1993 Ducati 900 Superlight II, Frame no. ZDM906SC2*008357*

1993 Ducati 900 Superlight II
Frame no. ZDM906SC2*008357*
The whole series of 2-valve, belt-drive Ducati v-twin sportbikes developed from the very first Pantah 500 SL of 1979 ran through 'alphabet soup' until at least 2005, and that's not counting the retro 1000s to celebrate the original desmo 750 twins of the early 1970s. To track the different models in multiple capacities – 350 through 900 – is indeed like picking out pasta letters from kid's canned soup. 1991 saw the launch of both a new 900 Supersport and several short-run 'halo' models which ran through 1998 and the 750 Supersport through 1999. And then there was more as the shape changed but the essentials did not. The bike here is from the 1991 through 1998/1999 series.

Continually developed around a trellis-frame, 2-valve sports machine whose characteristics embodied the very essence of 'Ducatiness'. Gutsy, booming, torque-loaded, lightweight, long-wheelbase, steady-as-she-goes and full-of-feeling handling and steering, and usually decent Brembo brakes.

In 1992, Ducati took their 900 Supersport and added several choice extras to create a limited edition called the Ducati Superlight – 953 examples were built over 2 years. Unfortunately, for reasons unknown, in 1993 they removed almost all the extras, leaving just a fully floating rear brake to differentiate the limited edition from its less exclusive brother. Today we offer a beautiful example of one of the 1993 models. 'The actual weight savings you got with a "Superlight" version? About 6 pounds.'

Although little is known about this Superlight, it is visually striking and to pretty much original specification. Coming from New Zealand, its history and service record is unavailable.