Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2025 i Fast Bikes

Technically, the SPS is actually the second of Ducati’s homologation-special road bikes; however, few either remember or have seen its predecessor. The 916SP arrived in 1995 (a year after the 916 Strada road bike) and was made in 1995 and 1996. A genuine 916cc, the 916SP has the usual SP goodies (more on these later) but lacks the SPS’s numbered plaque on its top yoke, which is the reason few realise it exists - unless you are a real geek, it looks much like a tarted-up 916 Strada! Now, onto the SPS, of which less than 1400 were made. The SPS features a 996cc engine (the road bikes were 916cc) thanks to a 4mm bigger bore (like the race bikes), and within the engine the pistons are lightweight, the H-section…

The 999R is an incredibly special bike and one that Ducati really pushed the boat out with when it comes to spec compared to the standard road bike. As you would expect, the 999R’s Testastretta engine has a different capacity to the road bike, and where the 999 and 999S are 998cc, the 999R is a genuine 999cc thanks to ‘over-square’ dimensions. More than just a bigger bore as with the 916SPS, the R runs a 104mm bore with a 58.8mm stroke where the stock 999 is 100mm × 63.5mm. This short-stroke design allows the motor to deal with higher revs, which is exactly what you want with a race engine. But that’s just scratching the surface… Within the motor, which has sand-cast cases, the 999R comes with titanium valves,…

Do you really need to ask why the Superleggera is special? The first-ever factory bike to feature a carbon fibre frame (okay, monocoque), swingarm, subframe and wheels, the Superleggera (which means ‘super light’ in Italian) is quite simply jaw-dropping in so many ways. It is, without doubt, the ultimate Ducati V-twin sportsbike, and while the subsequent V4 model is more powerful, the 1299 Superleggera is still off the scale both in terms of engineering and performance, with an incredible 215bhp and a dry weight of 156kg… Starting with the Superleggera’s chassis, Ducati pulled out all the stops and managed to use carbon throughout. A remarkable feat of engineering, this allows the Superleggera to be incredibly light. How light? The monocoque chassis is 40% lighter than the 1299’s (1.7kg), the swingarm…

If you were lucky enough to ride any one of these bike, let alone own one, chances are you’d be as happy as a pig in the proverbial. At least, that’s how I was left feeling. As for which one’s best, that’s not really what this test was about… it was more a case of being reminded just how great V-twins are, and how far Ducati went with the configuration. Besides, if you had to choose one, there’s a good chance you’d have made your selection based on what floats your boat most, be it tons of nostalgia or a craving for unadulterated performance. Despite the common theme of having V-twin powerhouses at their hearts, the models are as alien to one another as Johnny is to buying a round.…

There is a well-trodden path when it comes to litre sportsbike development which every manufacturer seems to inadvertently follow. The first generation is always a bit wild and unruly as they over-step the mark to create an instant impression. Two years later, the manufacturer tries to rein in their beast through small chassis calming modifications. Finally, in its third generation, they hit the magic formula and release a bike with a near-perfect blend of performance and user-friendliness. And then they release an all-new model and start the cycle again… It happened with Yamaha (the YZF-R1 5PW is superb), Kawasaki (the 2008 Ninja ZX-10R is the best of the early models) and Suzuki (the GSX-R1000 K5 is near-perfect), and in 2015 BMW followed suit with the third generation of its S1000RR.…

Good old Honda. It‘s like your old pal from school who spends most of the time on the straight and narrow, but every now and again goes absolutely crazy. On one hand, it sells a gazillion dull bikes every day: basic commuter mopeds, 125 scooters, the NC700. Next thing you know, it’s building an oval-piston V-four 750, a £140,000 MotoGP replica for the road, or a 215bhp Fireblade… And the big H seemed to be back on the tonic wine, having a massive laugh at the Milan show last month. It showed off a new concept machine so far out in the left field that it was basically floating in the Mediterranean. Nothing less than a brand-new 75° V-3 engine, with what looks like a very high-performance sporty DOHC design,…

