DUCATI 800 Super Sport: 904 cc air-cooled 90° V-twin, two-valve “Desmodue” engine
The Ducati 800SS, introduced in 2003, is the smaller capacity, higher revving version of that year’s air-cooled Ducati Supersport (SS) model range.
The 800SS is a popular base for production racing in the United States, where it competes against motorcycles such as the Suzuki SV650. It is also eligible for racing in the UK in the Minitwins series with a variety of clubs such as BMCRC, North Gloucester Road Racing Club (NGRRC), and the North East Motorcycle Racing Club (NEMCRC).
In 2003 a new fuel-injected desmodromic 90° V-twin, 88 mm × 66 mm (3.5 in × 2.6 in), 803 cc (49.0 cu in) engine, and a new six-speed gearbox were offered in the Supersport 800. There were two versions available: the 800 Supersport and the 800 Sport. The Supersport featured a high specification chassis whilst the Sport was a lower cost version with a less well-specified chassis. Both used the same engine and came in with either a full fairing or half-fairing. The two-valve per cylinder engine produced 74.5 hp @ 8250 rpm, and 70 N·m (7.1 kgf·m) @ 6250 rpm.
Earlier 2003-2004 Supersport models had a high-specification chassis featuring fully adjustable Showa front forks and a fully adjustable Sachs shock absorber. From 2004 onwards Ducati reduced the level of chassis specification to that of the Sport (which was subsequently dropped from the range some time later). The alloy swinging arm was replaced with a steel item; the five-spoke Marchesini wheels were replaced by three-spoke wheels by Brembo; the front forks were replaced by non-adjustable Marzocchi items; the Brembo Goldline clutch and brake master cylinder were replaced with lower specification items as found on many lower-capacity Ducati Monsters.
From 2006 the 800SS was no longer imported into the UK although it was still available in the United States in limited numbers in 2007.
