Ducati 900SS Darmah

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Ducati-900SS-Darmah.jpg
Ducati 900SS Darmah
Manufacturer
Production 1980 - 81
Engine
Four stroke, 90°“L”twin cylinder, SOHC, 2 valves per cylinder, bevel gear driven
Compression ratio 9.4:1
Top Speed 205 km/h / 127 mph
Ignition Electronic
Spark Plug Bosch WM7B
Battery Yuasa B68 36Ah
Transmission 5 Speed
Suspension Front: Marzocchi telescopic fork
Rear: Marzocchi 330 mm dual shocks, 3-way adjustable
Brakes Front: 2 x 280 mm Disc, 1 piston caliper
Rear: Single 280 mm disc
Wheelbase 1550 mm / 61.0 in
Seat Height 740 mm / 29.1 in
Weight 216 kg / 476 lbs (dry), 224 kg / 494 lbs (wet)
Fuel Capacity 15 L / 4.0 US gal / 3.3 Imp gal
Manuals Service Manual


It could reach a top speed of 205 km/h / 127 mph.

Engine[edit | edit source]

The engine was a Air cooled cooled Four stroke, 90°“L”twin cylinder, SOHC, 2 valves per cylinder, bevel gear driven. The engine featured a 9.4:1 compression ratio.

Drive[edit | edit source]

Power was moderated via the Wet, multiplate.

Chassis[edit | edit source]

Stopping was achieved via 2 x 280 mm Disc, 1 piston caliper in the front and a Single 280 mm disc in the rear. The front suspension was a Marzocchi telescopic fork while the rear was equipped with a Marzocchi 330 mm dual shocks, 3-way adjustable. The 900SS Darmah was fitted with a 15 L / 4.0 US gal / 3.3 Imp gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 216 kg / 476 lbs. The wheelbase was 1550 mm / 61.0 in long.

Photos[edit | edit source]

Ducati 900SS Darmah Ducati 900SS Darmah Ducati 900SS Darmah Ducati 900SS Darmah

Overview[edit | edit source]

Ducati 900SS















The mid-’70s were not kind to Ducati. The company discontinued the excellent 250/350/450 singles and 750 round-case GT, Sport and Super Sport and tinkered with clumsy parallel twins, as well as the valve-spring 860GT and 900GTS. This left die-hard customers to kick-start the brutal 900 Super Sport Desmo twin for the Ducati experience. Surely, there had to be some middle ground… That finally emerged in 1978 with the Darmah 900 Sport Desmo, designed by Tartarini, and it became the company’s mainstay for five years. It was a detuned 900 SS, with smaller carbs, an electric start, two-up seat, Bosch electronic ignition, Nippon Denso gauges, warning lights and Bosch headlight and indicators. Best of all, the price was very competitive with the Japanese bikes.

Another twist appeared in 1979 when the Darmah SS was introduced. With handsome two-tone paint, it was only made from 1979-81.


Make Model Ducati 900 SS
Year 1980 - 81
Engine Type Four stroke, 90°“L”twin cylinder, SOHC, 2 valves per cylinder, bevel gear driven
Displacement 864 cc / 52.7 cu in
Bore X Stroke 86 x 74.4 mm
Compression 9.4:1
Cooling System Air cooled
Induction 2 x Dell'Orto PHF 32C carburetors
Spark Plug Bosch WM7B
Ignition Electronic
Battery Yuasa B68 36Ah
Starting Electric
Max Power 47.8 kW / 65 hp @ 7500 rpm
Clutch Wet, multiplate
Transmission 5 Speed
Primary Drive Ratio 2.187:1 (32/70)
Gear Ratios 1st 2.237 / 2nd 1.562 / 3rd 1.203 / 4th 1.000 / 5th 0.887
Final Drive Ratio 2.400:1 (15/36)
Final Drive Chain
Front Suspension Marzocchi telescopic fork
Rear Suspension Marzocchi 330 mm dual shocks, 3-way adjustable
Front Brakes 2 x 280 mm Disc, 1 piston caliper
Rear Brakes Single 280 mm disc
Front Wheel 3.50 - 18
Rear Wheel 4.25 - 18
Dimensions Length: 2260 mm / 88.9 in Width: 700 mm / 27.6 in Height: 1280 mm / 50.4 in
Wheelbase 1550 mm / 61.0 in
Seat Height 740 mm / 29.1 in
Dry Weight 216 kg / 476 lbs
Wet Weight 224 kg / 494 lbs
Braking: 100 Km/h - 0 39 m / 128 ft
Fuel Capacity 15 L / 4.0 US gal / 3.3 Imp gal
Top Speed 205 km/h / 127 mph
Manual Bevelheaven.com
Road Test Bike 1980

External Links[edit | edit source]