Used Well: 1991 Ducati 851

The Ducati 851 is a long-standing icon in the sport bike world. Leading the charge to Ducati’s dominant run of WSBK titles, the 851 was as successful on the showroom/street as it was on the track. Simultaneously introducing liquid cooling, fuel injection and four valve desmo heads, the 851 was both the leading edge of…

Flawed Ducati Slayer: 2000 Suzuki TL1000R

By every objective measure, the Suzuki TL1000R fell woefully short of its design brief over its six-year run, missing the mark as a world-dominating superbike, Yamaha R1 competitor and genre-defining street machine. Plagued by its porky waistline and relative lack of power, and dogged by horrifying tales of its disappointing rotary damper rear suspension, the…

Featured Listing: 1993 Ducati 900 Superlight #776

Update: This bike has SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc The 1993 Ducati 900SS Superlight came rolling out of Bologna ready to rumble, with lightened frame rails, a single-seat tail section sporting a big, brash number plate and a production number just shy of 1,000, which meant only the most devoted Ducatisti got their…

Power Play: 1983 Honda CX650 Turbo

The 1980s represented a wild period for motorcycle manufacturers. Everyone was throwing technology at the performance problem, and all Big Four vendors went full speed down the Turbo road. Little did they know it would be a dead end street. But while it lasted, the glorious promise of liter-bike power in a mid-sized motorcycle ruled…

As Intended: 2004 Ducati 749R for Sale

I’m always torn when considering bikes like the Ducati 749R: on one hand, they’re rare and increasingly valuable and should be carefully preserved. On the other, there’s really no point to them as roadbikes, since they’re uncomfortable, high-strung, and obviously more valuable than a more common 749S that offers very similar performance with less of…