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This list wouldn't be complete without a Monster of some kind. Launched in 1993, the Monster traditionally came with various air-cooled V-Twin engines that were all a bit...well...slow. Yes, the Monster was more for posing than performance but that chassis was always crying out for a decent lump. The S4-RS answered those prayers with a proper water-cooled engine from the 998 superbike, making 130bhp. It turned the Monster into a real wheelying hooligan. There are modern 1200cc Monsters which make more power, but the original can't be beaten on style.
The 888 SPS (Sport Production Special) was the early 90's flagship sportsbike for Ducati, winning the '91 and '92 World Superbike Championship in the hands of Doug Polen. The fuel tank was carbon-fibre, as well as silencers and seat unit. Ducati even shaved weight by removing the cooling fan from the SPS. Only 101 were made, making this one seriously rare beast.
Simply put - the 1299 Superleggera is the most extreme Ducati road bike ever built. The 1285cc V-Twin engine produces a staggering 220bhp and is the first motorcycle to feature an all-carbon frame, wheels and swingarm. This means it actually weighs 11kg LESS than a full-factory Ducati World Superbike. All 500 examples were sold prior to release and owners were hand-picked by Ducati themselves. The cost? £72,000. Bargain.
Back in 2006 Ducati launched the 990cc V4 engined Desmosedici RR to a huge fanfare of hype. They said it was a "MotoGP bike for the road!" which turned out to be...well...utter bollocks.
The MotoGP bike made 240bhp and the road bike...didn't. It also weighed far, far more. This wasn't unrealistic though as there's no way a full-fat GP engine would last five minutes without constant maintenance.
Even so, the Desmosedici RR really was something very special indeed. The noise being the unforgettable feature for anyone who's been lucky enough to see one out on the road.
I'll never forget that first time I clapped eyes on the beauty of the Ducati 916. I was nine-years-old watching an episode of 'Soldier Soldier' on ITV when Tony Rossi rode into the barracks on a shiny new 916. It was love at first sight.
Whether you prefer the later 996 or 998 versions, the SP, SPS or even the limited-edition Senna models, they all have that iconic Tamburini design. The performance more than matched the looks, too. Carl Fogarty took the World Superbike crown four times in the 90's on the 916 era machine, earning him God-like status with Ducati and their fans around the world.
For most, the word Ducati is synonymous with the 916. It's more than a bike, for some - it's a religion.
I hope you liked this post and as always have a chilled day from the viking
5. MONSTER S4 RS
This list wouldn't be complete without a Monster of some kind. Launched in 1993, the Monster traditionally came with various air-cooled V-Twin engines that were all a bit...well...slow. Yes, the Monster was more for posing than performance but that chassis was always crying out for a decent lump. The S4-RS answered those prayers with a proper water-cooled engine from the 998 superbike, making 130bhp. It turned the Monster into a real wheelying hooligan. There are modern 1200cc Monsters which make more power, but the original can't be beaten on style.
4. 888 SPS
The 888 SPS (Sport Production Special) was the early 90's flagship sportsbike for Ducati, winning the '91 and '92 World Superbike Championship in the hands of Doug Polen. The fuel tank was carbon-fibre, as well as silencers and seat unit. Ducati even shaved weight by removing the cooling fan from the SPS. Only 101 were made, making this one seriously rare beast.
3. 1299 SUPERLEGGERA
Simply put - the 1299 Superleggera is the most extreme Ducati road bike ever built. The 1285cc V-Twin engine produces a staggering 220bhp and is the first motorcycle to feature an all-carbon frame, wheels and swingarm. This means it actually weighs 11kg LESS than a full-factory Ducati World Superbike. All 500 examples were sold prior to release and owners were hand-picked by Ducati themselves. The cost? £72,000. Bargain.
2. DESMOSEDICI RR
Back in 2006 Ducati launched the 990cc V4 engined Desmosedici RR to a huge fanfare of hype. They said it was a "MotoGP bike for the road!" which turned out to be...well...utter bollocks.
The MotoGP bike made 240bhp and the road bike...didn't. It also weighed far, far more. This wasn't unrealistic though as there's no way a full-fat GP engine would last five minutes without constant maintenance.
Even so, the Desmosedici RR really was something very special indeed. The noise being the unforgettable feature for anyone who's been lucky enough to see one out on the road.
1. 916
I'll never forget that first time I clapped eyes on the beauty of the Ducati 916. I was nine-years-old watching an episode of 'Soldier Soldier' on ITV when Tony Rossi rode into the barracks on a shiny new 916. It was love at first sight.
Whether you prefer the later 996 or 998 versions, the SP, SPS or even the limited-edition Senna models, they all have that iconic Tamburini design. The performance more than matched the looks, too. Carl Fogarty took the World Superbike crown four times in the 90's on the 916 era machine, earning him God-like status with Ducati and their fans around the world.
For most, the word Ducati is synonymous with the 916. It's more than a bike, for some - it's a religion.
I hope you liked this post and as always have a chilled day from the viking
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