Ferrari 900: the only motorcycle officially authorized to carry the Ferrari emblem

Ferrari has never produced a motorcycle. This is a certainty that the Maranello-based brand has never denied, despite decades of rumors, fantasies and more or less credible projects. But there is one exception. Just one exception. A motorcycle that, while not designed by Ferrari, has received official written authorization from the Ferrari family to sport the mythical prancing horse. Its name: Ferrari 900.

A unique authorization signed by Piero Ferrari

The story begins in 1990. At the time, David Kay, a renowned British engineer and former MV Agusta specialist, had an idea that many would consider impossible today: to create a motorcycle that would pay tribute to Enzo Ferrari, while respecting the technical and aesthetic spirit of Maranello. But Kay doesn't want a simple wink. He wants to officially use the Ferrari name and the famous Cavallino Rampante. Aware of the stakes, he wrote directly to Piero Ferrari, Enzo's son. Against all odds, the response was positive. In a letter dated May 23, 1990 and signed by Piero Ferrari, David Kay received written authorization to place the Ferrari crest on his motorcycle. To date, no other two-wheeled project has ever benefited from such an agreement. This letter makes the Ferrari 900 absolutely unique in the history of the brand.

Four years in the making

Once authorization had been obtained, David Kay embarked on a project of rare scope. The idea was not to adapt an existing motorcycle, but to design an entirely new machine, as if Ferrari had one day decided to produce a grand touring or endurance motorcycle. The build will take four years and over 3,000 man-hours. Every part is custom-designed, every technical solution developed specifically for this unique motorcycle. The tubular chassis is made from Reynolds 531 steel, a material renowned for its mechanical qualities. Engineering is pushed to a level rarely achieved on a hand-built motorcycle, with an obsession for detail that recalls the methods of exceptional manufacturers.

Engine designed from scratch

At the heart of the Ferrari 900 is a completely new engine. David Kay himself designed and built an air-cooled 900 cm³ in-line four-cylinder with two overhead camshafts and eight valves. The crankcases are made of magnesium and light alloy, in a spirit very close to racing. The engine develops 105 hp at 8,800 rpm, a respectable figure for its time, especially for an entirely hand-crafted engine. Combined with a five-speed gearbox, this motorization would enable the bike to reach around 265 km/h. With a dry weight limited to 172 kg, the Ferrari 900's figures are consistent with its creator's ambition: a fast, elegant, high-performance machine, without going overboard.

Ferrari design

Visually, the Ferrari 900 is more than just a logo. It adopts many of the Italian brand's aesthetic codes. The swept-back front fairing, the shape of the fuel tank, the Testarossa-inspired side air intakes and the integrated taillights are all clearly reminiscent of the Ferraris of the '80s and '90s. The entire body is hand-crafted in aluminum, including the spectacular double-curved inverted-cone exhausts.

The chassis is up to the task, with a Forcelle Italia inverted fork, Brembo six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes, WPS shock absorbers and hand-built 17-inch Astralite wheels. Even the master cylinder is integrated into the digital instrument panel, designed especially for this bike.

A value difficult to assess

Completed in the mid-90s, the Ferrari 900 quickly made its way around the world. It was featured in numerous specialist publications, exhibited at prestigious trade shows and even featured on television programs. It appeared in magazines in Japan, Italy, Germany, Spain and the UK, proof of the interest aroused by this unusual creation. In 2008, the bike was offered at auction with a very ambitious estimate (around €220,000), but failed to find a buyer. It finally changed hands a few years later for around £80,000, or just over €105,000 at the time. The bike has since disappeared from the market.