Some of the old and present

My Ducati history started out with the ST2. It's a really nice piece of 2 valve machinery meant for open roads aswell as curves, but not at the raciest of speeds. After fitting her with open cans and an FIM chip, tuned on a dyno, and a smaller front sprocket she was just really, really good. I never quite got the suspension set up to work the way I wanted (even though fitting Öhlins springs and oil up front), but then scraping the pegs on public roads is not what this puppy is meant to do.

The second Duke in my line-up is the sweetest handling bike I've ridden. On track that is... She still makes you grin in the twisties aswell, but in another way. Compared to japanese sports bikes the 748R needs to be ridden, and ridden hard to deliver the fun. And she'll make you pay physically all the way. But boy does she deliver! Even though I managed scraping foot pegs (once...) I don't think I was even close to explore what she has to give. And that's the beauty of her. And the damndest thing too. See, there's no way you can ride this baby within the boundries of the law. It's just...impossible. In town you go second gear, third gear, second gear, third gear, and she still stalls every second traffic light and make you feel you're about to go epileptic. Once out of town she just keep begging, demanding, you for more.

Then there's the 750 Sport from 1989. Just look at her! She's got a minimalistic look to her that really appeals to the eye. No, she's not a rocket. And yes, she's got that Weber carburettor making every get-away from a standstill just that little bit more interesting. But, now with suspension sorted front and back she handles like magic at the speeds she's meant for. (First trip out together, on old tyres and suspension still not fixed, we went for a dragged knee in one of the favourite curves. The knee went down alright, even thinking for a fraction of a moment I could save her there like a true hero, before we both went down. Completely. Idiot!)

The 851 wasn't really my own choice. She just happened. She's from 1991 when Ducati just fitted up-si-down-sies and even and Öhlins rear suspension. She's nice. Very nice. Not tough. Not raw. But nice. She's also very much a part of Ducati's modern racing history. The ride is like a slightly sportier 900ss. A really good road bike. This one's got two chopped-up-stiched-together Termignonis to let the rest of the world know of her presence. Sneaking up along side of a car and BANG on full throttle is almost too much fun.