Rare Ducati Investment
I’m often asked what is a super rare Ducati investment? When I reel off about ’75 900SS etc investors look at me and say “No. The ones investors haven’t spotted yet”. I will point them to when Ian Falloon came out with his guns blazing, about a year ago on Facebook, saying these “about 200” vintage Ducati Mike Hailwood Replicas will be the “Green Frame” of the future. Since then demand and prices have risen, yet there is still massive value to be found in these. They are still a very undervalued Bevel Drive and very affordable indeed. The Mike Hailwood replica was first introduced in 1979 with the first “about 200” being like prototypes. After that, over the following five years, Ducati produced a further 6,000 Mike Hailwood Replicas. This made the MHR a bit of a common sight on roads worldwide and collectors always look a bit sour when this model of Bevel Drive Ducati is discussed. However, a few astute vintage Ducati collectors will have a dim twinkle in their eyes as they ask, “what wheels does it have?” The first “about 200” of these machines either had magnesium Campagnolo four bolt wheels or Speedlines, which were maligned for cracking. They had gold Brembos, one of three petrol tanks and different forks. It’s these differences that turn that dull twinkle into a lust for any Ducati collector and make these machines a very collectible Ducati.
What did Ian Falloon say?
This is a quote from Ian Falloon. “Approximately 200 “MHRs” were built in 1979. Some with the sort after Campagnolo wheels like Mike won with on that historic day in 1978 and others with the maligned Speedline wheels that were prone to cracking. Collectors… Keep an eye out for unrestored examples in original condition. Bikes with Campagnolo wheels & the rarer “High Cut” tank (low cut tanks being carried forward to the 1980 & later models of which 6,000 were built) will be next Bevel since the legendary Green Frame to appreciate to astronomical values.” So as you can see, he is a great fan of these very rare Ducatis and I feel the same way about them as he does.
Why “About 200?”
The truth is that no one knows exactly how many of these unique vintage motorcycles were built of this unusual specification. It is certainly over 200 but no one knows how many more. These are the pre-series one. And the series one is worth more than the later versions as they are rarer. Although the series ones had their flaws, with a cumbersome one piece full fairing that needs unbolting to check the oil level of the motor. This machine was certainly thrown together at the factory without a thought for ergonomics, or user friendliness. This indicates that they may well have been contemplating only a limited run of 200 machines, but I am not bold enough to claim this to be true. Yet demand was such that it became a mainstay for Ducati’s global sales.
This Ducati’s place in motorcycling history.
This Ducati’s place is history is sealed by two factors. Firstly it was built to celebrate Mike Hailwood’s historic TT win, which Hollywood are gearing up to ruin with a saccharin film. Secondly, it marks an interesting change in motorcycle design. I wrote a piece about Honda’s Phil Read Replica here, which preceded Ducati’s replica by a year. That article in the link is talking about the profound and radical changes these race replicas foreshadowed. The Phil Read Replica came out in 1978. By 1984, six years later, Kawasaki had launched the GPZ900R and by 1985 Suzuki had launched the GSXR750 slab side. Would these massive Japanese companies have made such leaps away from the conservative roadsters they’d been building without the Phil Read and Mike Hailwood Replicas preceding them? Within a five or six year period motorcycles had grown rear sets, clip on handlebars, full fairings and racing seats as standard. The motorcycle had grown from a utilitarian form of transport into a race replica. Having such a place in history in itself makes this motorcycle a super rare Ducati investment and history will demonstrate who the astute investors are that hunt these machines down.
The vintage Ducati that gave us the race replica
This vintage Ducati gave us the race replica. Along with the Phil Read Replica, this stunning Ducati paved the way for expensive homologation specials like the 851 SP, 888 SP, 916 SP, VF1000R, RC30 and RC45 etc. It convinced motorcycle brand decision makers to throw their hats into the ring and leave their conservative views on motorcycle design abandoned, like cast off clothes at a skinny dipping session. These machines focused the light on the true desires of motorcyclists, they were a manifestation of every motorcyclists’ lust at that time in history. Which is why the GSXR and GPZ became so popular and sold so well when they were launched. Would they have been launched without the Phil Read and Mike Hailwood replicas? I doubt it, because there was no proof that there was such desire in the market place for such outlandish, yobbo machines. Those few hundred Honda race reps and those first “about 200” Mike Hailwood Replicas blazed a trail that became so bright that great big motorcycle companies changed their motorcycle design policy, radically. I’m sure those first “about 200” were an experiment for Ducati and they probably half expected them not to sell. When they flew off the show room floors, Ducati didn’t need to be asked a second time to give the public what they want. They mostly made fully faired motorcycles from then on.
A great vintage Ducati investment
Is the first “about 200” Mike Hailwood Replica a great vintage Ducati investment? I’m with Ian Falloon on this one, it’s a super rare Ducati investment, ask any “Green Frame” owner. I think these rare machines will take off over time and they are certainly deeply undervalued right now. But you have to know what you’re buying and the machine must be set up correctly. If you are after a stunning example with the due diligence done for you and presented in a report and the motorcycle correctly set up as new, then this is one of the best on the market. Ian Falloon will be featuring these modals in his upcoming book, as you can see in this link which gives you the opportunity to buy one of these machines, if you want to pay €60,000 plus VAT and duty on this one here. But ours is less than half that price and will have been set up for enjoyment and comes with a one year no quibble warranty. You have to know what you’re looking for, do the due diligence and it’s got to be set up like the giant Swiss watch it is. All of the parts need to be correct and you need to know it left the factory, as much as is possible, exactly the way you’ve found it.
If you want to find a fantastic investment grade example of the first “about 200” Ducati 900SS Mike Hailwood Replicas, then call The Motorcycle Broker on 01803 865166.
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