2001 Ducati MH900e
Miles: 0
Clean Title
Listed Price: $60,000 Or Best Offer
Listing Ends: November 13th, 2024
Today’s “time capsule” Ducati MH900e has quite literally been in a glass case from new, like a fly trapped in amber, and is claimed to have exactly zero miles on the odometer. First shown as a concept in 1998, the styling exercise by controversial designer Pierre Terblanche generated enough positive response that Ducati decided to put it into limited production. The initial intended 1000 bike run expanded to 2000 as demand increased, and all examples were built between 2001 and 2002. Intended to evoke Ducati’s NCR-developed racing bikes of the 1970s and early 1980s, with the “MH” hinting at links to Mike “The Bike” Hailwood, who successfully raced for Ducati at the Isle of Man TT in 1978. The bodywork is striking, possibly Terblanche’s best, a blend of old and new that manages to evoke the 1970s racing machines effortlessly, without looking vintage. The frame is gorgeous, as is the tubular swingarm that seems to have directly inspired the ones used on the S2R Monsters. The Marzocchi fork and Paioli rear shock are quality items, as are the Brembo brakes: the bike was meant to go as well as show. The only styling misstep is the fake finned sump on Ducati’s classic air/oil-cooled, two-valve v-twin.
This is a BRAND NEW bike. The bike has never been titled. Comes with the original certificate of origin from Ducati. To be sold on a Bill of Sale.
Never started. Its sitting on its original wooden crate. Comes with a plaque/ certificate 0750/2000 units. Two keys, all owners manuals, bike stand, t-shirt, rear view mirrors. The bike sits on its original wooden crate base, inside a lighted acrylic case that has a quarzite side bar attached to it. It can be purchased with or without the case. If purchase with case, three sitting stools are included. Buyer is responsible for picking it up, packing it and transportation. A wood board from the side of the original crate is available and its mounted on a hanging black frame.
It’s not often I’d say that maybe a bike is probably better off being looked at than ridden. But with the MH900e, it’s almost like Ducati was trying to make a bike for display use only: the ergonomics are inhumane, with a very tall seat and achingly low bars, straight-line performance is unimpressive, and the bike has an absolutely minuscule gas tank: just 2.2 gallons. CA Cycleworks used to make a much bigger tank that I believe basically replaced the airbox with more fuel capacity, but I doubt they’re still in production. The MH900e apparently is a great handler if you do happen to ride one in anger. Let’s just hope you don’t live too far from the twisties… These generally seem to trade for less than half of this asking price, so you’d really need to want a display bike to to even consider it at this price.
-tad
