Ducati Motorcycles

There's no other racing bike like the Ducati racing bike and all attempts to emulate it miserably fail in comparison to the original. As the Italian king of motorcycle racing, the Ducati enjoys an extremely loyal and enthusiastic fan base. Harley-Davidson is a fierce competitor, but fans of either bike would never sway. Ducati owners are just as loyal to their bikes as Harley Davidson fans are to theirs. And there are several good reasons why.

Dubbed in the early 1990s as the inventors of the 'naked' bike - a bike that sports power over embellishment - Ducati seems to have perfected this new category of motorcycle. The entire line of Ducati motorcycles house air-cooled or liquid-cooled, two and four-valve Desmo engines which give them the acceleration that they're known for.

Of course Ducatis are also known for their basic style as well. The style of each Ducatis bike hints at the classic Avanti or Ferrari and each demonstrates how engineering contributes for the speed that this line is so famous for. Take the following bikes for example:

Multistrada 620

Ducati's Multistrada 620 is both stylish and fast, earning itself a place in the pantheon of all motorcycles. It's powered by an air-cooled 618cc L-twin which allows it to get up and go in one smooth swoop.

Normally, sport bikes are uncomfortable, but Multistrada 620 is surprisingly both comfortable and easy to drive. Compared to other sport bikes, it's lightweight and engineered to handle itself around Italian mountains as well as on city streets. The Multistrada 620 is easier to ride than the Multistrada 1000 DS (the 1000cc model) is too -- making it an excellent option for racers and general motorcyclists all around.

ST3s

Combining the style, performance, and features of the sport and touring bike, Ducati's ST3s model houses a 992cc Desmo3 engine to give both power and comfort via inverted Showa shocks. Lot's a features here and there's plenty more. The ST3s delivers 107 hp and 72 ft-lb (foot-pound) of torque, while its Marelli electronic fuel injection and superior exhaust system manages to keep it running without a flaw.

It's style and design tends to retain a lot of classic elements, however it's electronics takes full advantage of the latest technology. The ST3s simply exemplifies what could and should be done with this technology via its computerized instrument panel, anti-theft device, and fuel system.

There's plenty of support to be found among Ducati fans and they're just as active online as they are offline. The Ducati Monster List, www.ducatimonster.org/, or the Ducati Women at http://www.ducatiwomen.com/home.html host thousands of enthusiasts who are willing, ready, and able to share their knowledge and experiences with Ducati machines. These resources are invaluable when it comes to finding upcoming rallies, cheap parts, or just general (albeit) helpful tips.