Ducati Darmah: a softer version of the racy 900SS but still with two-wheel Ferrari appeal – and here’s one up for sale.
OK, let’s get the elephant in the room exposed straightaway. Ducati motorcycles: the looks, the engineering, the sound (Contis!), the handling and the whole ambiance of Italian bike ownership. What’s not to love?
I’ve owned several Ducatis. Two 1970s 900SS sports bikes, including a Mike Hailwood Replica bought new, and later models, the best of which was a ST2 sports tourer.
As a roadtester on Motor Cycle News in the late 1970s (a job mixed with general news and sport reporting), I got to ride the Ducati Darmah 900SD. Somewhere in the MCN archives is my review but I haven’t managed to locate it yet.
But I can remember wowing my new girlfriend at the time with its looks – effectively a two-wheeled Ferrari – and its comfort. Yes, the Darmah was the dream bike: a 900SS softened for everyday touring use. It had the Desmodronic valve gear that allowed an overhead cam big vee-twin to rev higher than an ‘ordinary’ two-valve engine.
Smaller carbs and a lower compression ratio took the hard edge off the 900SS – and there was an electric starter too. That was important because Ducati back then had an awful kickstart guaranteed to whack your shin on the footrest. That didn’t matter so much on the 900SS because you were busy putting out the small fire in the open mouth Dell Orto carbs dripping with excess fuel. Either that or your knee was aching from the kick back.
The Darmah was the successor to the earlier touring Ducati 860GTS, not only equipped with the more powerful Desmo engine but with a more supple chassis and stunning styling. However, still the same dodgy electrics which included a junction box perfectly placed to drown in water when riding in the rain.
But it was a great package, produced in an extremely competitive market where Japanese superbikes were rampant. Think Kawasaki Z1-R, Suzuki GS1000, Honda CBX1000 – astonishing! six cylinders! – and Yamaha XS11. The Ducati couldn’t compete on sheer power and performance, but it was a fantastic package overall with solid handling, brakes that worked in the wet and just that bit more charisma.
That handling was a product of an over-engineered frame (not by much, just enough) plus a long wheelbase and lengthy angle on the forks. Not good on slow speed tight turns, or manoeuvring through traffic, but brilliant and stable when riding fast on country roads. The phrase ‘on rails’ is over-used but, in this case, justified.
Ducati Darmah SD900 auction
A highly original 1980 Ducati Darmah SD900, showing just 13,300 miles from new, is coming up for auction at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show on 12 November 2023. The auction is run by Iconic Auctioneers (the new name for Silverstone Auctioneers) and the Darmah has a guide price of £10-12k.
That might sound optimistic given the bike’s condition which is original and complete, but clearly in need of TLC and a thorough recommissioning.
The auctioneer, Mark Bryan, says, “One careful traffic policeman owner and only 13,300 miles from new. When you spend your professional life on the road as a traffic cop you know something about motorbikes. So, the choice of your own personal bike is of great interest.
“The bike’s owner worked as a traffic policeman for 25 years in the Derbyshire Peak District aboard a BMW 1,000cc bike, chasing down speeding car drivers and stolen cars. He has now been retired for 25 years.
“Looking back to the day he bought his Ducati in 1980 for £2,500 he said: ‘I was in heaven. I loved the bike. People would stop me to admire it.’