[Zack Hafler]

Hello everyone,

I just purchased a 1997 400 Super Sport the other day for $500. It appears to have been owned by a real enthusiast at one point but was then passed around to a few owners who really didn't take care of it. It does run, but its rough and backfiring so that's the first hurdle.

Heres a google drive album.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ldVX5JNSaj3_64VuAQdVCcVhQN7Ax0Mz

I'd really like to swap in a 750 or 900 engine when one is available. But i like to have upgraded to adjustable forks and twin brakes up front, as well as the aluminum swingarm.

 

[belter]

so the $500 is going to pale in comparison to the money you spend making it a bike you could have bought for way less?

 

[Zack Hafler]

so the $500 is going to pale in comparison to the money you spend making it a bike you could have bought for way less?

That is a legitimate concern that I have. I have been thinking I should fix only what's broken, make it run and sell it for $1500. Then if i'm still dead set on a supersport, get a 900SS for around $5k. I am in Tokyo, Japan so value is a little different than elsewhere. I normally ride a 2009 Suzuki GSXR600 but the style of this bike (and the experience of torque from my old Monster 1100...) I really want to get back on a Ducati.

Additionally, I am considering just parting it out as most parts on the 400SS are the same as the 750 and 900. It has a pretty clean solo seat, rear sets, fuel tank, etc.

 

[Yorik]

I am in Tokyo, Japan

Please put that in your profile.
https://www.ducati.ms/forums/profile.php?do=editprofile

 

[Rex Coil 7]

You may be able to recover $500 for just the engine alone if you part it out. If the fuel tank isn't rusty inside there's a few hundred more. If you really put your heart into it you may be able to pull in $3k+ and still have a few things left over for the 900SS you want. Just going by the pictures it really doesn't look too bad, honestly.

I wonder if the 400cc frame is the same as the 900cc frame? If so, you might think about selling just the engine, keeping the rolling chassis, and then putting together a sweet 900cc engine to put into that frame. Although I've no idea about Japanese vehicle laws regarding "Frankenstein bikes".

Konnichi wa. :smile2:

 

[surffly]

Personally I do not see the point of swapping the engine for a 900.
Not like a 900 a rare or hard to find bike. Why ruin and interesting 400?

Part outs always sound like they make money.
But you get stuck with odd parts, spend tones of time dealing with strange people and it takes a long time to wrap up.

Got a shipper?
I would love that little bike.

 

[belter]

it's all "the same" bike 400/600/750/900. well, it's a 600 chassis, which is a 750 or 900ss/cr chassis with a single front disc. the very slow version thereof.

97 fairings. the japanese ones tend to get a lot of custom do-dads - dash, rearsets, etc.

 

[Rex Coil 7]

Personally I do not see the point of swapping the engine for a 900.
Not like a 900 a rare or hard to find bike. Why ruin and interesting 400?

Part outs always sound like they make money.
But you get stuck with odd parts, spend tones of time dealing with strange people and it takes a long time to wrap up.

Got a shipper?
I would love that little bike.

~~ as he talks the new guy out of parting it out so he can "take it off his hands" for small money~~

HA! :laugh: >

 

[J.B.]

I would not part it out. I bet it's wicked fun as it is, especially in the environment like Japan. This needs to be fixed up and ridden, and if you want to mod it, then you can as you go, but I don't see any point in parting it out, but that's just me.

 

[O_2The_L]

Personally I do not see the point of swapping the engine for a 900.
Not like a 900 a rare or hard to find bike. Why ruin and interesting 400?

I strongly agree here! Don't mess with it too much. I think the value is in keeping it as stock possible and as much working as possible.

 

[duc96cr]

It’s a close to 400 pound SS with a 400 cc engine in it, so basically it’s going to be a slow but nice handling bike. Has your SS ever quit running on one cylinder ? That’s basically what it will feel like. Parts will cost the same as the big bikes. Still, I would have bought it for $500. It could be a fun project but it could also be a money pit if you don’t limit your enthusiasm.

 

[ducvet]

Isn't it funny many of us who never had the 400 option are like KEEP IT!
Those for who it is not rare look at it differently and if it truly is not rare where you are I say mod it to your hearts content but if possible keep it able to return to stock later on . This will be where the best resale will be but resale and fun are not the same often.

Great buy!

Brad what would you expect on a dyno for a similar 400?
would it be any different than the new scrambler sixty2 ?

 

[Rex Coil 7]

I strongly agree here! Don't mess with it too much. I think the value is in keeping it as stock possible and as much working as possible.

Perhaps, but that all depends on how one defines "value". Myself I don't care about collector value, I care about "fun" value. Uh ... for example.

 

[O_2The_L]

Perhaps, but that all depends on how one defines "value". Myself I don't care about collector value, I care about "fun" value. Uh ... for example.

Fair point. I was thinking less along the lines of sheer back road "fun" or outright performance.

Ultimately I guess that the low entry price here allows for a lot of options.

I'm heading to Japan tomorrow on business. Need to troll the classifieds there for a similar deal.

 

[belter]

Brad what would you expect on a dyno for a similar 400?
would it be any different than the new scrambler sixty2 ?

https://bradthebikeboy.blogspot.com/2016/07/another-dyno-debacle-with-minnie-400_11.html

the 62 posssibly has better head/cam combo. they have a pressed up crank too - how wacky is that?

 

[Zaph]

Geez to everyone in the rest of the world that is a beautiful machine to be brought back to life and treasured. I sure would love it.

 

[belter]

it's just a really slow ss. nothing more to it.

 

[ducvet]

Thanks Brad.
You know it is funny when about 20 years later Yamaha R3's and KTM 390's are putting out similar numbers and we think it is great. GO LITTLE CARBY ...GO!

11,000rpm? okay so now I might want one more. I wonder if it would be competitive against the kawasaki 400? Any chance you can post up a comparison of a kaw 400 and the duc? Much like the R3 and 390 make the same power but the single crushes the twin in midrange I wonder how the L-twin would do.

Yes it is tilting at windmills but hey that what we do some times.

 

[belter]

dunno, don't do that stuff. next time i'm at the dyno i'll see if there's some runs. i think the power is surprisingly comparable for an old air cooled 2v engine.

problem is, this is a 900 with a little engine. an r3 isn't an r1 with a little engine, a ktm390 isn't an r8 with a little engine. weight is the killer comparatively.

 

[ducvet]

Very true a 390 in race trim is about 300 lbs and a similar carby would be about 360lbs.
Stil a 11,000rpm 2-valver sounds fun for some reason.

Are the 400 cylinders purpose made or are they 750 cylinders with 15mm thick walls? :wink2:
In other words what size can you bore the 400 out to safely? 82,88 or 90?
or how long would the crank or cases hold up if you built one?

Surely someone must be racing or wasting money somewhere.