Quick Ride
DUCATI E900
ROUNDUP
QUICK RIDE
A bike for all seasons
DUCATI CALLS ITS E900 the Range Rover of motorcycles, and that's motorcycles, and that’s not a bad analogy. Both are powerful, uncommon, versatile and expensive.
It is also unlikely that either vehicle will see regular action much more rugged than that found on crowded city streets. That’s a good thing in the case of the E900, since it is more a machine with a dual-purpose look than a true dual-purpose nature. That said, does the E900 live up to its lofty billing?
At the heart of the E900 is an air/oil-cooled 904cc V-Twin sourced from Ducati’s 900SS and retuned for more torque. Horsepower is down from a claimed 73 for the sport-oriented SS to 62 for the E900, but the fat midrange is such that the bike doesn’t feel like it’s hurting for power. Abundant torque is available straight off idle and builds into an acceptable surge on top. All that lowend punch makes the bike a delight for riding around town. Just point and blast. The spread is as broad as that of any Twin on the market, and the engine is especially smooth around 4000 rpm. Vibration is virtually nonexistent through the rubbermounted bars and footpegs, unless you push the engine to its 9000-rpm redline, where you’ll find a gentle buzzing. Doing so isn’t necessary, thanks to the impressive torque curve and a smooth-shifting six-speed transmission.
Thanks to its upside-down 41mm Showa fork and a Boge rear shock, the bike handles dirt roads and bumpy pavement in a composed manner. In setting up the suspension, the bikes engineers were successful in finding a dirt-street compromise, so the E900, fitted with Dunlop Trailmax tires, feels solid in paved corners and ground clearance is never a problem. The ride is comfortable on freeways and in town, as well. The Brembo brakes-two 11.1 -inch front discs and a 9.4-inch rear disc-are superb, although frontlever travel is a bit excessive.
The mechanical elements that make for a comfortable motorcycle are there, but a slightly wider seat would boost the comfort level. The upright riding position works well for all conditions, and while the E900 is a tall motorcycle, nobody of average height range had any trouble riding it. Wind protection is another E900 strong point, as the fairing and screen are larger than those on more hard-core dual-purpose mounts.
All this adds up to a lot of motorcycle in both a figurative and literal sense. Loaded with a full 5.8 gallons of gas, the E900 weighs 505 pounds. Exploring backroads is no problem, but territory calling for a four-wheel drive truck is too much for any bike of the Ducati’s size and weight.
If the E900 is a substantial motorcycle, it also comes with a substantial price-$8599. A lot of money? Sure. However, you get a nimble streetbike that will handle a dirt road, go nearly 300 miles on a tank of gas, and cover ground swiftly and smoothly.
On the less tangible side, you get a rare bike and that unique Ducati sound and feel, something found in precious few vehicles. Perhaps the Range Rover should be called the E900 of sport-utility vehicles.
Jimmy Lewis
