Gear Patrol

In the world of thrilling machines, Ducati registers somewhere between Ferrari and Alfa Romeo — this on two wheels, of course. Offering bikes ranging in price from $10,000-$30,000 and covering a range of “yeah, that makes sense” to “humans aren’t supposed to travel that fast”, the brand has a legacy and heritage dating back to 1926 that it maintains with pride today. This is especially obvious in the 2013 Ducati Monster 796 ($10,000).

Ducati 750 Super Sport This 1976 Ducati 750 Super Sport was found in a Belgian shed after sitting for 15 years. Harné Heuvelman of the Dutch group Back To Classics restored it to its showroom condition using original components like beautiful Borrani wire rims, Brembo brakes and Marzocchi forks. It’s an absolute stunner, and probably…

Short on space in the garage? Gear Patrol’s new series, “Want This, Get This”, moves into a whole new vein this week, presenting a lust-worthy sportbike along with a more affordable alternative that scratches the same itch. Read on for the dream screamer and its reality-based substitute.

While smartphones and google calendar might have replaced much of the functional need for a physical calendar these days, we’re still nostalgic for the analog. Following in the tradition of our Grandfather’s garage, our pick for 2013′s planner is the Custom Motorcycle Calendar from Bike Exif. What it lacks in Bettie Page pinup curves it…

Ducati motorcycles are the kind of machines that make us sweat, bleed and tear up all at once — and that’s a good thing. The introduction of the king of the Ducati superbikes makes us grovel. The Ducati 1199 Panigale R ($29,995) has assumed the throne, and he’s all business. Not just your standard 1199…

We love a cafe racer bike, especially when said bike is both Ducati and vintage. The JvB-moto Ducati Pantah is just such a beauty. The Pantah’s designer, Jens vom Brauck, wanted his build to look like “it was found in a shed… a futuristic design study for a 1981 motor show” that was never displayed….

Like 40 year-old Highland Park single malt, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO and the stunning Raquel Welch, sometimes what has graced us in the past will always stand apart from whatever newfangled version comes our way. So it is with the 1974 Ducati 750SS Corsa, owned by former bike racer, Carlo Saltarelli. Going up for…

Ducati is doing quite well these days. With a huge rise in market sales in 2011, the momentum is overwhelming, and that’s good for the rest of us because it means more designs and, frankly, more phenomenal bikes by the Italian motorcycle company. Following on the heels of the versatile Multistrada and the beastly Diavel…

Better than a necktie, a misshapen fruitcake and a smothering of grandma’s kisses all at once is a gift for our inner gearhead. From bike to motorcycle to car gifts, the editors at Gear Patrol have whittled down our monumental list of coveted wheel-related items for your giving and/or receiving pleasure. And regardless of what’s…

Talk about a match made in motoring heaven. Merc and Ducati have partnered to create a worthy collaboration of two and four wheeled beauties. The Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG and Ducati Streetfighter 848 adorned in ‘Streetfighter Yellow’ showcase performance in a rare color that MB might just bring to their line of cars if enough…

The iPad 2 release from the minds at Apple may put you to sleep when you see what else has been unveiled in Cupertino, CA. The Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Pikes Peak Special Edition is easily more fun than a flock of angry birds (app or real). Created to celebrate motorcyclist Greg Tracy’s victorious class…

Behold Ducati’s new flagship Monster, the 1100EVO ($11,995). Of course, with flagship status comes flagship features and the Duc hardly disappoints. The svelte 373 lb bike packs Ducati’s Desmodue Evoluzione engine, which boasts a whopping 100 air-cooled horsepower and 76 lb-ft of torque. But with power comes responsibility and the 1100EVO comes standard with Ducati’s…

Earlier this year, Ducati introduced the Monster 796. A few months later, they busted out the 2011 Diavel – an all-new 162 horsepower, 456 pound, 0-60 mph in 2.6 seconds, technology-laden, two-wheeled miracle machine. So how did Ducati improve on near-perfection? By making it black — diamond black to be precise. The new color scheme…

Ducati has expanded the Monster line with the new 2011 Ducati Monster 796 ($9,995). Slotted right between the ease of the entry level Monster 696 and road-shredding Monster 1100 (S), the 796 is focused on user friendliness and top-end components. Of course, the fact that it’s oozing Italian bad-assery doesn’t hurt. Keeping with the signature…

Like Most Things Italian, Even Monsters Are Hot. Ducati Monster 1100    Courtesy: Ducati North America Many of you may not know this, but more than just Apple computers are announced in Cupertino, California. And for some of you, this might be the sexier beast. It definitely is for me regardless of my affinity for both…

The Hypermotard 1100 takes on urban canyons and attacks mountain curves with total abandon. Its purpose is single-minded: to thrill. Its ‘motard’ styling and stance combine with Ducati’s ‘sportsbike’ smooth and powerful L-Twin engine to deliver the best of both these two motorcycling worlds. With a riding position to dominate, the exceptionally slim, compact and…

The Tumi+Ducati Collection is an award winning line from Tumi that rocks out high-performance Ducati inspired design sculpted in Tumi’s exclusive, abrasion- and stain-resistant Hybrix fabric. The T3 Carry-On Duffel has easy-to-pack duffel styling in a convenient carry-on size. It includes a myriad of interior and exterior pockets and a removable shoulder strap. Other Key…