If you’re looking to get close to your racing heroes, style yourself a Very Serious Motorcyclist™, or just like the idea of riding something with genuine links to legitimate race bikes, homologation specials offer their owners a taste of the trick parts and lightweight performance available to professional racers, all in a streetable package. This…
Ducati’s first motorcycle was the Cucciolo [or “puppy” in Italian], which was basically a simple engine strapped to a bicycle, an affordable tool to get the Italian population mobile and back to work after the end of World War II. Certainly a far cry from the frameless, race-inspired exotica they’re famous for today. This NCR…
With a boatload of compromises made to accommodate the 998 cc Superbike engine, the list of things that the Monster S4RS isn’t is longer than those it is. All a matter of priorities, as the water-cooled testastretta with top of the line components has a way of re-aligning priorities toward the moment. This example from…
The history of Ducati racing is long and storied. And while many riders have tasted success on the booming twins from Bologna, perhaps none have matched the exploits of Mike “The Bike” Hailwood. In honor of their legendary rider and his comeback success in the 1978 TT (Tourist Trophy), Ducati created the 900 MHR (Mike…
Ducati SportClassics were made from 2006-2010, and with their cafe-racer looks, were very popular with customizers. The dual-spark 992cc engine was fuel injected, and its reliability lent itself more to breathing upgrades than internal work. This example has had intake and exhaust work and some well-executed cosmetic upgrades. 2007 Ducati Sport 1000 Biposto for sale…
Shoehorning the 992 cc dual-spark into the popular Monster frame, Ducati lined up the elements of a great naked sportbike. With air-cooled desmodue, single-sided swingarm, and dual mufflers, the model held down the middle of the showroom between the basic M695 and the radical S4RS Testastretta. This example has been stored since new, and could…
Backing away from the brink, Ducati needed a successor to the F1 and a second fiddle to the 907 i.e., and found it in the 750 Sport. The fully-faired desmodue was lightweight and used the Paso engine in the F1 frame. Not an earth-shattering development, but gave the SuperSport department a chance to show their…
Founded in 1950 and a relatively minor manufacturer, the Castiglioni family leveraged the Ducati brand in 1985, and though they had thoughts of folding it into Cagiva, only a few larger displacement bikes were produced before they acknowledged Ducati’s greater name recognition. The Alazzurra was a sporty mid-size with a Ducati-branded desmodue aboard, and had…