Two owners, circa 800 miles from new, 2001 Ducati MH900e

• Boxed limited edition plaque number 93/2000
• Present ownership since 2006
• Original accessories included

"Ducati has turned the design credo of 'form follows function' on its head. It's as if you're expected to look at the evoluzione rather than ride it." – Bike magazine.

Inspired by Mike Hailwood's fairytale comeback victory aboard a Sports Motorcycles-entered Ducati in the 1978 Isle of Man Formula 1 TT, the MH900e (Mike Hailwood 900 evoluzione) was first seen in 'concept bike' form at the 1998 Munich Show. The work of Ducati's design boss, Pierre Térreblanche, it was a personal project never intended for production, but such was the response that Ducati went ahead anyway and announced a limited run of only 2,000 machines, to be sold over the Internet.

Combining styling elements of the Multistrada and 900SS, the MH900e deployed the fuel-injected desmo v-twin engine from the M900 Monster in a trademark trellis frame equipped with matching single-sided swinging arm. In fact, identifiable similarities between Hailwood's TT-winning bike and the MH900e were notable by their almost total absence, being limited to a finned sump mimicking that of the old bevel-drive motors. Or as Bike put it: "Retro meets funk in race-rep fashion statement." Britain's premier motorcycle journal was right: rather than as an exercise in nostalgia, the MH900e worked far better when assessed as a design in its own right. Its intended market certainly thought highly of the concept, snapping up the entire production run within a matter of hours and thereby creating an instantly collectible classic.

Given the MH900e's 'work of art' status, it is not surprising that most have been used sparingly and this example - number '93' of the series - has covered only some 800-or-so miles from new. The Ducati was first owned by a Mr Paul Leeke of South Wales, passing to our vendor in June 2006. Kept in dehumidified storage since acquisition, this beautiful MH900e is presented in wonderfully preserved condition and is a collectors' dream. A Staintune exhaust is fitted at present but the original exhaust box is included in the sale. The machine is offered with old/current V5W/V5C documents; paddock stand; original MH900 evoluzione bike covers (x2); original limited edition 0093/2000 T-shirt; and an owner's manual including warranty booklet (unstamped).
Offered with key