jcassonjr said:
All my friends are saying that this bike is all show and no go. I guessing they are full of sh!t right? It's a 904cc v-twin!
I must be the bearer of bad news, your friends are correct. The 900 SS SP CR models were not and are NOT fast bikes. They were never sold as screamers, for example, in the same class as superbikes.
I won't go into specifics, but the horsepower and other specs on your bike are way less than what your friends are probably riding. While your bike can hold its own off the line, in short bursts, or in the mountains, in terms of sheer power you are always going to be left behind when riding with your friends, or always be playing catch up.
I say all of the above under the assumption that your friends are riding liter bikes or even smaller, but more powerful, bikes such as the Yamaha R6.
Your 900 CR is a good first Ducati to get your feet wet and some experience on the road and riding bikes.
I have a 1996 900 SS SP with loads of mods. It's my classic bike, one that can still be bought at a bargain. I do not ride the 900 thinking that is can whip many bikes out there, in fact, it cannot. I treat it as a vintage motorcycle that becomes more and more a classic each year that goes by.
I have gone on record saying that the early 900 SS models are one of the best secret deals out there. Someday the bikes will start to increase in price as people try to snap them up.
On a personal note, I don't like the CR model. I'd buy some full fairings for it. Just my preference.
My sympathies if you bought the bike thinking that because it was a Ducati that that meant it was a super fast, bad ass bike. In comparison to today's bikes, say the last five years, it really is as your friends say, all show and no go.
Here are some pics of the 900 I have. The one I bought came with three sets of cans, two full fairing sets, two seating configurations, etc. So that is why the difference in the two pics.
Hope you are not too disappointed. You should say to hell with what your friends think, your new Duc is a good bike to get some riding experience.