Alan Dowds

2024 Ducati Panigale V4 SP2 916 anniversary edition

by

Alan Dowds

–

7th November 2023

The last of Ducati’s 2024 reveals – and a corker to finish off with. The Panigale V4 SP2 is already very posh and very limited, but this 916 anniversary edition is even more so. Just 500 will be made, with the special 916 replica paint scheme, and a numbered plaque, on top of the carbon…
Continue reading »
2024 Ducati Multistrada V4 RS launched

by

Alan Dowds

–

19th October 2023

In the old days, the exalted ‘RS’ badge would only be applied to the very finest of race-ready superbikes. But it’s a mark of where we are that Ducati has just launched this: the 2024 Multistrada V4 RS. High-end adventure tourers now get just as much performance and kit as superbikes, and with this ultimate…
Continue reading »
Ducati dropping a big one tomorrow

by

Alan Dowds

–

18th October 2023

A quick heads-up for 3pm tomorrow, when the good folks at Ducati are launching a new bike. And we’ve heard a rumour that it’s a pretty sweet piece of kit – even for them! Tune in here! https://www.ducati.com/ww/en/home/ducati-world-premiere Then check back here to see what we reckon to it…
Continue reading »
2024 Kawasaki Ninja 7 hybrid motorbike

by

Alan Dowds

–

15th October 2023

It’s the world’s first hybrid motorbike – and here’s my first impressions I’m just back from the launch of the new Kawasaki Ninja 7 hybrid bike in Barcelona. And it’s fair to say that I’m very impressed with it. It’s one of the most interesting bikes I’ve ever ridden, with an intriguing technology set-up, and…
Continue reading »
2024 Ducati DesertX Rally

by

Alan Dowds

–

4th October 2023

Ducati turns its slick retro-raid rally tool a little bit hardcore It’s one of Ducati’s most interesting models – which looks as sharp as it rides. And now Ducati’s acclaimed DesertX middleweight adventure bike has been given a dirt-focused chassis upgrade, to produce the DesertX Rally. The big changes are to the suspension: the new…
Continue reading »
2024 Ducati Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour

by

Alan Dowds

–

26th September 2023

Luxury full-featured high-speed adventure touring – at a price If we’re honest, the standard Multistrada V4 is an incredible touring bike as it is. The amazing 170bhp Granturismo V4 engine, superbike-spec chassis setup, more electronics than an Elon Musk spaceship, and lush styling makes it a winner without any bolt-ons. But Ducati likes to go…
Continue reading »
30th Anniversary Ducati Monster

by

Alan Dowds

–

26th September 2023

What’s that coming over the hill? Yes, it’s Ducati’s Monster – which is celebrating its 30th birthday this year, and has a special party frock on to celebrate. Of course, if you’re as old as us, 1993 still feels like about 15 years ago. Reality however insists that it is in fact double that – which…
Continue reading »
Ducati’s Scrambler brand goes back to the future

by

Alan Dowds

–

9th June 2023

Bolognan firm’s trendy sub-brand launches new bikes for 2023 at high-end Soho event Back in the early 2010s, lots of firms were launching new retro bikes. But Ducati went one better, launching an entire new retro-cool brand in 2015. The Scrambler range owed its style to the legendary Scrambler singles of the 1960s and 70s,…
Continue reading »
2023 Edition KTM Brabus 1300 R

by

Alan Dowds

–

20th February 2023

We’ll confess we’re not too sure about the Brabus brand. You see the name on fancy Mercedes cars – but also on those little Smart cars. They look trick – but the real Mercedes performance brand is AMG, and it’s those that get the 700bhp twin-turbo engines? The Brabus relationship with KTM is also a…
Continue reading »
Fast Bikes Magazine’s Top 10 Racing Leathers

by

Alan Dowds

–

1st December 2022

Ah, the brilliant and fabulous full leather race suit!
Continue reading »
Ducati unveiling another new 2023 bike this Friday

by

Alan Dowds

–

27th October 2022

No details as yet – but Ducati wants to Dare to be Bold! apparently, in its latest 2023 World Premiere event… It reckons it’s launching an all-new type of bike, so well worth a look on the firm’s social media channels or website: www.ducati.com . We’ll be covering it too of course! All the deets…
Continue reading »
2022 Ducati Panigale V4S

by

Alan Dowds

–

25th November 2021

Engine, chassis, aerodynamics, electronics and ergonomics all tweaked on the mighty Panigale Big news from Ducati on the first public day of the EICMA show: a new Panigale V4 and V4S, that’s claimed to be even faster round a track, but also easier to ride for all skill levels. The engine has an extra 1.5bhp…
Continue reading »
2022 Special Edition Triumph Rocket 3, Thruxton RS and Street Twin

by

Alan Dowds

–

9th November 2021

Some nice eye-candy from Triumph: three special edition bikes, limited to one year’s production, celebrating parts of Triumph’s British heritage. First is a ‘Ton-Up’ Thruxton RS, which harks back to the café-racer culture of the 1950s and 60s. Next is the Rocket 3 221, which is named for the giant custom’s monstrous torque figure of…
Continue reading »
2022 Honda NT1100

by

Alan Dowds

–

21st October 2021

Africa Twin engine and frame in a sensible new sporty-tourer beastie We were pretty surprised when @Honda brought out the CMX1100 Rebel last year, using the Africa Twin parallel twin engine in a retro bobber cruiser type thingy. ‘Hang on’ we thought, ‘wouldn’t that be better in a sort of a sporty-touring faired road bike…
Continue reading »
2021 sales boom for Ducati

by

Alan Dowds

–

20th October 2021

Record third quarter for the Bologna firm We’re all getting a bit bored by bad news, so here’s some better stuff: Ducati has had its best quarter ever in terms of bike sales, and has sold more machines in the first 9 months of 2021 than in the whole of 2020. Last quarter sale of…
Continue reading »

Alan Dowds

Latest Issue

Free Digital Issue

Search

Tags