Post Sale Update: This 900SS/FE sold for the BIN of $9,995.
The Ducati Supersport is back, but nearly two decades ago the iconic air-cooled SS line came to a halt with a one-year run of 800 bikes. Ducati called it the FE, for Final Edition. All of the bikes got silver paint as well as a couple of treats like an Ohlins rear shock and 41mm FCR carbs. 300 of the 800 examples were sold in the US, and today I get to share the barely-used #288 with you.
Ducati started with the Superlight variant of the SS, and then in addition to the silver paint, added a whole bunch of carbon: mudguard, chain guard, rear fender, countershaft drive cover, and dashboard cover. In addition, they raised the pipes for more cornering clearance, gave it new cast iron floating rotors, and some new parts (voltage regulator and alternator) were added, too. Some riders believe this is the best of the 900SS breed simply because it was the latest, and Ducati had sorted out any niggles by the end. As a 1998 review from Motorcyclist noted – it wasn’t the fastest sport bike around, but they didn’t care:“Call it irrational. Call it delusional, but beware. Any nonlinear-thinking, creative-type human mind is susceptible to the desmo’s aural brainwashing. Flaws become character. Freeways and constipated surface streets submerge beneath the Ducati’s sporting dignity, and all that matters is tracing as many gnarly little lines on the map as the weekend will allow.”
This example is said to be in near-mint condition as it has just 867 miles though there does seem to be a slight crack in the tail in the above photo. The seller lists a bit of the history of the model line, but doesn’t say much about the specific bike except to call it a time capsule. Sure looks pretty in the photos, though!
Find this FE for sale in San Rafael, California with bidding up to $6,400 and the reserve not yet met or a BIN of $9,995