AND THEY JUST KEEP COMING! The hustle never ends in the ‘new bikes’ world. Here’s our pick of the 2025 machines that have come about since the last issue of Fast Bikes. There’s plenty to get your teeth into… SUZUKI DR-Z4S/M There were plenty of famous guests wandering around the Birmingham NEC at Motorcycle Live last month, and we half-expected to see Marty McFly and Doc Brown on the Suzuki stand – because it was back to the future for the Japanese brand, which unveiled the new DR-Z4S and SM at the show. The neat, lightweight supermoto and dirt bike are a 2025 take on one of the great little Suzukis from 20 years ago, the DR-Z400S and SM. The original DR-Z was a high-performance machine for its day, but…

There are some things in life that need zero introduction, such as the Great Wall of China, Big Ben and, chief of them all, Ducati’s 916. It has done for motorcycling what the Pyramids did for Egypt, creating a cult-like following for those who love two wheels and an education for those who don’t. From movie scenes to racetracks, it is a motorcycle that has done it all - while dutifully delivering exotica on a level many of its peers could only dream of. In essence, the 916 is special, but as is often the case in life, there are different levels of special out there. Ducati’s 916SPS is not a motorcycle you will see every day. In fact, chances are you’ve never seen one in the flesh before, mainly…

I should kick things off by Admitting I own this bike, so you’ll have to forgive me if I come across like that parent on sports day who reckons their kid is the best at egg and spoon races, and everyone else’s is a cheat. Yep, I’m besotted and I’m not ashamed to admit it. It’s funny actually, because in more recent years there’s been a very definite switch in opinion surrounding the polarising 999, which was born into this world unloved and unwanted by many a Ducatisti, despite proving to be one of the brand’s most winning ever motorcycles of the pre-V4 era. The truth is that this model was built primarily with performance at its heart, delivering in ways that the preceding 998 et al simply couldn’t. More…

I like to imagine that bikes like this are the product of alcohol-fuelled madness in a loud pub on a Friday night. On paper, machines such as this Superleggera simply shouldn’t exist because they are nothing short of ludicrous - but thank god they do. Ducati has never been shy about coming forward or making a statement, for that matter… which this very much is. While some brands are hung up on the finish of their bike’s new LED lighting, the guys from Bologna obviously have very different thoughts, not least of all what could be achieved if money were no object and performance was the one and only thing that mattered. Well, the result is this… As already mentioned, this machine is dripping in innovation, precious metals and impressive…

Whether you love them or hate them, it’s fair to say the world of two wheels would be as dull as one of Big Mac’s stories without the characterful, torquey and polarising configuration. As we know, Ducati has perhaps done more with the engine type than any other manufacturer… and continues to roll them off its production line to this day. In light of the news of a new V2 on the cards, we checked in with the boffins from Bologna to get a better grasp of the V-twin –its limitations, its best bits, and the reasons behind the marque’s decision to switch to V4 motors for its flagship offerings. Here’s what they had to say… FB: What are the core virtues of a V-twin motor? Ducati: The V-twin is…

It’s been approaching a year since I was lucky enough to sample the heavily updated 1390 Super Duke R at its press launch in Spain, and what a way to kick 2024 off that was. This means that it’s also nearly a year since I wrote words to the effect of great bike, but why present it to the world’s media in a track-only format? It meant that the main lasting impression was how the immense torque from the new engine so easily overwhelmed the standard road tyres on track, and I couldn’t wait to try one back in the UK on the roads. Well, that day finally arrived, not long before the final days of summer started to approach. First, for the benefit of anyone who missed my launch…

JOHNNY TIME ON TEST: SEVEN MONTHS ODOMETER MILES BHP: 116HP/126 BHP WITH RAM-AIR [MEASURED] GAIN: 8 BHP NEXT AIM: Say goodbye without crying. MONEY SPENT: FULL EXHAUST SYSTEM, £1300. DYNO TIME AND MAPPING, £367.50. So, the time has come to part ways with my Kawasaki ZX-6R after seven(ish) months together, and to say I’m gutted would be an understatement. A year ago, I asked Bruce if I could run a ZX-6R this year because I was hoping to be surprised and maybe experience something different from my recent Termers, which have been epic but predictable. The Kawasaki arrived, and I’ll be honest, the first time I took it out, it was cold, damp, and not the most inviting day to be out on anything, let alone a full-on supersport bike.…

