The Ducati MH900e (Mike Hailwood 900 Evoluzione) is a stellar example of what happens when vintage and modern elements are skillfully and successfully merged. Designed by Pierre Terblanche — who’d previously penned the 749/999 — the MH900e was produced to pay homage to Mike “The Bike” Hailwood’s legendary 1978 TT win, and the NCR-prepped machine the feat was achieved on. Originally, Ducati outsourced the production of the Evoluzione to Bimota, though after the V-Due basically killed the Rimini-based outfit, Ducati was left with no choice but to have the model hand-assembled in-house – resulting in a production delay.
Ducati took a novel approach with the MH900e, turning to the interwebs to gauge public interest, and then to later sell the things (which were exclusively available online). When Ducati started accepting orders on January 1, 2000 (at a price of €15,000 or $17,375), the first 1,000 units sold out in half-an-hour. Another 1,000 units were produced in 2002, all of which sold out as well. The majority of examples were snapped up by investors looking to turn a profit on the bike, and did they ever. Since its release, the model’s value has risen to roughly double its initial MSRP, with one low-mile MH900e example fetching $33K at the 2018 Mecum Vegas auction.
The very first concept images of the MH900e debuted at Intermot ’98. Despite the concept’s wildly exotic nature, there were only a couple elements (exhaust-integrated indicators and a rear-view camera and display) that didn’t make their way onto the final production model. Though Ducatistas gave the MH900e a very warm reception, Mike Hailwood’s widow, Pauline, wasn’t exactly thrilled that Ducati was using her late husband’s name without her permission, resulting in her taking legal action.
The Evoluzione was powered by the 75 horsepower (at 8,000rpm) 900SS mill with lowered gearing and the fuel-injection system from the Monster 900. Wrapped around the L-Twin was Ducati’s steel trellis which was married to 43mm inverted forks up front and a seriously cool tubular steel single-sided swing-arm (paired with a Paioli shock in back). In total the MHe weighed in at 410lbs (dry).
Even with its collector’s status, a handful of MH900e owners have opted to customize their respective examples. This particular 2002 MH900e has been pretty thoroughly modified via a number of high-end parts from Ducati Performance — including a full-set of carbon fiber bodywork — as well as a slew of Rizoma bits, too many little carbon parts to name, and super trick Staintune exhausts from Australia. According to the seller “all services (are) done”, including the timing belts recently getting changed. A new set of tires have been thrown on too.
It doesn’t appear any of the stock parts that have been replaced are included in the sale, however the seller is including the numbered owners plaque, the t-shirt that came with the bike (also numbered), and the matching red, rear track-stand. This example currently has just 4,500 miles on the odo, (about 280 miles per year) and because it was originally purchased in the US, importing it back into the States shouldn’t be much trouble. I’ve always had a hard time with the (IMHO) unsightly radiator, but it’s hard to deny the MH900e’s beauty.
You can find this 2002 Ducati MH900e (number 1,812 of 2,000) for sale here on Craigslist in Vancouver, British Colombia (Canada) with a (reduced) price of $18,000.