Ducati

No two ways about it, Ducati’s Sport 1000 isn’t a comfy bike. It stretches you out like a rack and breaks both your wrists at anything less than 70mph with harsh suspension and aggressive clip-ons.

The Ducati Monster 695 (2006-2008) fills a niche for a more powerful but well-priced bike that retains the legendary design touches of the marque

A Ducati with 50 per cent reduced maintenance costs? What have they done? Chopped off one of the cylinders? A confused Jon Urry investigates

Take three barking bikes to the world's biggest food fight and it's a guaranteed recipe for chaos. James Whitham is your referee

Workaday middleweights sprout wings to prove their worth on a potter to Brussels

Yes, less really is more. Less motor, less (harsh) suspension with less colour for less money equals a Ducati four-valve supersport bike which is, quite simply, more super than a 999

ON THE 23RD of April 1972 I was 10 years old, Amazing Grace was at number one and I had just got back from Sunday School praying my folks would buy me that orange Raleigh Chopper in Halfords' window. On that same day in Italy something far more significant was taking place.

A fun bike let down by a daft exhaust-routing and heavy clutch. However, the engine and bike's character will still win you over.

Ducati keep it in the family with a brand new baby Multistrada. Tim Dickson braves the worst of Sicily's weather to find out more

ucati has decided to go back in time to invest in its future by introducing two bikes from its new Sport Classics range. Back in the early seventies the Italian firm burst onto the big-bike scene for the first time with its big-bore V-twin engined road and race bikes.

Shippey logs the miles on the all-round Ducati SS1000

If you want a practical machine that is a cracking good laugh to ride the Multistrada is well worth a look-in

The current 999R costs £19,995, and this version will cost more. But this is an even more powerful and polished example of what’s already the best road-going Ducati

I’ve ridden every new 2004 bike and the 749R is the one I really want to ride again. I’d love to own one; it looks ace, handles great, has a mint motor and is good off track, too. I’d take a 749R over any 999 anytime

Terrific grunt from a celebrated engine in a less sporty frame than may be familiar

The old style is still very much in place on the Ducati Monster S4R but, with that alloy single swinger and those hi-level pipes, it’s got a much racier attitude

A good bike that is rapidly becoming a classic

The Ducati now looks much more modern, costs less and is close on handling to the class ruler, the VFR

A wonderfully capable all-rounder that will satisfy your need for speed or go the whole distance. It's just a good job you don't have to look at it when you're riding it.

992cc fuel injected motah for the Monster range is still air-cooled, but has twin plug heads and packs a meatier punch. The definitive Monster?