The bike was beautiful in a brutish way unusual for Ducatis in general (google images will help if you've never seen one) but the 900ss fairing did sex it up a bit. It had the same frame and engine as the legendary SS but just wasn't as pretty, the chance finding of this fairing changed that a bit.
The mounting points of the fairing met up nicely and as far as I remember the only "vandalism" performed was a few small holes for the small indicators I fitted. And I sprayed it silver. Under this very thin layer of spraycan applied silver is the original red gelcoat. A gentle paint remover of the type used on fibreglass boats or similar should do the trick. I don't even remember priming or preparing the surface in any way.
I fitted straight through Conti megaphone exhausts and rejetted to suit and boy did she roar. That sound was amazing, starting her up in the dark resulted in foot long flames lighting up everything behind you, changing down from high revs did the same. She bounced on her sidestand, set off car alarms and upset the RAF Police who remained convinced that I was speeding even when parked. When I part ex'ed her for a brand new Triumph Speed Triple in 1995 I had rumbled, roared, bounced, slid and teetered for so many miles and so many memories. She was a joy to own right to the end when the straight through pipes and rejetting were clearly proving bad for the whole plot.
The bike this fairing was briefly fitted to itself became, when I thought a little about it, a metaphor for this entire project, the joy of ownership followed by the essential degradation and/or passing on of material possessions.
As the advert says, the half fairing - 30pounds. The memories it brought back - priceless.
Finding out your toughbook has an American key board, and therefore no pound sign - just a little annoying!
I think I'm going to enjoy this.
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