Presentation of the Ducati MH 900e

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Presentation of the Ducati MH 900e

www.ducati.com

The first motorcycle is wriggling in the global data network: the exclusive Ducati MH 900e, presented at the beginning of December, is only sold over the Internet.

No external resemblance. No, really not, but at the first eye contact with the bright red new Ducati MH 900e, the purple cow trots through the subconscious again and again. As tempting, as wonderfully light as air chocolate. Detached and ready to take off. For a very, very long time there has not been a sports motorcycle that is so stingy with plastics and elastics and flaunts its engine so proudly.
Ducati had already shown the MHe as a study last autumn at INTERMOT (MOTORRAD 22/1998). In a glass case that is always closely surrounded. And because the echo reverberated for months, it is now actually coming in a slightly different form as a series item: Ducati is planning 1000 units for the next two years, and price and distribution channels are exclusive like the motorcycle. For 15,000 euros, the MH 900e does not go over the counter, but rather online, as an Internet offer. The delivery then takes place non-virtual, i.e. in the usual tangible form at the dealer.
MH 900e stands for Mike Hailwood 900 evoluzione, and Ducati chief designer Pierre Terblanche was inspired by the old 750 factory racers and the 900 series with which “Mike the Bike ?? 1978 surprisingly won the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man. But be careful: Evoluzione means further development, not replica. The South African Terblanche calls the end result neoclassical.
Regardless of the terminology, what remains is a beautiful, genuine Ducati, whose almost aggressively designed upper deck consisting of fairing, tank and seat allows unobstructed views of the engine. So on the Desmo V2 with injection, which also drives the 900 SS and makes around 79 hp. A plastic dummy gives the Ducati vertical shaft motors a classic look with their distinctive oil pans.
Compared to the study, the series took a few concessions. The oil cooler is now located directly in front of the engine housing, which does not damage the outfit, but on the contrary misses the ultimate techno kick. On the other hand, it is a real shame about the fascinating, open-running clutch made of titanium and carbon fiber discs. It was too expensive and too loud. In the series version, the usual multi-plate dry clutch works under a closed, albeit highly polished, cover.
The planned single disc brake in the front wheel made of unusual materials fell victim to safety aspects and the red pencil. A Brembo double disc system takes its place. The rear indicators are no longer in the mufflers, but – fully TÜV-compliant – underneath. And instead of the camera in the seat hump, which was supposed to observe the traffic and transmit the image to a display in the cockpit, with a heavy heart, designer Terblanche installed two conventional mirrors in which, as is usual with Ducati, you won’t see much, but the series production is immense facilitate.
Nevertheless: The MH 900e has remained dreamily detached. This is primarily due to the newly designed bridge frame, which does not steal any of the show from the engine. Or the eye-catching single-sided swing arm, which was designed for the first time in series production as a lattice tube construction. Then the Marchesini wheels with the five delicate spokes. And of course the tank and half-shell in red and silver, which not only look like they are made of one piece, they actually are. The silver field from the tank continues on the seat hump under which the elongated exhaust bags protrude – that just turns on. As in the seventies, the ignition lock is located in the front of the half-shell, and the MHe 900 can be locked with a steering lock. It has been a long time since we saw such a prehistoric steering lock. The only annoying element, because it is too modern, is the digital display under the classic white rev counter with a chrome rim.
The decision to mass-produce the Mike Hailwood evoluzione was not an easy one. The fear in Bologna of jeopardizing sales of the 900 SS even further in Germany was too great. So there was a compromise, a series limited to 1000 pieces. “The Evoluzione is a real collector’s item ??, Ducati general director Massimo Bordi reassures himself.” It will not affect sales of the SS. ?? If that’s true. Because already in Munich the MH 900e was considered by the fans as the better, because it was more beautiful 900er.
E.The Ducatisti will have to wait a little longer: when they visited the MOTORRAD factory, the prototype rolled around the in-house mini-track thanks to the powerful pushing aid. Construction will only start in the second half of 2000, until then only the Internet will remain. The new figure of light from Ducati can be admired there from January. And order.

Technical specifications

Motor: Air-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke 90-degree V-engine, two valves per cylinder, operated desmodromically, wet sump lubrication, electronic injection, engine management, no exhaust gas cleaning, electric starter, bore x stroke 92 x 66 mm, displacement 904 cm³ , Compression ratio 9.2: 1, rated output 59 kW (79 hp) at 8300 rpm, max. Torque 78 Nm at 6500 rpm Power transmission: primary drive via gear wheels, hydraulically operated multi-plate dry clutch, six-speed gearbox, O-ring chain Chassis: tubular steel frame, Showa upside-down fork, single-sided swing arm in tubular design, Paioli strut with adjustable spring base, pull – and pressure damping, double disc brake at the front, four-piston calipers, brake discs with floating bearings (320 mm Ø), disc brake at the rear (220 mm Ø), cast wheels 3.5 x 17; 6 x 17, tires 120/70 ZR 17; 170/60 ZR 17, wheelbase 1420 mm, steering head angle 66.5 degrees, spring travel f / r 120/125 mm, seat height 820 mm, dry weight 175 kg, price: 15,000 euros (approx. 30,000 marks)

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