Way back in 1988 or thereabouts I travelled 1,000 miles in a day, (mostly on a GoldWing) to end up at the Ducati factory, and was rewarded with a short ride on the then new 906 Paso. With mortgage paid, family reduced, light aircraft sold, it seemed time for a bit of motorcycling nostalgia. (To be continued when my computer or the internet stops playing up..........)
But wait, a year or so later the 907 was introduced with fuel injection - but never buy the Mark I of anything, and do I really want 30 year old Italian Electrics? There was only one advertised in the UK, and I couldn't get a response from adverts in Italy. For the same money c£6.5k I could get a more modern 848. There was one for sale nearby but at 6'6" my knee fouled a raised edge on the edge of the fairing. The internet says a 999 is more spacious. A monoposto in the West Country was a non-starter (almost literally) so last Friday I got the 6am train to the North-East, and returned home 361 miles and 13 hours later with a 2004 biposto. Despite doing my best to get a genuine S, she seems a bit of a mongrel, very definitely Ohlins forks up front but a Showa at the rear, and base model steering damper. Journey south was horrible with traffic jams and queues (thankfully not me) for fuel to spoil the fun. Legs were nice and warm, everything else hurt. I'd like to find out more, but I can't buy any fuel..............
Er, cutting and pasting into a different place, way beyond my capabilities I fear......(you may find this a recurring theme!!)
Just for info, I've seen another advert that suggests some late 'grey frame' 999s were factory fitted with Ohlins forks, but not rear suspension or the the uprated steering damper (plus uprated engine) of the 999S, so I think that is what I have.
Charles.. looks like i've met my match? - just how old and incapable are you? many similar on here - might be a consolation. Do you have a photo of your 999 you could post to me*? I could then put it on here. * if picture includes a dustbin circa 1960/1970 then this would be a bonus.
