Monster 796 Review

With the new 2011 Monster 796, Ducati has completed its line-up of air-cooled standards. It's a throwback to the old 800 and places itself right in the middle between the entry level 696 and the more ferocious 1100.

Motorcycle Review

Surrounded by razor sharp volcanic rock formations, and with a thundering big Desmo twin underneath me, I feel satisfied with things. Ducati anno 2010 is a completely different company than it used to be. It takes blood, sweat and tears to come up with something as good as the Multistrada 1200.

Motorcycle Review

Mention Bologna and Italian twins and you will be forgiven if you think of Ducati first. Just a short ride from the Borgo Panigale Planet Red, there is another historic Italian motorcycle manufacturer that produces big bore V-twin engines--Moto Morini.

Motorcycle Tire Test

The new Silverstone motorcycle road race circuit is very fast with plenty of hard braking and tough long hard accelerating corner exits. The new circuit layout proved a fine proving ground for Dunlop's latest supersport tire technologies.

Revamped Shiver

The Aprilia Shiver hasn't been quite the success the Italian manufacturer had hoped for, largely due to a bland color scheme according to the motorcycle's importers. While Ducati is pushing Monsters like hot cakes, Aprilia haven't had the same success with its Shiver, which was launched in 2007.

750 Factory (Euro Model)

Two years ago Aprilia launched the first Dorsoduro 750 with Aprilia's own then-new 750cc 90-degree V-twin engine. Time is now ripe for the Factory version and that means less weight and better handling in Noale language.

Designer Interview

Back in 2005 something extraordinary happened when Aprilia decided to start work on an all-new world-class superbike, the RSV4. By 2006 Aprilia launched the first V4 race engine design claiming 210 horsepower at the EICMA show. Behind the scenes, Sergio Robbiano was working flat-out on the RSV4 prototype design and mechanics.

Italian Exotica

Mama Mia! Just reading the tech specs on this brutally powerful beast of a wonder machine has me choking on the homemade meatballs at the corner Italian restaurant. The Vyrus 987 truly can boast about its existence, as it is the world's best power-to-weight Superbike hybrid and, with the Volumex supercharger, it is the world's most powerful motorcycle, too.