With its last major refreshening in 2003, the Ducati Supersport waited out the inevitable without much fanfare. Concentrating on the 1000cc variant, even Ducati’s own model archive doesn’t show the 800 SuperSport after 2004. Lightweight and simple compared to the SuperBikes, the SS models are great riders and the sculptural Pierre Terblanche design is still…
The Mark IV Le Mans increased displacement to 949 cc, and made few other updates to the venerable cafe racer that would take it into the 90’s and see the development of the 1100 cc engine. A neat closing chapter to the long Le Mans history, the big twin was fast if not super quick,…
Occasionally we see a special bike re-appear after many years and just a few miles, and though it could be seen differently, this is one of those – an anyone-can-jump-on machine, special handling if not performance, with 26 years and 9 miles. 1989 Honda CB-1 for sale on eBay Harkening back to the CB-400F (…
Aprilia’s winning entry into the super-naked / streetfighter sweepstakes was the 2003 RSV Tuono, and many updates and editions later, the 2008 Tuono ( thunder to some ) 1000R Factory was more than an unfaired sportbike with raised handlebars. With its own frame design and bodywork, the Tuono makes excellent use of the Rotax 60-degree…
Following Ben Bostrom’s very successful 2000 World SuperBike season, Ducati commissioned a boldly painted first-year 998S special edition in his honor. Building only 155 ( his race number ) units for the USA and another 155 for Europe ensured their rarity, and using the 916-derived design and the new Testastretta engine ensured legendary performance. Often…
Eclipsed by the 600’s, or maybe just soft-pedaled by the factory as a domestic Japanese market special, the FZR400 lived out its eight-year stateside run in relative obscurity. Because of it medium size and power, it was a bike that any rider, almost regardless of size or experience, could jump on and have a blast. Occasionally recognized by…
The liter-bike big brother of the successful 750cc YB4, the Bimota YB6 was a super-high performance hand-crafted machine. Designed by Frederico Martini, a total of 546 of the Yamaha-powered superbike were produced from 1988-90. It looked a great deal like the 1987 championship-winning YB4, but had 140 hp of Yamaha 5-valve engine behind the fairing.…
The big-bore sportbike can lead a hard life, racing from light to light, changing hands often – it’s rare to see one survive without some half thought-out mods and undamaged, but here is the exception. The GSX-R models were the right step for Suzuki after many years developing the GS and Katana, introducing the 750…
