what you've seen is what you've seen, can't argue with that. things did end up where they weren't meant to be. 50 or so 1994 888ltd (usa only model) went back to europe because they couldn't sell them in the usa. we got some 90ss/sp out here late 96, i think 20 came in and we got sent a couple for customers who were waiting for the normal euro spec 900ss - wasn't expected.
the white frame with yellow 900sl was usa specific, like the 91 or 92 white frame with black panels 900ss.
I don't know for certain but I thought the white frame was just what ducati painted them from whenever up to 1992. Nothing after that came with a white one to my knowledge. I know the first Ducati I saw in the UK was an 851 and it had a white frame. That was in Aylesbury I think, just outside London.
The Superlight however, that one is etched in my memory as it was the first moment I ever experienced what I call "Ducati Lust".
I don't mean to derail the thread but that moment was like something out of a movie. I was in downtown Oxford at the Kawasaki dealer buying parts for my old ZX-7.
It was crappy out, overcast and drizzling and/or misting down between real rain. I was walking back up the alley towards the car park when the clouds parted a bit, and tiny ray of sunshine shone down. It illuminated this shop window a few yards ahead of me.
As I got there, in the window was the Superlight. I was gobsmacked. I stood there, probably with my jaw on the floor for some time. I don't know how long exactly, maybe 10 seconds, maybe 5. Then, as quick as it opened, the hole closed up and the gloom returned.
As I looked up to get on my way, I realized I wasn't alone in being mesmerized. There were probably 5 or 6 people in the same state as me. Men, women, old and young...all smitten by the site of this bike on its plinth in a shop window.
Like I wrote, the moment is etched in my brain.
the 1993 900sl was much reduced spec wise compared to the euro 92. carbon front and rear guards, std wheels, std front discs, silver aluminium non slotted clutch cover. there's a very original one about 5 metres from me.
Oh, no argument there. All the research I've done indicates the same.
i thought the first yellow ones we saw were 95, but certainly could be wrong. i started at the dealership mid 94 and there hadn't been any there as yet. they were fairly hard to sell (even red ones) until they stopped making them, then people wanted them.
there was an american article reprinted out here showing a yellow 900sl and 888, talking about the worth of the sl. i was surprised to see a yellow one, we hadn't seen them then.
I'm not saying you're wrong there. Only that I saw them in Europe. I've read That some bike configurations were meant for Europe and Australia but never made it out of Europe.
I don't recall anymore what year, but I remember reading that only red Superlights that year were delivered to Australia. Another year that only 20 yellow ones were delivered there.
What I've learned is, there isn't anything set in stone when it comes to what Ducati did or didn't do with regard to what bikes went where. Not only that but Ducati didn't exactly keep records to the level of detail and accuracy that say, BMW does. I imagine also that there is a grain of truth to all of the stories you hear of the things that went on. There just isn't any verifiable documentation to sort out the facts from fiction.....sean