You must have BGN killfiled. -- Krusty '03 Tiger 955i '02 MV Senna (for sale) '96 Tiger (for sale) '79 Fantic Hiro 250 (for sale) '81 Corvette (for sale)
Tell me about the 900SS, I quite like the look of those. ISTR TOG counselling that the 750 was a better bet, however the 900 looks like it could be a good buy. -- Dan L Too much time to think, too little to do. http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/ 2002 Triumph Sprint RS 955i (It's big, and it's black) 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr (Gone, but not forgotten) BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7/8) X-FOT#000 DIAABTCOD #26 BOMB#18 (slow) OMF#11
Yes they are good. Later injection ones are the best. Carb versions had a few faults that were latterly fixed. When I was after my current bike, it was a toss up between a 1100 sport: <http://mgu.mtnsub.org/sport1100/index.html> but with a full fairing (or what they class as full), or a Ducati 600/750/900SS. I would have had a 1100 Guzzi, from Inverness, but he wouldnt wait 2 weeks for me to be able to get the time to go there to collect. The following week there was an ad in BikeTrader (placed only 1 hour before I rang, he later told me), locally, for a 750SS. It was mint, one owner, at a reasonable price. I gave him the asking price, 3 hours after he had placed the ad. Love it. The longest I have owned a bike, 6 years now iirc. I have no intention of getting rid either, does all I want. I think I would feel the same about a 1100 Guzzi too, I had a V50 many years ago, and loved that, but it was just too small for me. Alan.
As I recall, the 750SS is meant to be a better balanced engine - but it's around 15bhp down on the 900SS. The fuel injected SS ie models are about 5bhp down on the carbed models. Biggest argument I could have against the 900s is that they have a dry clutch - the 750 has a wet clutch.
I'll interject. They have an incredibly strong identity - both brand and mechanical. Especially mechanical. Nothing else feels or sounds like one. That's basically it, these days. There are bikes that are as fast or faster, that handle as well or better, that look as good or are better and that are painted as red or redder. I doubt there's much, except for some very exotic stuff, that delivers the same sensory feedback. To paraphrase someone else's saying, it's still just an engine slung in a frame with a wheel at each end, that Mona Lisa is still just paint on canvas. You either 'get' them or you don't.
Prob with the 900 is that it is more lumpy and vibey. Just not as sweet. The transmission is also more stressed due to the extra power, and it doesn't help that they shaved the size of the cogs a bit to get the six gears in there. And it has that Godawful dry clutch, whereas the 750 has a decent wet clutch. It's like the difference between an old 850 Guzzi and the 1000/1100, or an old R80 BMW and an R100: the smaller engine isn't ultimately as powerful, but it's a nicer lump to live with.
I note that there was an 800 variant for a short while, are they more closer related to the 750 than the 900. Also, is the 1000cc version any better than the 900? -- Dan L Too much time to think, too little to do. http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/ 2002 Triumph Sprint RS 955i (It's big, and it's black) 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr (Gone, but not forgotten) BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7/8) X-FOT#000 DIAABTCOD #26 BOMB#18 (slow) OMF#11
I fancy a dual-spark bike myself. For no other reason that I appear to have some kind of attraction to shite old Wop kit with dual spark heads.
My Zephyr was a dual spark head. A set of replacement plugs was over ?60.00 FFS -- Dan L Too much time to think, too little to do. http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/ 2002 Triumph Sprint RS 955i (It's big, and it's black) 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr (Gone, but not forgotten) BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7/8) X-FOT#000 DIAABTCOD #26 BOMB#18 (slow) OMF#11
That's about what a set costs in the newer Alfa. But they're platinum tipped, so, in theory, only need replacing every 60k miles.
I don't regognise any of this ;o) 4S has a dry clutch which works just fine and is so easy to service, it just rattles. It had TOTR brakes and suspension. Comfortable as a good sofa. Handles toe scrapingly well. Turns in amazingly quickly if you set the tyre pressures and ride height. Tweak them again and it tracks straight on m-ways with lots of luggage at 125 per. Quick as a Gixxer thou to 130 and tops out at indicated 160.
Bear is right, get an ST4, a 4S if you can find one. I guarantee you will love it and IMHO the reliability and build quality are peerless. I don't see the point of the slower ST3/3 bikes. It was the development of the 916/996/998 engine that made Ducati irresistable.
Le Sun, 03 May 2009 19:24:47 +0100, The Older Gentleman a écrit : As far as the Guzzi engine is concerned, the more modern and "sporty" 1100 as found in the 1100Sport or V11 Sport suffer from Euro emission regulations and sound regulations. Once modified to breathe as they should, they are much more pleasant to use.
Obviously you did but though one might also own other stuff there is something about Ducati ownership. I got my first when I was 17, went of the unreliability but always liked how they looked, handled and sounded. Once they sorted the quality I had to have one again.
