Handling is stable and secure. However, like most Ducatis, the SS does require a lot more from the rider than a comparable Japanese machine. But that can make for a more involving riding experience which in itself brings pleasure.

Quite a bit of pressure on the pegs and bars is required to hustle the SS through a tight set of bends and thus it is more suitable for a rider that likes to work a little to get the best out of a machine. Ducati claims a 188 kilogram weight with all fluids, except fuel, for the new machine. But the 1000SS does require more rider effort to get the machine turned than that claimed weight figure may suggest.

The pair of 320mm discs up front are clamped by Brembo four-piston calipers and provide good initial bite and virtually no fade. A single 245mm disc is employed at the rear but offers about as much stopping power as Fred Flintstone putting his feet on the road to slow down in the cartoon strip. Thankfully, the solid performance of the front brakes makes the poor performance of the rear brake not too much of a concern.

Lighting the way is a new headlight which now uses a polycarbonate lens rather than the previous glass item. The reflecting surfaces inside the headlight have also been revised. While the normal low beam is not the strongest available, it is adequate. Thankfully the high beam is first-rate.

A new instrument panel makes an appearance and combines two analogue displays with a pair of digital displays. Odometer, trip meter, oil temperature and time functions are shown by the digital displays, while the speed and revs are displayed by the traditional round faced speedometer and tachometer gauges. The 2002 900SS had a black background on their instrument but the new 1000 machine presents a white background with orange illumination. Importantly, a new immobiliser anti-theft system has been incorporated in to the new electronics.

One of the long time banes of Ducati owners has been the fact that many of the machines can’t be started or warmed with the side-stand down. Thankfully this has changed with the new model which makes morning warm-up a much less painful procedure.  A fast idle lever is mounted on the left bar to assist in getting the machine up to operating temperature.

A range of over 230 kilometres is available from the 16-litre fuel tank, continuing the tradition of Ducati making the most fuel efficient large capacity twins.

As always with Ducati, the paint is deep, lustrous and sets the example for others to follow.  It is extremely resistant to scuffing and will still be looking good many years down the track.  This is the trend for the red machines and I have no reason to doubt that the optional yellow or metallic grey finishes are any less resilient.

The quality of finish is generally excellent.  However, Ducati could have put some more thought in to the routing of the wiring, which in many places is somewhat exposed and this does detract a little from the allure of the machine.

Continued...