James’s 1989 Ducati 900SS

Sometimes this job is not as easy as it looks. Rewiring this old Ducati 900SS was one of those times. You expect blackened copper wires, hidden bodges and expiring electrical hardware on 1980s bikes. But Ducati’s strange electrical layout (with near-obsolete Molex connector plugs) throws up extra hazards to confound the enthusiastic electrician.

The battery’s at the front but the solenoid is under the seat – so the battery cables are over nine feet long. (There is the option of moving the solenoid to the battery, but solenoids make sparks and the bike isn’t running an airbox so… not a wise move.) The trellis frame is gorgeous but extremely tight round the motor, so there’s precious little room for cables in the middle. The sidestand switch earths when it’s up, so you need a relay to work the sidestand warning light. And so on. It’s quite complicated!

I should know all this really, because I used to own a Monster and a 900SS. They are such ‘ownable’ bikes – worth all the effort needed to keep them running nicely. So when I finished James’s SS, and everything worked, it was a very agreeable feeling.

James has owned the bike a long time and loves riding it. It’s a really neat example, with 17 inch wheels, uprated suspension, a recently rebuilt motor (by GTEC up the road), new Dell’Orto carbs and plenty of maintenance. The bodywork has scuffs and scars but it just adds to the well-loved look. And it pulls like a train.