In 1996, the Italian motorcycle maker released the Ducati 600SS Half Fairing, an exact replica of the base 600SS model but wearing just an upper fairing instead of full body armor. Besides that, it shared the same technical and performance specifications as the fully faired version.
The Ducati 600SS was available with a full or half fairing and was part of the smaller displacement series in Ducati's range. The series comprised the Ducati 350SS (1991-1993), 400SS (1989-1997), and 600SS (1994-1999).
Besides the half fairing, the 600SS model packed the same standard features as the faired model, including a large, rectangular headlight and a medium-sized windscreen, a one-piece dual seat with a passenger grab handle, three-spoke aluminum wheels, and a single-sided exhaust system.
The bike's steel trellis frame was fitted with a 41 mm upside-down Marzocchi telescopic fork handling the front suspension and an adjustable Sachs shock absorber running the rear suspension.
As for the braking power, the bike's 17-inch wheels were fitted with a 320 mm disc mounted on the front wheel coupled to a dual-piston caliper and a 245 mm disc bolted to the rear wheel engaged by a single-piston caliper.
The 1996 Ducati 600SS Half Fairing had its soul brought to life by a 583cc four-stroke air-cooled V-twin engine with two Mikuni carburetors in charge, boasting 53 hp with maximum strength at 8,250 rpm and 52 Nm (38 lb-ft) torque at 7,000 rpm.