Ducati 900SD Darmah

Make Model	Ducati 900 SD Darmah
Year	1977 - 78
Engine	Four stroke, 90°“L”twin cylinder, SOHC, 2 valves per cylinder, bevel gear driven
Capacity	864 cc / 52.7 cu in
Bore x Stroke	86 x 74.4 mm
Compression Ratio	9.4:1
Cooling System	Air cooled
Induction	2 x Dell'Orto PHM 40 A, B or C carburetors
Spark Plugs	Champion L88A / Bosch WM7B
Ignition	Electronic
Battery	Yuasa B68 36Ah
Starting	Electric and Kick
Max Power	47.8 kW / 65 hp @ 7500 rpm
Clutch	Wet, multiplate
Transmission	5 Speed
Primary Drive Ratio	2.187:1 (32/70)
Gear Ratios	1st 2.237 / 2nd 1.562 / 3rd 1.203 / 4th 1.000 / 5th 0.887
Final Drive Ratio	2.533:1 (15/38)
Final Drive	Chain
Front Suspension	38 mm Ceriani 608 telescopic fork
Rear Suspension	Marzocchi 300 mm dual shocks, 3-way adjustable
Front Brakes	2 x 280 mm Disc, 1 piston caliper
Rear Brakes	Single 260 mm disc
Front Wheel	3.50 - 18
Rear Wheel	4.25 - 18
Dimensions	Length: 2260 mm / 88.9 in Width: 780 mm / 30.7 in Height: 1090 mm / 42.9 in
Wheelbase	1550 mm / 61.0 in
Seat Height	780 mm / 30.7 in
Dry Weight	216 kg / 476 lbs
Wet Weight	224 kg / 494 lbs
Braking: 100 km/h - 0	39 m / 128 ft
Fuel Capacity	15 L / 4.0 US gal / 3.3 Imp gal
Consumption Average	5.2 L/100 km / 19.1 km/l / 45 US mpg / 54.0 Imp mpg
Standing ¼ Mile	13.6 sec / 159 km/h / 98.8 mph
Top Speed	185 km/h / 114 mph
Manual	Bevelheaven.com
Road Test	Bike 1980 Ducati 900SS vs Le Mans III

The Ducati Darmah is in all respects a thoroughbred motor cycle in the best tradition of the great Italian manufacturers. Named after a fictional tiger, the Darmah does have something of a tiger quality with its effortless power and agility. The power unit of the bike is a 900 vee-twin engine mounted longitudinally in' the frame with the rear cylinder offset to the right of the front. Like the other large Ducat's, it has a capacity of 863.9cc but only the 900SS shares the same desmodromic valve system, as designed by famous race-engine builder Fabio Taglioni. Although not as well endowed with horsepower as some Japanese bikes, the 65-bhp put out by the engine has to power considerably less weight than the competitors, so performance is not that far behind. Top speed is just on 115mph, while a standing start quarter mile takes just over I3secs.

As with all big Ducat's, fuel consumption is excellent, being between 45-50 mpg most of the time. Where the bike does score over opponents is' in the handling and road-holding sector of performance for, with light weight, good balance and a sturdy frame, this bike is just about the quickest on a twisty road. Like Vincent, Ducati use the engine as an integral part of the frame with the front downtubes bolting on to the bottom of the crankcase, having the cylinders one behind the other makes the bike narrow so that the handling and roadholding can be exploited to the full. Other now almost standard Italian chassis parts include Brembo discs all round, Ceriani forks at the front and good-looking but expensive Campagnolo wheels.

Ducatis have never been the most attractive bikes (except in an engineer's eyes, perhaps), but with Leo Tartarini taking a hand in styling, they have gained a new image. The Darmah features neat tank and tail bodywork which, with subtle striping, look neat and racy. Also, Nippon Denso instruments have been put on to replace the suspect items of older models and an electric starter is there to save the aggravation of kicking the plot into life.

The Darmah is the touring version of the famous 900SS which has a 9.5:1 instead of 9.4:1 compression ratio and the option of 40mm instead of 32mm carburettors. With a dolphin fairing less weight by virtue of a manual starter and more power (8obhp is claimed), the 900SS is an unashamed road racer and top of the Ducati range.