Italian delicacies

Here are the best of the best from the famed motorcycle show in Milan.

SOUL TO SOUL

Ducati's 1098 replaces the ugly 999. Yes, yes, the day of the twin cyclops has come to an end. Ducati have finally seen the light again and let the 999 go. The slinky one replacing it is much better. It returns to the simple lines of the 916, but instead of the melancholy twin eyes, there's a more aggro set, complete with gaping ram-air vents where dark circles would usually lie. But the big story, friends, is the motor.

No way, really? Yes way, dear readers. The 1098cc L-twin makes 160 bhp and 12.45 kgm, which makes it the most powerful production V-twin in the world. It also makes the new Ducati a formidable proposition in the face of the near-200 bhp Japanese litre-fours. And they're not done yet. Every part, it seems, was scrutinised with great care and pared down to the lightest possible weight "" until next year that is "" and the Duc weighs an impossible 172 kg as well.

What doesn't fit? The Ducati's performance is sure to be off the scale. It appears to be as light as a touch, as powerful as an emotion and as slim as a chance. But eulogies aside, we think the tail pipes stick out a bit too far.

GRISO MONKEY

Moto Guzzi Griso replaces itself, but swaps a four-valve V-twin for a more modern 1200cc four-valve motor and ends up with 100 bhp "" which for a naked bike is a lot of power. It isn't a 140 bhp Moto Morini, of course, but still, when was the last time you heard of a 100 bhp Guzzi?

No way, really? The bike is now called the Griso 8V and includes some serious kit, including the much acclaimed radially-mounted callipers for the front disc, redesigned muffler and a new seat.

What doesn't fit?  Well, we didn't really take a shine to the other big Milan Guzzi, the 940 Custom, which looked a bit unkempt. Also launched was a new 850cc version of the sport tourer, Norge.

DREAM RIDE

MV Agusta F4CC replaces whatever was on top of the two-wheeled desirables chart. CC stands for Claudio Castiglioni, the owner of the Agusta brand, and he put his name on the bike because he'dreamed of it.' And it shows. 315 kph is the tyre-limited top speed, Tamburini is still the name of the designer, the engine now displaces 1078cc and the missile weighs 187 kg (all fluids except fuel).

No way, really? Only a hundred will be made (marked down in platinum on the steering head), and each will be good for 200 bhp. But what really gets us is that 90 per cent of the bike is made of one-off items, not off-the-shelf goodies.

What doesn't fit? Well, the press release did have unnecessary references to little black dresses.

FULLY AUTOMATIC

Aprilia NA 850 Mana replaces nothing. This is an all-new product in a brand new segment. It might look just like a Brutale or similar naked bike, but in fact this bike has a world first. A proper motorcycle sporting an 850cc 90° V-twin mated to a CVT "" yes, a continuously variable transmission.

No way, really? It's a phenomenal idea, and Aprilia completed a very promising project by hiding the fuel tank under the seat and creating a full-face helmet sized lockable cubby hole where the "fuel" tank is.

What doesn't fit? Well, Aprilia showed off a marvellous looking race-ready 210 bhp V4, supposedly the basis of a World Superbikes challenge in the near future, but as is the norm, it wasn't all wrapped up in a bike.