1991 Ducati Paso 907

DUCATI 907ie 1991 PASO ready to go. Recently serviced, in excellent condition and fine mechanical fettle, a reliable tourer as well as rare appreciating classic. New tyres, hoses, tank sealed, 29k miles. Will have new MOT.
I am the private owner and 6th keeper of this UK registered bike bought new in May 1991, and I have its history, Ducati owner's manual, as well as the original Service and Warranty booklet. I acquired it in 2021 and had it professionally serviced including valve shims by Alf of Alfs Motorcycles Worthing. The fuel tank has been sealed with POR15, and all the water hoses renewed since.
More importantly I've ridden it extensively all over the UK, and can report it to be a thoroughly usable classic, fast and comfortable, as well as turning heads. With its radical styling, all enclosing bodywork, huge Ducati logos and Ferrari strakes borrowed from the Testarossa, people want to know more about this largly unknown motorcycle. The 907ie is not technically a Paso, as Ducati dropped the name for this final edition model in the series that began in the mid eighties. The Paso was Massimo Tambourini's first design for the company, and by the time this particular example rolled out of the factory in 1991 he was already prototyping a new project that would be known as the 916, arguably the most beautiful motorcycle ever made, but certainly the model that saved the company.
Mr Tamburini's design for the Paso was pretty radical for 1985, and the public were obviously not ready for something so peculiar looking with its full fairing and solid screen. It was dubbed by many an ugly jelly mould, its weber carbed 750cc engine and electrics were unreliable and lacking power, and consequent sales were slow.
In 1991 Ducati gave the bike a water cooled 904cc engine with fuel injection, and changed to 17" wheels, which at a stroke made the 907ie into a proper sport tourer. It even has a clock and fuel gauge! It was the spiritual forerunner of the ST2 and ST4.
However the buying public were still not convinced by its ugly duckling looks and only 2300 were manufactured before production ceased in 1992 making this a desirable rarity. This coupled with the name of its creator, Massimo Tambourini, makes this a collectable classic, as well as thoroughly usable motorcycle. And it has to be said, its beauty grows on you!