Back in the day the Bol d'Or was THE end-of-summer ride out. Using retro-repros TWO is recreating the experience: twins and twin-shocks to the Bol. Let the slipstreaming begin!
In which three big V-twins hurtle across Europe in search of sun, speed, a track day at Imola and a big day out at Italy's largest rock festival. Groovy!
The new 999R gets the trickest motor Ducati has ever made. It's also just like Neil's (Hodgson, that is) they say, so we sent our own Niall to ride it.
Of course, what every 998 owner really wants to know is whether they have to sell their bike immediately and get another loan for a new 999. Or are they - infact - better off with their undoubted modern classic?
It might be called progress by some. But in a world where more and more motorcycles are becoming increasingly refined and civilised, others might feel the traditional character of bikes is being lost.