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…
Racing fans naturally gravitate towards sportbikes that feature graphics and colors associated with their favorite racing teams. Since those designs are often chosen for their visibility over any concerns about taste, it’s rare that a design stands out for being both striking and classic. It’s a shame that some of the most memorable and iconic…
In the world of big-bore bikes – man sized machines – Moto Guzzi has always stood out with a unique style of individualistic and rugged beauty. The oldest continually operational motorcycle manufacturer in Europe, Guzzi was formed in Italy in 1921 with the intent to build motorcycles after World War I. Comprised of the triumvirate…
Before returning to the MotoGP top class in 2012, Aprilia tested in the World Endurance Championship with their RSV Mille and 1000 models. This commemorative is of their efforts at the legendary Bol D’or 24 Hours, held each September in France. The limited edition color scheme is matched to a quick handling, 143-horse V-twin. 2007…
Erik Buell created a few career’s worth of rider’s motorcycles, but they were also for the thinking rider. The XB12R grabbed a few engineering concepts and hung on. Centralized mass, low unsprung weight, and and frame rigidity were the factory’s goals, and by all accounts they succeeded. Harder to quantify issues like handling and fun…
The engine of any motorcycle is its living, beating heart and the powerplant of Aprilia’s funky RSV Mille R was, at the time, as unconventional as the bike’s styling. A 90° v-twin is generally considered ideal for sporting applications, as the angle between the cylinders provides “perfect primary balance” where the unpleasant vibrations caused by…
Honda had tested the market with the NS250F/R in 1984, and sampled in the MotoGP waters. On the heels of Freddie Spencer’s 1985 championship in the 500 and 250cc classes ( ! ), the factory introduced the NSR-250R in late 1986 as a 1987 model. This early example of the winning two-stroke twin is almost…
Like rock and roll bands, manufacturers of premium motorcycle brands always have their eyes on the US market: a land of seemingly endless wealth to buy expensive, high-end motorcycles and wide-open spaces where big-bore motorcycles can roam free. In Europe, smaller motorcycles were very popular, owing to taxes that punished larger machines, expensive gas, and…