1977 DUCATI 900SS SUPER SPORTS
Sale Estimate: $22000 - $32000


The original soul child of this machine is Paul Smart’s formidable 750ss (Super Sport) racer which, in 1972, arrived unannounced and hammered the competition at the Imola 200. A year later, the Barcelona 24-hour race brought victory to another prototype Duke, this time an 864 V Twin (refer lot 96) which gave birth to the iconic Ducati 900ss. The pre-’78 Super Sport is the most coveted of these models, with its wire wheels and staunch Conti mufflers delivering that deep, menacing and essentially illegal howl of the 900ss. The overall aesthetic of the 900ss continues to be a key reference point even today. It is essentially a great-looking machine from any angle and this is matched by its mean power delivery which can put the experienced pilot on the wrong side of 130mph. Thank goodness for the Borrani shouldered alloy rims and Brembo disc brakes front and rear. This 1977 900SS has been restored to its original specifications by Norton and Ducati expert Kenny Dreer of Vintage Rebuilds in Gladstone, Oregon, and features improved adjustable clip-ons and electrical switchgear. It has also been in the expert care of GP Motorcycles in San Diego. There it underwent a top-end rebuild and was given new (period correct) carbs and electronic ignition. It is the 900SS which, for an entire generation of riders, launched a lifelong love affair with Ducati. With clean lines combined with immense character, the 900SS walks that wonderful line between good and evil. The 900SS is one of the few machines of the 20th century that really does deliver on both form and function in equal measures.

Image and text courtesy Webbs Auction House NZ