| They aren't the fastest bikes around. Top speed - maybe 130 if the wind is blowing from Bologna. Cruising speed - anything up to a ton. Nicest around 90mph when everything seems to gel. Much, much nicer bike than the 900SS IMHO - smoother, sweeter, proper wet clutch, and steers better because of the 160 section rear tyre.
Can still be really, really hustled. Once you realise just how much the chassis can take, you can give faster, more powerful bikes a surprise on anything other than dual carriageways and motorways. Antonye can bear witness to the way mine goes. You just get used to not slowing down for anything, which explains why I'm about to change the disc pads for the first time in seven years and 24,000 miles.
60-odd bhp is *just* enough. Downside is hopping off the 750 and onto a 748, which is just coming on the cam at the point where the 750SS is running out of puff.
Also, and anecdotally, I think the 750SS engine is probably the toughest that Ducati do.
To sum up - about as fast in a straight line as a Suzuki 600 Bandit but so, so much more of a bike.
Oh - and my missus has a Micra.....
[Edited on 3-6-2004 by Neil Murray]  |