DUCATI 600SS (1993 - 1999) Review

At a glance

Owners' reliability rating: 4 out of 5 (4/5)
Annual servicing cost: £240
Power: 53 bhp
Seat height: Medium (31.9 in / 810 mm)
Weight: Low (379 lbs / 172 kg)

Overall rating

Next up: Ride & brakes
2 out of 5 (2/5)

With under 50bhp at the rear wheel it’s a sports motorcycle with little bite, and the Ducati 600SS is pretty impractical too. Most examples of this motorcycle are old and carrying plenty of scars and can be potential money pits. Worth considering if you find a loved Ducati 600SS in mint condition and don’t want to go fast.

Ride quality & brakes

Next up: Engine
4 out of 5 (4/5)

The little Ducati 600SS handles nicely on smooth surfaces. The suspension’s not that sophisticated but it works well enough. Bumps upset it’s quite hard suspension but never throw the motorcycle too far off line. Rewards smooth lines with an involving ride. The Ducati 600SS' single disc front brake is adequate but no better.

Engine

Next up: Reliability
2 out of 5 (2/5)

The Ducati 600SS has an air cooled, two-valve per cylinder v-twin. It’s low tech and doesn’t produce much power. Suzuki Bandit 600s have much more shove. On the plus side it’s got that old worlde Ducati charisma but the Ducati 600SS is still too slow a motorcycle for most riders.

Reliability & build quality

Next up: Value
2 out of 5 (2/5)

Ducati motorcycles from this period weren’t the best put together or the most reliable things out there. Vibration can (and probably will) loosen fasteners on the Ducati 600SS – thread lock and careful servicing is needed. Neglect the engine or over rev it and you’re asking for expensive trouble – at least the Ducati 600SS is easy to work on.

Value vs rivals

Next up: Equipment
3 out of 5 (3/5)

Pay a low price and don’t expect fireworks, a comfortable or practical motorcycle and the little Ducati 600SS can be an ok buy. Rarity may mean loved motorcycles don’t depreciate much but high miles and neglect will decimate value. Find a Ducati 600SS for sale.

Equipment

2 out of 5 (2/5)

Think the modestly powered Ducati 600SS would be ideal for a new biker? Wrong - the wrist-heavy, feet up riding position makes it quite a difficult motorcycle to ride at low speeds. There’s very little steering lock. What equipment the Ducati 600SS has (and there isn’t much) is more an afterthought. Mirrors vibrate to the point of uselessness.

Specs

Engine size 583cc
Engine type 4v V-twin, 5 gears
Frame type Steel trellis
Fuel capacity 16 litres
Seat height 810mm
Bike weight 172kg
Front suspension None
Rear suspension Preload, Rebound
Front brake 320 mm disc
Rear brake 245mm disc
Front tyre size 120/60 x 17
Rear tyre size 160/60 x 17

Mpg, costs & insurance

Average fuel consumption 42 mpg
Annual road tax £84
Annual service cost £240
New price -
Used price -
Insurance group 11 of 17
How much to insure?
Warranty term Two year unlimited mileage

Top speed & performance

Max power 53 bhp
Max torque 36 ft-lb
Top speed 120 mph
1/4 mile acceleration 13.8 secs
Tank range 145 miles

Model history & versions

Model history

1993: Original Ducati 600SS introduced in November with full or half fairing.
1995: Gold frame and grey engine, Marzocchi suspension.
1997: Change of graphics; large Ducati decal on side panels.
1999: Ducati 600SS model discontinued.

Other versions

Half faired Ducati 600SS also available.

Owners' reviews for the DUCATI 600SS (1993 - 1999)

6 owners have reviewed their DUCATI 600SS (1993 - 1999) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.

Review your DUCATI 600SS (1993 - 1999)

Summary of owners' reviews

Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5 (4.5/5)
Ride quality & brakes: 4.2 out of 5 (4.2/5)
Engine: 4 out of 5 (4/5)
Reliability & build quality: 4 out of 5 (4/5)
Value vs rivals: 3.8 out of 5 (3.8/5)
Equipment: 3.5 out of 5 (3.5/5)
Annual servicing cost: £240
4 out of 5 97 Ducati 600ss
14 February 2024 by Mo

Year: 1997

Annual servicing cost: £150

97 600ss, yellow with single exhaust can, handling is beautiful, lacks power on the top end but great on twisty roads, sounds great and easy to work on... Great for a Sunday morning spin on your own to clear the head

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

Twin disc conversion is a help, suitable for the smaller rider, I find very comfortable, seat is soft...

Engine 4 out of 5

It is what it is, 600cc L twin air-cooled carb motor, you get what you get...

Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5
Value vs rivals 4 out of 5

Cheap to maintain if you can work your self, but definitely more work than a jap bike, but I'm happy to do it for the privilege of owning it

Equipment 4 out of 5

Brembo where's, brembo brakes, suspension is adequate, but it's an old Ducati after all..

Buying experience: Getting harder to get, prices can vary when they arise, but harder to get on when you look for one...

