Ducati 900SS Mike Hailwood Replica (MHR)
Low milage, excellent condition, very original. matching numbers bike, currently stored in a bubble, will have fresh MOT before pick up.

£7,500 spent with very highly regarded classic Ducati specialist Ray Petty on Restoration in 2017/18

OVERVIEW

After Mike Hailwood’s spectacular victory at the 1978 Isle of Man Formula One race on an NCR Ducati, the factory commemorated this event with the introduction of a race replica. This bike from 1979 was originally titled ‘900 Replica’ (only from 1981 was the model officially titled ‘Mike Hailwood Replica’) and became known as the Mk1 later on. The 1979 model was only produced in a number of 300 (initially announced to be limited to 200!) and had a fibreglass cover over a regular 900 Super Sport fuel tank, single seat and came with a certificate. The engine was identical to that of the 900 Super Sport and came with 40mm Dell’Orto carburettors and Conti exhaust mufflers.

The 1980 Mk2 was not limited in production and although only the fuel tank was now made from steel, the bike was more or less the same as the 1979 Mk1. This still included some very specific items fitted, such as the one-piece fairing, the Brembo Goldline brake callipers, 40mm Dell’Orto carburettors and were originally fitted with Conti exhausts. Though this was a modification done to a lot of Mike Hailwood Replica’s, only on model year 1979 and 1980 they are road legal.

ENGINE

The Mike Hailwood Replica engine is, like all ‘square case’ Ducati’s, based on the L-Twin of the 860 GT of 1974. Although technically based on the 750 ‘round case’ L-twin, this engine had a lot of improvements for faster and simpler assembly. The outer engine cases were designed by Giorgetto Guigiaro of Studio Italdesign. Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3 models have the same engine specifications as the 1979 900 Super Sport with Bosch electronic ignition. The Mk4 electric start shares its specifications with the 900 S2 and a dry hydraulic actuated clutch. The engine has vertically split aluminium crankcases, a 90-degree L-twin layout with the vertical cylinder inclined at 15 degrees upwards. The five-speed gearbox is incorporated in the engine crankcase and all Mike Hailwood Replicas have a left side gearshift.

FRAME

The Mike Hailwood Replica Mk1 to Mk3 all use the 900 Super Sport frame as a basis with very minor modifications for bodywork assembly. The Mk1 was fitted with magnesium Speedline or Campagnolo five-spoke wheels, where later models had aluminium FPS wheels. The Mk4 electric start and the Mk5 Mille had a completely different frame setup, shared with the 900 S2.

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