If you haven’t seen Honda’s legendary RC30 in person, it’s easy to mistake the smaller, 400cc VFR400R NC30 for that iconic homologation machine. The smaller headlights of the more widely produced NC30 give the game away, although it shares very similar looks, like an RC30 that was put in the dryer on high heat for…
The original Suzuki GSX-R750 that was introduced in 1985 may have been a “race bike for the road” in theory, and it certainly gave privateers an excellent foundation on which to build a pretty competitive machine. But there are always areas where compromises are made for production efficiencies, so there’s always room for improvement when…
Honda’s seminal CBR900RR remains a desirable 90s sportbike, and remains one of the most collectible motorcycles of the period. Subsequent versions of the “Fireblade” were always incredibly polished and competent motorcycles, but somehow failed to capture the original’s lightning in a bottle. So what made the original so special? Most importantly, the CBR900RR was designed…
Ducati went all in on special editions in 2003 after Troy Bayliss took home the metal in the 2001 World Superbike Championship and American teammate Ben Bostrom followed him to third. They kicked out a special edition 2002 Ducati 998S for each man, wearing special carbon fairing pieces, Ohlins suspension, colored chromoly frames and Marchesini…
The Ducati R bike has always been a major factor in the history of Ducati. Renowned originally as homologation machines in order to go racing, the R brand has taken on a life of its own as a limited edition, high performance exclusive tier of the existing model line. And while there may be some…
Taking Italian suspension, style and bespoke build quality know-how and shoving it full of deadnuts-reliable and prodigious power from the other side of the Atlantic, or in this case the Pacific, is a time-honored tradition. In the ’60s, the likes of Bizzarrini and Iso executed the formula to devastating effect in cars. But Bimota ported…
The 1989 Suzuki GSX-R1100 earned a hairy reputation on their debut, as frame revisions or dodgy factory suspension meant their handling wasn’t what people had come to expect from the GSX-Rs, which even that early in their run had earned a sterling reputation. The handling was enough to scare some people away, but those who…
Moving on from booming V-twin, limited edition bikes from Italy comes this beautiful, well, uh, V-twin, limited edition screamer from, er, Italy. Sheesh. The big difference is that this one is a two stroke from Noale, and not the desmo- aspirated variety from Bologna. Specifically, this is the GP-1 branded Aprilia RS250, a final example…
