ok, not one for the purists but surely affordable fun? Ducati 900 Superlight 1991. (madeinitalymotorcycles.com)
You think so? Nice genuine examples aren't easy to shift at around £6k in todays climate it would appear. While it's a nice looking thing, but many of the major components are not original (or even superlight in the case of the engine and the wheels). Made in Italy Motorcycles appear to be being quite honest in not dressing it up as something it isn't. I'd therefore put it into the category of a modified 900ss, for which the price seems about right.
My view, potentially contentious, is that I think people mistakenly put “superlight” on a pedestal when it comes to 900ss. A superlight is an SS with a plaque. It wasn’t built on a different line by the race engineers, with unobtanium. Some early ones have similar looking but more unreliable wheels to actually try to make slightly lighter, but in the end, mostly just a badge engineered 900ss Nice exhausts, seat and front guard, but add those to an SS and the price gap does not really close to less than £2k. To a greater extent, it doesn’t do anything better than an SS, and the cost difference is for people to show off their plaque and feel a bit special, and for that they are happy to pay around 30% more. This one actually is a superlight, that has been modified, I don’t see how that drops it right down to the price of an SS for those looking for the Superlight cachet.
^ well done that man, wishing you many happy miles together. (FWIW I rate my similar sl rep great fun)
If it rides well, the 5 spoke wheels, proper SL exhausts and seat, ie engine, classic looks. For me, worth the asking price even without the £2k plaque. Well done that man.
I have to say I'm in that camp. I'd love one over the stock for the aesthetics and sense of rarity - and always perk up when one's on sale - but I've also had the impression in the past that people think there's more difference in the spec than there is.
Same for me, a Superlight has been a bit of a bucket list bike for me since I passed my test, I nearly bought one as my first bike back in 2000. For me I don't really care about the replacement frame (replaced by the dealer). The fact it has the 900ssie engine is a bonus as far as I'm concerned. I'm not 100% sure about the 5 spokes but also not that bothered (anyone know if the early 3 spokes fit the 900ssie forks and swingarm). The things that sold me are... The bike is amazingly clean, in the photos it looks a bit grubby, but in the flesh it looks great. The bike is currently owned by the mechanic at Made in Italy and was owned previously by the guy who owns the place, so it's been owned and looked after by people who know and love these bikes (it comes with service and belts). £4k does not seem to get you a lot in the 'interesting bikes' category anymore, so with that in mind and the above I figured it would be a good place to park the money whilst I enjoy the bike, (somewhat) safe in the knowledge that hopefully it will retain most of its value. Once I pick the bike up (was due to be this weekend but it needs a forks seals so was not finished in time) I'll pop some pictures up in the Supersports forum.
Sadly sold (I think I bought it in around 2008, think it was about £5500). But to my point above, I bought it, rode it then sold it without loosing any money.
Absolutely. Provenance is everything and that would really appeal to me too. Absolutely again - it's appealingly niche. Look forward to those - enjoy the pickup.
Yes, the earlier injection three spoke wheels are the same fitting, the only minor issue I'd mention is rear tyre size / profile, fit 170 rear (if you can find em) 180 rear can run a little closer to the front of the swingarm, at least with standard gearing and a new chain it does, not dangerously so, also the five spokes are buggers to clean! Glad to learn it's going to a good home All the best with it.
