|
Ducati 900SD Darmah
|
Make Model |
Ducati 900SD Darmah |
|
Year |
1978 |
|
Engine |
Air cooled, four stroke, 90°“L”twin cylinder, SOHC, desmodromic 2 valve
per cylinder. |
|
Capacity |
864 |
|
Bore x Stroke |
86 x 74.4 mm |
|
Compression Ratio |
9.4:1 |
|
Induction |
2x 32mm Dell'Orto PHM carbs. |
|
Ignition /
Starting |
Bosch electronic /
electric |
|
Max Power |
74hp @ 7500 rpm |
|
Max Torque |
|
|
Transmission /
Drive |
5 Speed / chain |
|
Front Suspension |
Telescopic forks |
|
Rear Suspension |
Marzocchi shocks 5-way spring preload
adjustable. |
|
Front Brakes |
2x 280mm discs |
|
Rear Brakes |
Single 260mm disc 1 piston caliper |
|
Front Tyre |
3.50-18 |
|
Rear Tyre |
4.25-18 |
|
Dry-Weight / Wet-Weight |
215 kg / 224 kg |
|
Fuel Capacity |
16 Litres |
|
Consumption average |
41 mp/g |
|
Braking 60 - 0 / 100 - 0 |
/ 39 m |
|
Standing
¼ Mile |
13.6 sec / 159 km/h |
|
Top Speed |
184.5 km/h |
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 Ducatis, 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-yobhp 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
H5mph, while a standing start quarter mile takes just over I3secs.
As with
all big Ducatis, fuel consumption is excellent, being between 45-5ompg 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. |
