Along The Road: Rare Ducati MH900e

The Ducati MH900e is one of those bikes that looks like it’s moving even when parked, and Doug Barker of Watertown, CT desired one from the get-go back in 2000. “When it came out, I wanted one,” he reported, recalling that his wife wanted to ride two-up, though, so he bought a Ducati ST4 instead.

It wasn’t until seven years later that he snagged one of the rare bikes. His is #619 and is one of only 2,000 built in 2000 and 2001, roughly 30 percent of which ended up in the United States. “It’s something I walk around the garage and go, ‘That”s mine,'” he said.

His pride of ownership is understandable and fully warranted. Legendary Ducati designer Pierre Terblanche created the MH900e (the “e” stands for “Evoluzione”) as an homage to racer Mike Hailwood’s win on a Ducati at the Isle of Man TT in 1978.

The company took the radical step of selling the limited-edition bike directly to consumers – on the Internet.

The bike went on sale at 00:01 a.m. GMT on Jan. 1, 2000 for 15,000 Euros. The first 1,000 models were quickly snapped up. Barker said it sold out in 20 minutes, while Wikipedia puts the time frame at 31 minutes. Regardless, demand was high.

This morning, Barker rode the MH900e to Toymaker’s Cafe in Falls Village. “This is the first time it’s been out in two years because I had knee surgery last year,” he explained. But it’s not a bike he rides a lot normally; averaging only 500 miles a year.

“I will tell you it’s uncomfortable (to ride) as all hell,” Barker said, suggesting the discomfort level is equal to that of a woman wearing stiletto heels.

Factor in a 1.5-gallon gas tank that limits its range as well as its rarity and it’s understandable why the MH900e has only been ridden a total of 4,500 miles in 15 years. A crash would be problematic, too, because “you can’t find parts for it,” Barker said.

A year after the bike was released, Pauline Hailwood, Mike Hailwood’s widow, sued Ducati for using her late husband’s name without permission. Hailwood never rode it. The case was later settled.

The MH900e is powered by a 904cc V-twin motor but only has a modest 75 horsepower. Top speed is only 130 miles per hour or so.

To a suggestion that maybe the bike should be drained of all fluids and turned into a display bike, Barker acknowledged the merit to doing so. However, like so many riders who believe bikes are meant to be ridden, he responded, “It’s like having a dog and putting it a cage.”