Calling rjhartmann and his MH900e

**Dan** · 25 Feb 08, 02:23 AM

Hi Bob,
As you might imagine, for the past three years, if I haven't been riding my bikes or working on them, I've spent most of my spare time reading the posts on here and as far as I'm aware you're the only person on the site that owns a MH900e, and to top it all you live in the UK. So I hate to plead/beg but any chance you can write a few lines about your bike and show us a few photos?

Cheers
Dan

**rjhartmann** · 25 Feb 08, 12:07 PM

Hi Dan,

There must be someone else here... But, in the meantime, the best resource for all things MH900e is the club website Ducati MH900e Owners Club John Clelland has been doing an outstanding job for years.

Did I mention the 1st Ever European MH900e Rally is going to take place this year? I'll post the details later, but it's going to be 19 - 21 Sept in Honfleur, France. A number of us in the UK (5 so far) will be taking the ferry over from Portsmouth on Thurs night, the 18th. It's not exclusive - come join in!

I've had my MH900e from new. It's been a total joy! The first bike sold exclusively over the internet, Ducati took orders before going into production. Each of the 2,000 bikes is numbered. They arrived with a dedicated owner's plaque, T-shirt, rear stand and dust cover. The styling is divisive. It starts out traditional in the front and gets radical as you go back. But it manges to tie in the original MHR and the NCR paintwork. I, for one, think it's genius.

In the flesh it's a lovely thing: small, tidy, dramatic. Fit and finish are terrific. It's a hand-made bike with many individual features. The more you look the more you see. The front fairing, for example, is a piece of art: Two pieces seamlessly glued together for a smooth inside surface.

The engine is simply from the Monster 900ie, so it's easy to live with. I've changed the ECU to a race unit from EVR, installed high flow air filter/box top and Staintune exhaust. It sounds and goes like the stuff of dreams. It looks almost dainty and then you fire it up...

The bike is very light and the seat is tall. The mirrors are useless! Still, set up right it goes beautifully. I've upgraded to an Ohlins rear shock and steering damper (stock one blew up during a week at the TT!) The only other thing I've added is a carbon hugger. Why doesn't Ducati offer these?!

The only generic issues with them seems to revolve around the dual batteries, which can be disappointing about holding a charge (Opti-mate and you're sorted) and the fuel tank, which only holds 10 liters (not a problem outside Texas).

Before it arrived I worried that it wouldn't be a true Ducati. But it really does capture the passion in its presence, style and character. Also, in the end, the instrument style ended up on the 999/749, the beautiful swing arm on the Monster and the exhaust on the MultiStrada. You saw them all first on the MHe!

So, it's a keeper. I haven't radically altered mine, so any photo on the web will do. But here it is alongside my PS1000LE (and Paul Smart!!) at a gathering sponsored by Ducati UK.
SportClassic and MH900e Gathering - a photoset on Flickr

All the best,
Bob

**998gsb** · 25 Feb 08, 03:57 PM

Thats goregous - never seen one in the flesh......notice it has 998 colour coded mirrors - must be a parts bin special!!!! (but a damn fine one at that!)

**jbird** · 25 Feb 08, 05:53 PM

you lucky beggar, by any chance do you know if the grey paintjob is done in-house, or aftermarket. i will say that i have seen 3 mh900e, on my weekend travels, all were absoultely amazing, and in the tradition of ducati. but ive got to say this paint job, on a mh900e would be awsome.

**rjhartmann** · 26 Feb 08, 11:09 AM

Hi fellas,

jbird: The grey or silver paintjob in the photos is on a Paul Smart Replica SportClassic (PS1000LE), not an MH900e. All the MHe's were red with silver accents, NCR style.

The photos you attached were of a the later SportClassic, Sport 1000 S, with optional fairing lowers. It is a great canvas for that paintjob (which emulates the original MHR900 of the 70's/80's). I agree that it would have been interesting to have the MHe painted like Mike Hailwood's most famous bike (IOM TT 1978 but I guess without lowers to pull it off the NCR scheme got the nod.

998gsb: Being red and coming in left and right are as close as MH900e mirrors come to those on a 998. In fact, they pre-date the 998 by two years!

Other than the drivetrain (engine and rear hub) just about everything on the MH900e is unique to the bike. Parts bin special? Don't say that again!

Bob

**998gsb** · 26 Feb 08, 11:35 AM

I know my 998 is a parts bin special! and the mirrors look identical - so perhaps they had some left over the MH run!!!!

Didnt mean to offend!!!!

**rjhartmann** · 27 Feb 08, 12:04 PM

Nor did I mean to sound harsh. I'm crap at using emoticons. The truth is it's a good bet items like mirrors are shared among manufacturers. I know some guys have used Cagiva units as replacements, for example.

Bob

**jbird** · 27 Feb 08, 08:30 PM

yeah i know what bike it is, but i thought it might look nice in the mhr (original) paint job. refering to the grey paint job ive seen, its been on a couple of bikes (mh900e), 1 in america, and 1 at the meldreth bike show, and thought it strange that they would be identical. anyway posted this link so you can see for yourself.

+ YouTube Video

**rjhartmann** · 28 Feb 08, 10:10 AM

Aha. I was thinking of different photos posted here, sorry. That's actually a full carbon fibre body kit!

It was sold through Ducati Performance and made by Carbon Dreams in Florence; made available about a year after the bikes were all delivered. It's about the highest quality CF you'll see anywhere. The original price was eye-watering but lately some have been coming up on ebay for less than the stock parts.

This one is fitted with the stock front mudguard and mirrors (why?) but it's a good view:
MH900e

Bob

**jbird** · 28 Feb 08, 10:52 AM

hi bob
thanks mate, i really like that kit, but if i could i would stick with original. i only say this, because how cool would it be to got out together me on the mhr 900ss and alongside, the mh900e.....ducati through the years....fantastic
jason

**rjhartmann** · 03 Mar 08, 10:13 AM

Amazing. Look what I came across yesterday at Newlands Corner: MH900e #1517 complete with Carbon Dream body kit. Sorry for the poor photo quality - all I had was my phone.

Originally a US bike imported as part of a collection, now gets ridden and now should be with us at the Horsham Piazza Italia Day. More details in the Events section of London DOCGB Home

Regards,
Bob

**Herb** · 03 Mar 08, 10:46 AM

They are stunning looking machines. High on the list in my virtual garage.

**rjhartmann** · 03 Mar 08, 03:42 PM

Here's a better view of that bike seen yesterday. Owner just posted me a photo. The quality of the carbon is awesome. Originally over £2,000 for the kit, the owner picked his up for £400 after Ducati liquidated so many spares awhile ago.

Although I still prefer the stock bodywork, for the price I would have bought this if only to keep the originals out of harms way!

**Herb** · 03 Mar 08, 03:52 PM

My company made the SDS material for that nice shiny clutch cover. You don't see many bikes with them still in place.

**jbird** · 03 Mar 08, 04:21 PM

Although I still prefer the stock bodywork, for the price I would have bought this if only to keep the originals out of harms way![/quote]

could'nt agree more m8!!!!