It’s common for manufacturers to fudge things a bit when identifying their cars and motorcycles. Often, the name specifically referred to at least the approximate size of the engine, but liberties are often taken, especially when the displacement changes, but the name stays the same. The Mustang 5.0? Actually 302ci works out to 4948cc, which…
The Ducati 900 Supersport series is one of those bikes that is just so solid that it persists in company that is far more exotic, expensive, and technologically advanced. Even in the day the 900 SS was a bit of a dinosaur – an air-cooled, 2-valved, carburetted throwback to the 1970s – while the competition…
Values of Ducati’s wasp-waisted superbike have been shockingly low, considering their status as one of the most important, and most beautiful superbikes of the modern era. Sure, an SPS or 998R might pull decent money, but examples of the garden-variety 916 and especially the more refined Ducati 996 were available for as low as $4,500…
After the resounding sales flop of the Ducati 860GT, the Bolognese brand was in financial ruin and needed a Hail Mary to get back on its feet. The moonshot came in the by mass producing the extremely popular 900SS, which helped the marque pull out of its nosedive. The 900SS Darmah had a few internal…
There is nothing quite like finding a rare and totally collection-worthy bike to post for RSBFS. This is made all the better when the seller actually takes the time to give a detailed account of the bike in question – in both words and photos. This is one such example which I think readers will…
If you are of a certain age and into sport bikes from the 1980s and 1990s, the Ducati 851 has to be a standout. Bred for World Superbike racing, the 851 (and the 888 and 916 that followed) proved the performance of a well-engineered twin – even against the Japanese multis. With liquid cooling, fuel…
Not too many bikes look good in yellow, and that very short list is mostly made up of Italians, Ducatis in particular. Red may be the most traditional color for Ducatis but the 916, Panigale, and this 900SS/SP look so striking in the bold yellow seen here, especially with the half-fairing that reveals most of…
The Ducati Pantah 500SL was a watershed moment for the company, a bike that seems a little underwhelming at first, but actually launched them into the modern era, with practical updates to the classic v-twin engine and striking looks that are hard to date, if you’re not familiar with the bike. Compared to most Japanese…