Confirmation of Production numbers for 907IE

[90_907ie]

Hi all, thanks for the help thus far, trying to figure out if I have a collectable 907 ie.
The Last numbers on the VIN are 000244 and the date MFG is 6/89 and bike is titled as 90, which is reasonableI suppose.
My question is how do I confirm the production and import numbers for this model and date. What is the chance I have the one of the first few 907 IE's imported to the US?

I saw on the page with the production numbers, that there was one 90 907ie made in 89, and only 1053 made for the whole year.
And as I understand it only 250 imported to the US that year. What is involved with confirming those numbers?

Thanks again all.

[Rogero]

No idea what this is all about but I'm off to check my VIN numbers!

[mike]

907IE #000009 is in the USA. if you check the gallery, you can see where you fit in with the folks that have checked into the site.

[DesmoDog]

My bike is #130. I put money down on it in November of 1990 and it wasn't delivered until spring of '91. Where are you getting the manufacturing date from for your bike? I have vague memories there's something stamped on the black tag on the frame, but I'm not near my bike right now so I can't check.

A 6/89 build date seems strange... I'd guess the number you are looking at as a build date is for a component on the bike, not the bike itself? It's been a while since I've dealt with bike VINs, but if the website I just checked is correct, the 10th digit in the VIN is the model year. I suspect the 10th digit in your bike's VIN is an M (for 1991) which would rule out a manufacturing date of 1989.

Also, if I've heard it correctly, Ducati begins building the next year's bikes after the factory shutdown, which occurs in July I think? So the '91s would have begun production around August of '90 at the earliest. A build date of 6/89 would put it before the '89 shut down - in with the 1989 model year bikes. I realize yours is titled as a '90, but I don't place much stock in the date on the title. My late '74 750 is listed as a '73 on the title, and I've heard of numerous mistakes on other vehicles.

In any case the VIN will tell model year - and realize a "1991" 907 could have been built anywhere between January 1 of 1990 and December 31 of 1991. (But no earlier or later - there are regulations covering this). Model year vs calendar year can get confusing. I know it's said there was one 907 built in '89. I'm guessing that was a pilot build or something, and it almost certainly used some unique pre-production parts so it would be easily identifiable.

While there were reportedly 1000+ 907s built in '90, it's my understanding they were all 1991 models. There never was a 1990 907ie that I know of... 1990 model year was the 906. Check your VIN - the 10th digit (which is a letter) should reveal all. K = 1989, L = 1990, M = 1991.

[90_907ie]

Here is my VIN for the sake of argument. ZDM1JB4L0L B000224. If I remember L is Denotation of 90 model year. And the 6/89 is on the sticker on the frame next to the rear tire. So does that mean they prepped the frame in 89?
So am I to assume that 000224 is the sequence number for the whole model run, not for the model year?

[DesmoDog]

Well then, so much for my ideas!

Yeah, the L would indicate it's a 1990 model. I'm just guessing here, but with a build date of 1989, and a serial number of 224... I'd think it was a 906, not 907...

I'll check the VIN on mine when I get home. I think digits 4-8 describe the model but I'll have to look into it more. Or maybe someone with a 906 can look at their VIN and see how it compares?

Forgive my next few questions, but... your bike does have 17" wheels, fuel injection, and 851 style (non-eccentric) chain adjusters, right???

EDIT: I checked my 907's VIN, digits 4-8 are different (I've got 1MB4P) but I haven't been able to confirm that describes the model. And yes, as I understand it, the serial number runs through the model history - either that or they built over 17,000 900SS's in 1995.

[DesmoDog]

Alright, one last shot at this. My 907 owner's manual states that the two digits following "ZDM" are the model designators. So 1M is the model on my VIN.

But one thing I noticed - the sticker on the right side of the frame that has the build date - does it list the wheel size too? Mine does...

If it's a 907 it should list a 17" wheel. The 906 came with a 16" wheel.

[mike]

And yes, as I understand it, the serial number runs through the model history - either that or they built over 17,000 900SS's in 1995.

that doesnt surprise me one bit... between SSs, CRs, and all the worldwide models

[90_907ie]

Well lets see, On my bike are 17"wheels and several computers. So 907 for sure But I would have to pull that fairing off again to check that sticker, because it might have mentioned 16" wheels. Indicating 906 frame I would guess. And 907 components finalizing assembly the next model year??? I guess that would make sense overall, taking prepped 906 frames for the first batch of 907's. A very interesting mystery indeed.

[90_907ie]

However, I am not sure what eccentric \non eccentric chain adjusters. There are yellow aluminum pieces, with screws in the center for adjusting the chain tension, on the end of the rear swingarm.

[mike]

IIRC 906 and 907 frames are dramatically different... as in you couldnt use one for the other because of swingarm design.

[DesmoDog]

that doesnt surprise me one bit... between SSs, CRs, and all the worldwide models

None of the figures I've seen quoted would support anywhere near that many SS models being produced in a year. For example Ian Falloon's Standard Catalog of Ducati motorcycles lists 1995 Super Sport production at

3569 900SS
1338 900SL
1550 750SS
0737 Smaller versions

=> about 7200 total. And I don't think the 750 or smaller bikes are even in the same sequence for serial numbers so even that number is misleading.


But getting back on topic - According to the same book, Ducati built 1302 906 Pasos in 1988, so the 224 serial number with a 1989 build makes no sense to me even for a 906 if they are consecutive for the model and not the year? So basically it doesn't make sense to me either way.

Falloon also offers frame numbers - the 906 was a ZDM 906 PC series while the 907 was a ZDM 906 PI 2 series. Engine numbers were ZDM 904SC series for 906, and ZDM 904 W2 series for 907.

Have you got any pictures of the bike?

[redpaso]

guys, just remember that we are talking about Italian machinary here & logic does not always play a big part in things.

[DesmoDog]

...On my bike are 17"wheels and several computers. So 907 for sure But I would have to pull that fairing off again to check that sticker, because it might have mentioned 16" wheels...

You can read that part of the sticker without pulling the fairing - or at least you can on my bike. But I suppose that sticker's probably in a different spot on each bike! Looks like mine isn't sitting quite where it should be anyway...

Sounds like you have the correct chain adjusters, so the swingarm is correct. And if Mike is right about the frames not being interchangable, then it must be a 907 frame too?

Ya got me on this one.

[Finnpaso]

IIRC 906 and 907 frames are dramatically different... as in you couldnt use one for the other because of swingarm design.

Mike, I think, 906 and 907 have same engine mounts(same engine), so HOW 906 and 907 frames are different??? 907 have longer and surely different (like in 851) swingarm, but is it connected some way to different frame?

Btw, have anybody tried 907/906 engine to 750 frame ????

Antti