Be Like Ben
Be Like Ben
Bostrom replicas all the rage
THERE ARE LOTS OF REASONS TO ADMIRE Ben Bostrom. He's rich, young, good-looking and, his past relationship with Leeann Tweeden aside, he’s got that factory Ducati World Superbike ride. So who’s to blame you for wanting to be like him?
Now, thanks to Ducati and Malaguti, there are two ways to celebrate the 27-year-old Californian’s celebrity, both unveiled at last October’s Ducati Revs America event in Las Vegas, Nevada.
First up is the Ducati 998S Bostrom. Based on the new Testastretta-equipped 998, this special edition boasts a few extras, not least of which is a unique paint scheme. Thankfully, this emulates the red, white and blue, stars-and-stripes design of Bostrom’s Suomy helmet rather than his raccbikc, whose L&M sponsorship results in empty white circles at tracks where tobacco sponsorship is verboten.
Other upgrades from standard 998 fare include an Öhlins fork and steering damper, Dunlop D207RR tires and a plethora of carbon-fiber parts, including the fairing. The S-model is said to be 24 pounds lighter than the standard version.
A total of 465 examples will be produced, 155 for each of three markets (America, Europe and the rest of the world), matching Bostrom’s racing number, which is faithfully replicated on all three numberplates. Each and every bike will have its fuel tank autographed by Ben himself. The $22,695 machines went on sale at Ducati’s website on Sunday, October 28, with the machine bearing serial number 155 raising $26,800 through an auction to benefit victims of last September’s terrorist attacks on New York City’s World Trade Center. All others immediately sold out.
Bostrom fans who missed that online sale needn't feel left out, however, as there’s also a new Ben Bostrom Edition scooter from Malaguti. Based in Ducati’s hometown of Bologna, Malaguti (www.malagutiusa.com) is a new player in the U.S. market, and with the Bostrom replica hopes to strike a chord with American buyers.
The scooter is based on the Firefox F-15, a racy-looking step-through propelled by a liquid-cooled 50cc two-stroke Minarelli engine and fitted with Grimeca twin disc brakes. Again, just 155 units will be imported, painted red, white and blue and bearing Bostrom’s number, and priced at $3200-or about one-seventh the cost of the Ducati.
Swarmed by fans (and a couple of Playboy playmates) all weekend at DRA, Bostrom was suitably flattered by the new replicas, saying, predictably, “It’s really cool.”
He ought to know. Brian Catterson
