In 2004, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer launched the Ducati 999, a sports bike in its second year of production that came in the same package as the previous model, without any performance, visual, or technical modifications.
The 999 model was a sports machine manufactured from 2003 to 2006 that replaced the Ducati 916, 996, and 998 models. The bike was designed by Pierre Terblanche and was known as a high-performance and race-oriented machine. In addition, the bike was known on the streets as the Triple Nine or Nine-nine-nine.
It also had great success in the Superbike World Championship, being raced until 2007, although the production stopped in 2006. In 2003, the bike won with Neil Hodgson on the saddle, in 2004 with James Toseland behind bars, and in 2006 ridden by Troy Bayliss.
The 2004 Ducati 999 featured a full fairing with a small windscreen, two small, round, vertically stacked headlights, a single seat with a passenger cover, an under-seat-mounted exhaust system, and lightweight 10-spoke alloy wheels.
Compared to the 999s and 999R, the Ducati 999 featured a standard suspension system comprised of a 43 mm upside-down Showa fork on the front and a fully adjustable Showa shock absorber with progressive linkage on the rear.
The Ducati 999 was the less powerful machine between the 999S and 999R, packing a 999cc four-stroke liquid-cooled V-twin engine that delivered an output power of 124 hp with a peak at 9,500 rpm and 102 Nm (75 lb-ft) torque at 8,000 rpm.