glanz was a Bendix engineer in Schleswig-Holstein, and he kept the Ducati until 5 September 1996, when he sold it to Jörg Zimmer, of Ingolstadt, Bavaria. Zimmer owned the 900 SS, with 5,100 kilometres showing, until 4 October 2012, when he sold it to the current owner.

https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/mc14/lots/r122-1981-ducati-900-ss-desmo