Description
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
30th Oct, 2024 11:00
1997 Ducati 916
Iconic Massimo Tamburini designed classic
Estimate
£8, 000 - £10, 000
Registration No: P405 XNJ
Frame No: DM916S 1010018
MOT: None
Presented in excellent and original condition
A design classic celebrating its 30th anniversary
Low mileage with a history file and a current V5C
Ducati was established in 1926 by Antonnio Ducati and his sons, initially producing electrical components. After WW2 they moved into motorcycles with the Cucciola, essentially a pushbike with a clip-on engine. By the 60s they had become associated with performance bikes selling a range of sporty 250 and 350 singles. In response to the demand for larger capacity bikes chief engineer Fabio Taglioni designed the classic V Twin bevel drive engine first used in the 1971 GT750. This proved to be an immediate success, helped considerably by Paul Smarts win in the 1972 Imola 200 race. This started a tradition of race-winning V twins that have gone on to dominate World Superbike racing over the years. The launch of the Massimo Tamburini designed 916 in 1994 revolutionized motorcycle styling and overnight made all of its competitors seem dated, going on to give Carl Fogarty his first Superbike world championship that year. Now celebrating its 30th year, it is often described as the 'the most beautiful bike ever made' and has certainly influenced styling ever since.
This beautiful 916 has been part of the Brian Ditchfield collection, a retired engineer and lifelong motorcycle enthusiast who in the past ran a very successful Sidecar Grand Prix team, finishing second in the World Championship in 2002. A bike that would grace any collection, it is presented in excellent and standard condition, still sporting its original Ducati ZDM14 end cans that very often got replaced in the day. The bike comes supplied with numerous invoices for servicing work carried out over the years, including one from Ducati Technical Services in 2018 for a full service including Dyno runs amounting to £940, and 11 old MOTs together with a current V5C. Even at 30 years old the 916 still stands out as a stunning looking bike and is already being considered as a fast appreciating classic although not many will have survived in such original condition as this example.
