To be fair, there was a white E-Type outside the foyer of the 5* Hotel in Geneva where I was dining last night (college reunion dinner - absolutely rubbish food). What can I say? It looked cooler than a very cool thing. Weather was nice and warm and I could have imagined having a goodly laugh cruising the boulevards of Geneva in it with the top down and some blonde gold-digger in the red leather passenger seat. Still one of the most beautiful cars ever made.
I sold my MHR Mille in 1986 & I still regret it. However the 1986 GSR-R1100 'G' sitting in the garage awaiting small resto still brings a smile. Just gotta get of my arse and do it.
I think that's the jist Glid ...... an E-Type couldn't possibly drive as well as it looks, so best you don't drive one or it might ruin the dream! Alas many 'dream' bikes are just the same - they look a lot better than they actually ride. edit: The same rules however do not apply to any future meeting I may have with Shania Twain !
900ss bevel - I was offered one for £2500 about 6 years ago and stopped to think about it for 24hrs and of course it was sold, never get over that especially as the bloke who bought it never uses it and it just sits there going to pot. The other one was a friends RG500 race bike which he couldn't sell back in the '80s and he wanted to swap it for my TZ350 (which I still have) because he thought it would be easier to sell, I said no because I thought it was too expensive to run after a 350, not a very sound excuse as I had already decided to pack in racing.
Well I'll always regret having to sell my 998R but the bike I wished I'd owned ... the NCR Millona One Shot R mmmmm....
I don't know about that, I was taken to the doctor at 125 mph+ as a 4 y.o. in one (On twisty rural roads) after putting my right arm up to the armpit through the wringer on the washing machine, one of my earliest memories, it was a fun ride!
Like most,RC30. Very nearly bought one off a mate in the 90's but like a dick didn't. Was recently offered a TZ750F, had done two races from new. It was time warp and perfect, never restored. Lost lots of sleep trying to calculate where to find the 35 grand but it was not to be...... Own a couple of my wish list bikes including a TZ350 (imho the best race bike ever), RS250 Aprilia, RD350LC (I like 2 strokes.). Will treat myself to another 916/996 when my wife ges away for a few days and I can sneak it in the garage without her seeing.
Indeed, I drove friends a while back and it certainly was dated. A modern 2L hot hatch would outclass it in every respect and you'd be forever tinkering with/fixing the Jag but in the looks department the E-type has no competition...
Like a lot of you I love the RC30, my mate now has 2... after now riding one .... utterly brilliant bike does exactly what you want it to which to me is "dull as" ....now off my list, saved me a few bob eh?, he called me whilst warming it up the other day I thought he was doing the hoovering. MH900E or an NCR "New Blue" for me
I'll bet that ladeez of discernment feel a lot warmer to an E-Type than they do to a hot hatch. Thus in one of the most important respects, the hot hatch doesn't outclass it... I mean, if it's transport you want...
Same for me with the RC45. I do have a RC30 which i have owned since 2003 and it still surprises me today. much quicker than the 916 by quite a margin, handling too is excellent however it's not without its faults. oil consumption is more like a 2000 R1, over heats at less than 40mph in summer, brakes are a bit weak by modern standard, oh and tyres - an 18" rear wheel just how useless is that as the standard size is a 170 / 60 18 - yeah that's right unless your happy riding around on some poxy old crossply or a D207 from a V rod then you need a RC45 rear wheel so you can fit a proper tyre. As for me, the only bike i really regret selling is my old VJ23, the only bike i regret not buying when younger was a TDR250. never had much affection for the larger stuff from the 80's it was all a bit heavy high speed lorry for me.
I paid for a Ducati Darmah 900 back in 1982 but when I went to collect it and it refused to start so got my money back!!!! Oh how I wish i`d bought it and kept it. If I could find one i`d also have a Laverda Montjuic. Just love that minimal look......
Fine bike - I have two - a Lucky Strike rolling resto project and a blue donor / possible track bike. They are like mini, lightweight, 2-stroke versions of a 996 - bonkers :biggrin:
NOw that would turn heads. Shouldn't it also be in the Ducati specials photo thread? There's a pic of a tricked up 900ss that I took in the IOM 1987 that I'd like to submit, but it's a slide and I haven't worked out how to scan slides yet with my scanner - which I've only had about 5 or 6 years.
Lovely Dave. mine was the less desirable pink / purple scheme, however it was running the V airbox, CDI and the only pair of swarbricks in existance. was a healthy healthy bike and i will have a V like yours one day. However i am fortunate enough for now to also own a 250 stroker, as i am sure you will agree, not the fastest, but possibly the most reliable and possibly one of the prettiest ?
