Ducati MH Replica's circa 79/80's

[Spikey]

aye up all spike here .
which is the most desireable of the old bevel MHR,s ? the early one or the more sophisticated looking slightly later one ????

any info much app " Spikey "

[Mr.R]

Spike,
The very 1st models are the most sort after and came with a certificate....
Only so many made, i don't know how many though.
They came with a one piece fairing and were a bugger to do anything on.
Even checking or topping up the oil meant removing the fairing, for **** sake!
The next years model came with a 2 piece fairing and are so much easier to get at!
However the best as in 'most reliable', with most of the problems sorted out was the last MHR 1000 MILLE.
These are as rare as rocking horse siht (i doubt there're in double figures in the U.K.) to get hold of and don't respond to tuneing as well as the earlier models, although they start with more power.

Steve

P.S, If your serious about wanting to know more, pm me and i'll give you my phone number, as i've owned a "70's SS for nearly 30 years, which was a MHR without the kings new clothes and used to work as a Duke mechanic back in those days.

[Spikey]

cheers steve , when you say one piece do you mean one piece as in all top bottom the lot ? the one ive seen has a top and bottom joined roughly in line with the fork angle , roughly 79ish , calipers infront of the legs ala 900ss and no side panels ! the frame layout is the same as my 79 900ss , ive seen some that must have been built round the s2 i think and they,ve got side panels !!

" confused spike "

[Mr.R]

Spike,
Latter MHR'S had side panels, the very last year or two even had a dry clutch.
The last 900's were indeed 900's but the earlier models were 860's.
The last Mille's were 975cc or there abouts.
I'd say a lot more but i'm of to the pub.....To talk bikes!

Steve....P.M. Me.

[Mr.R]

Spike,
Yes the 1st ones fairing was one peice, top to bottom.
The NCR style fuel tank was only a fibreglass cover over a 900ss steal tank.
I think they were "79 models.
The next years models fairing was a two peice, split as you say, it's fuel tank was also steel but in the NCR shape and held more fuel than the ss tank.
These early models were really only dressed up 900ss's. The rolling chassis was the same apart from colour and i think the front forks were slightly longer. To raise the front end.
As the hailwoods ran out of ground clearence pretty quickly.
The last Mille's fairings were tucked in a bit tighter, i think the forks got longer again to overcome the clearence problem and the frame was similar to the s2's as you say.
They were cheaper to make and had a lifting handle that swung out to help lifting it onto the centre stand.
It was thought the latter frame was inferior to the ss frames, in that they were weaker and would flex when pushed really hard.
At the time race frames used to have extra tubeing to brace the headstock,
This type was used on the NCR race bikes,although they were made of lightweight tube as well.
Mike Hailwood's 'TT' winning Ducati was actually an NCR endurance racer,
that was prepared by Sports Motorcycles.
They painted it Red, White and Green not to match the Italian flag but because their main sponsor was Castrol.
If you look at the pictures of the "78 'TT' bike you can see that all they did was to paint the silver parts of the bodywork green, on the front number board you can still see NCR's silver paint around the stuck on number board.

Steve

[Spikey]

cheers steve , lots of info there mate i,m lookin at a couple at the moment , the early on is the same as a friend of mine had in the early eighties , very raw but the more appealing to me , the other seems too refined and as i say looks more like the s2 , i had the 900ss black and gold , pre s2 which i,ve also found one of for sale , decisions decisions !! i,ll try and post up some pikys obviously these actual bike will be sold before i purchase one but its handy having a chap like you in the know , cheers

spike

[Spikey]

piks as said

[Mr.R]

Hi Spike,
The 2nd pictures been reversed!!!!
Or are you trying to fool this old git. :wink:
As i said before if you want, i'm more than happy to chat on the phone.
You can't be any madder than me!.....
I've read your posts.
The 2nd one looks to have Campagnolia's from a Drama, they'ed be magnesium, nearly 30 years old now. I wouldn't sit on it in a showroom!
For fear of them breaking up under me!
The 1st one looks a bit soft to me, as i think you've said, they just don't look right with side panels to me.

Steve

[jbird]

hi guys
just want to add my two-pennys worth, the first production of the mhr 900 replica was numbered 1-500 for wordwide distribution, of which 200 came to the uk, it then dawned on ducati that they had a winner, and went on to produce several more slightly different varations over the forthcoming years, obviosly if you have one of the first 500 certificated bikes these are the most valuable. intrestenly though, i visted mdina italia 2 weeks ago, of which he had 5 mhr 900 replicas in stock, two of which were due to be shipped back to thier homeland, and the others in varying stages of restore, but was told that the original 900s were fetching more money than the mhr's.( of which he had several black/gold, silver/blue 900s). just to add that if any info was needed on any particular mhr, mick walker is your man, for £25, he traced the whole histroy of my bike, down to its original production no 546, its date of birth may 1980, and several other intresting quotes, and of course if your bike matches its frame/engine no's.