Mellow Yellow: 1986 Cagiva Alazzurra 650/GT

Cagiva Alazzurra models have long since been considered bargain Ducatis. Much as Nissan is to Datsun (hopefully I haven’t lost our younger readers), Cagiva was the parent brand to Ducati following bankruptcy of the Bologna manufacturer back in 1985. But even before then, Cagiva purchased engines directly from Ducati for some models of their line-up.…

Tipping Point: 1991 Ducati 851 Strada

The Ducati 851 was the evolution of the Pantah-based “rubber band” motor series that paid out most handsomely for Ducati. Simultaneously adding liquid cooling, a 4-valve desmo head and fuel injection, the 851 significantly raised the performance game for the Italian brand and launched a new all-out attack into Superbike racing. This evolutionary series laid…

Some Assembly Required: 1986 Honda NS400R

Honda’s NSR400R was a snarling, two-stroke middleweight from an era of unprecedented experimentation; a three-cylinder, triple-piped sportbike with cutting-edge specifications. The 1980’s must have been a very discouraging time for European and Italian manufacturers. While they were barely hanging on by their fingernails, Japanese manufacturers were in the throes of an era of funky, experimental…