If you want to start a good argument, ask a bunch of bikers what the best type of engine is. If you want to take that scrap to the next level, put the same question out there to the manufacturers. Wrongly or rightly, most marques have strong affiliations with certain configurations that are proven as their go-to options for decade upon decade in some instances. Truth be told, that consistency often leads to good results, fuelled by passion, continuous engineering development and… the absolute stubbornness to not give in and admit that someone else had a better idea. But before we go in with both feet on brands for changing their minds and turning their backs on engines that’ve made them who they are, it’s only right to acknowledge that…

The first thing to check when buying any limited-edition Ducati model is that it’s actually what it claims to be. It is very easy to make a Strada (which lacks a pillion seat; that arrived with the Biposto) look like an SP. The ideal thing to do is get its frame number and run it through Ducati, which keeps a record of every bike. This will tell you if it is an SP or a Strada. The frame number is located on the headstock and is another thing to check, not only that it matches the logbook but also that it is easy to read and is comprised of a series of raised dots making up the numbers. When a 916 is restored and its frame re-painted, these dots trap…

If you’re as old as us, you’ll remember the last time we saw a Bimota racing at the top in WSBK - 25 years ago, in 2000. Troubled genius Anthony Gobert even won a race on the SB8K that year, a wet round at Philip Island. That bike was powered by the TL1000 R V-twin engine that Suzuki planned to win superbike races on, in a bespoke carbon composite frame. It was a fabulous piece of design (and made Suzuki’s race efforts look a bit daft by comparison), but the win was a real one-off, and the SB8 couldn’t save the firm on its own. Bimota went into bankruptcy after that and has been kicking around the margins of the bike world since - until Kawasaki bought into the brand…

Carlin Dunne, Chris Fillmore and I were staring out over the northern tip of Devil’s Playground, the 6am rising sun giving an orange glow to the top of America’s Mountain, Pikes Peak. In the distance, the popping and cracking of Lucy Glöckner’s BMW HP Race grew exponentially louder as the woman who could reasonably be called the world’s fastest female superbike rider at the time wrung the carbon-fibre framed racer’s neck to within an inch of its life. Full revs, traction control, limiter, tyre squeal, silence. Full revs, traction control, limiter, tyre squeal, silence. Carlin looked over and said: “I think this is going to be a fast one.” Sure enough, Lucy exited the last of 10 consecutive hairpins, accompanied by the now deafening exhaust wail of Germany’s finest, cut…

If you’ve been a naughty biker, you need some decent legal advice, get it from mail@whitedalton.co.uk Q A friend was knocked off his motorcycle by a blind driver. I am not joking; he was driving a car and pulled across my mate’s path. This knocked him off his bike, and when the police turned up, they did an eyesight test on the driver. He couldn’t see further than four metres in front of his face! This is terrible! How are these people allowed to drive? A I am seeing this a lot more now. I know we have an ageing population. As we age, our body deteriorates, and it is common for the police to conduct eyesight tests at the roadside. If they do this, it must be conducted in…

STAR LETTER A FEW IDEAS FOR YOU… Hi guys, I feel that one of the best articles recently was the Suzuki GSX-8R project by Tim, so probably more of that type. Perhaps factory visits - MV Agusta would be brilliant, with Moto Guzzi at the same time, and Ducati if possible, all for different issues. Norton Motorcycles, Dot. Motorcycles, possibly any interesting dealerships, or factories associated with motorcycles. I personally like to read about sports bikes and naked bikes, with the group tests, second-hand bikes and affordable sometimes. There are also companies such as Thorton Hundred Motorcycles. YouTube videos are still very important. I do know it must be difficult to put together magazines like this, because there are only so many new bikes being introduced, but we still need…