5 out of 5
09 August 2022 by Valentin

Version: Nuda

Year: 1995

Cet "essai" de MCN est la preuve qu'un grand journal motocycliste peut aussi manquer d'objectivité et de professionnalisme...

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 4 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5
Value vs rivals 4 out of 5
Equipment 3 out of 5
5 out of 5 600SS much better than you think
20 May 2022 by John600SS

Year: 1995

very fun bike and very comfortable, I did a trip 2000klms and many other smaller trips.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

I have used it for everything, it is at home on tight twisty back roads

Engine 4 out of 5

Much better than people realise, it gets a bit buzzy above 125klms/hr but at normal speeds it is great on the road.

Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5

Build is good and never broken down.

Value vs rivals 4 out of 5

Not expensive to run as it is very simple

Equipment 4 out of 5

The engine is so good very simple to work on and maintain.

5 out of 5 Ducati 600SS
05 October 2018 by The Stig

Year: 1997

Annual servicing cost: £200

This is how a motorcycle is supposed to look. It has an amazing look and the soul/charisma that nine out of ten bikes just don't have. Value will be rising as well and the 600 are manufactured in quite small amounts. Find a yellow stunner if you can, they are like eye-candy.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5

Even though the engine is weak, the riding experience is really nice. Stable chassis and really good brakes. The bike feels extremely light, in fact it feels like any 250cc bike and is very easy to flick around.

Engine 3 out of 5

The weak point but you could not expect much more from an air-cooled V-twin engine. Economy has been a key factor here. With that said it still takes you easily up to 180 kmph and will go another 20 if you stress it a little bit but who drives like 200 kmph when daily driving? This still could be used on a racetrack and due to a very nice chassis it could still give you a big smile.

Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5

Take care of it and it will do as fine as any other.

Value vs rivals 4 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5

What you need, nothing more or less.

4 out of 5 It's not that bad as MCN wrote.
05 June 2017 by Billyduc77

Year: 1994

Annual servicing cost: £300

Not bad for a first Ducati. After 22 years of Japanese bikes it was time for a change. I didn't need the fastest. The SS 620,750 are too cramped but the engine runs smoother. At least the SS600 you can still find with low mileage for a descent price. With the 750,900 it will be more difficult.

Ride quality & brakes 3 out of 5

Single disc. Just enough.

Engine 4 out of 5

With only approx a second slower on the 1/4mile and 7 mph slower on top speed it's not that slow like MCN wrote. In the midrange it still keeps up with my brothers bandit 650 and it runs easily 100mph. Vibration isn't that bad either. Maybe I have a well preserved model.

Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5

Guess what brakes down first? The rectifier. Which is from Japan.

Value vs rivals 3 out of 5

Timing belts not too difficult to replace. Valve adjustment a little pricy but only 2 valves keeps it simple and easy accessible.

Equipment 3 out of 5
4 out of 5 robinjohnson95's review of the Ducati SuperSport 600
22 November 2015 by robinjohnson95

Version: carenata

Year: 1995

Annual servicing cost: £300

A great bike and perfect for the people who want to become a Ducatisti. It is true you have to get to know it and it is not easy to handel at first, but once you do it handles really wel and 0-60 ~5.5 seconds is fast enough for me. It is not a bike for someone who just started riding, but coming from a Cagvia Mito SP525 it is a perfect bike for the A2 license if you fancy yourself some Italian fairing. essentially it is a Ducati Monster 600 with fairing, So I do not understand why they rate the SuperSport so low and the Monster so High as they share the same engine and most of the other parts plus they only have other rider geometry and do or do not have fairing.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

The bike loves the twisties, but you have to keep your throttle rolling or it will run wide on you. After you get to know how this bike handels you can really ride this thing in the corners especially when it is dry, the brakes are sadly a single disk but it does stop you well enough. It is pretty comfortable as well much beter as I anticipated.

Engine 5 out of 5

The engine is not the most powerful with only 53 BHP but it is a great simple two valve per cilinder engine. But when do you need more on the road, it is like the people who reviewed the bike looked at it like a circuit bike. Mine is restricted for the A2 license and it runs really wel, and as I have limited power with my license I am happy that is has so much torque.

Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5

It is an Italian so will brake down at one point, but seeing that some have done more than 62K I figured they must be pretty reliable for an Italian. It is easy to work on and you can do almost anything yourself, everything looks and feels sturdy to.

Value vs rivals 4 out of 5

Have not had to do servicing as it was done by the previous owner recently, but as I mentioned in Quality & Reliability they are pretty durable and are easy to work on yourself. So for the premium name this would be your cheapest way in.

Equipment 3 out of 5

As it being an old school starter bike from the mid-nighties, it is not the best equipped. everything is pretty basic but looks well made, al you have is actually all you need. This Ducati was made at the end of the Cagiva era and you can see a logo here and there, the SuperSport looks like it is made with the parts they had in the factory just like how the Monster was made. All in all that is not a bad things as it is well build bike.

Buying experience: I bought it from someone who cherished the bike and kept it nice and clean and did not ride it that much, it was well maintained and only had a few small things for a bike which was 20 years old.

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