-strapped Ducati had a more immediate hit with a much more traditional V-twin. Two years after Mike Hailwood’s famous TT victory, the Bologna factory released a Hailwood Replica version of their 900SS, complete with full fairing and red-and-green paintwork

Real ClassicThe most memorable road-testing moment of 25 years in this job wasn't riding the Desmosedici or Rossi's M1, but heading through the gates of Norton's dilapidated Shenstone factory to start a scoop test of the rotary-engined Classic

warehouse, but turned out to be a state-of-the-art motorcycle factory. There were two prototype bikes, one streetbike and the other faired; their three and four cylinder engines were the result of Triumph’s modular design concept. This man Bloor

is perhaps not that Bimota has struggled recently, but that the firm is still building bikes today — unlike most of those old rivals.By 2003, when Roberto Comini became involved, the Rimini factory had endured two lengthy periods of closure. There was a

Japanese bikes don't come much more Italian than the revamped Hornet 600. Despite the name on its tank, the Hornet was shaped by Honda's European design studio in Italy, and built at the factory in Atessa. Given Italian sales were largely

of the striking concept bike that was unveiled at Munich three years ago. The first thing that struck me after seeing the line of black V-twins outside the Mandello factory was that this is that rare beast, a production bike which looks better than the prototype

-clamps are reworked slightly to reduce weight, while skinnier 43mm Marzocchi forks and new cast wheels in unchanged sizes save some more grammes.Clambering aboard the Hypermotard outside Ducati’s Bologna factory was easier than normal because it’s seat is 25mm lower

It's late on a Friday afternoon near Varese, and I'm heading back to MV's factory after an enjoyable few hours aboard the latest Brutale. In no great rush, I'm making use of the four-cylinder motor's flexibility; short-shifting through the 'box

BRITAIN BOUNCES BACKRiding the first ever bike from reborn Triumph’s Hinckley factory in 1991 was a mindblowing experience. In the company of Kawasaki’s ZZR1100, Suzuki’s GSX1100 and Yamaha’s FJ1200, the Triumph was far from outclassed.All six new

weird. So much so that after I'd borrowed one from Bimota's Rimini factory, a guy on a scooter chased me round the town to get a better look. I was glad that the Mantra's 86bhp aircooled Ducati motor and tubular aluminium-framed chassis gave enough speed