Description
H&H Classic Auction @ The Imperial War Museum, Duxford/ Cambridgeshire
9th October, 2024 11:00
1981 Ducati 900 Darmah SD
Rare in the UK model
Estimate
£3, 500 - £4, 500
Registration No: OJT 169W
Frame No: 951296
MOT: Exempt
Originally presented bike in standard trim
Has had some recent recommissioning work
Supplied with a V5C registration document
Ducati was established in 1926 by Antonnio Ducati and his sons, initially producing electrical components. After WW2 they moved into motorcycles with the Cucciola, essentially a pushbike with a clip-on engine. By the 60s they had become associated with performance bikes selling a range of sporty 250 and 350 singles. In response to the demand for larger capacity bikes chief engineer Fabio Taglioni designed the classic V Twin bevel drive engine first used in the 1971 GT750. This proved to be an immediate success, helped considerably by Paul Smarts win in the 1972 Imola 200 race. This started a tradition of race-winning V twins that have gone on to dominate World Superbike racing over the years. The Leo Tartarini styled 900cc Darmah SD 'Sport Desmo' was introduced in 1977 and marked a big improvement in quality and design over previous models, offering a more touring orientated option to the 900SS.
The vendor bought this Darmah SD in 2020 from a friend who had stored it in his garage for around 20 years. Earlier this year he began a recommissioning project treating the bike to new tyres, chain and battery, a front fork rebuild with new seals and an overhaul of the brakes with stainless pistons, new seals and a set of stainless hoses. The fuel tank has been cleaned out and lined with new taps and fuel lines and the carbs have been ultrasonically cleaned and rebuilt with new seals. The wiring has been overhauled by Steve Hallam. The vendor is now having to move the bike on due to the loss of his storage and workshop space and reports it just needs a few finishing touches to get it back on the road. Only around 1500 were produced in 1981, with very few coming to the UK, so a rare model supplied with current V5C.
