As Italy and the international motorcycle industry prepare to farewell Claudio Castiglioni, here is our small gallery tribute to a legendary motorcycle figure with a series of just some of the creations Castiglioni has been credited for over the years. Below is the official statement from MV Agusta on Castiglioni’s death - which celebrates his life and career and one of the more incredible contributions to the motorcycle industry we’ll see in years to come.

Claudio Castiglioni, 64 years old and President of MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. passed away this morning in Varese,Italy after a courageous battle against an illness.

The man who personally elevated the Italian motorcycle industry to its current role as world leader and the businessman who excelled with MV Agusta, Cagiva, Ducati and Husqvarna brands has left us.

Continue reading: Claudio Castiglioni tribute galleries

....

0 comments

Here’s Emilio Zamora of the Ducati Stunt Team showing off with wheelies, stoppies and burnouts with a Ducati Monster for a Taft hair styling products commercial

I wonder if Taft has anything to avoid helmet hair?

....

0 comments

I can’t decide if the Ducati Diavel looks as chunky in the flesh as in its studio pics or less so, but here are live pics from EICMA from the Ducati stand. We’ll have to wait until the best bike verdict from the 2010 EICMA emerges before we can gauge local reaction to the Diavel but a number of contrasting words come to mind: everything from abomination, innovation, anomaly and curiosity from Ducati. The Diavel is at the show with the old favourite, the Ducati Monster (1100 EVO), the Ducati 848 EVO and the new Ducati 1198SP which was first revealed at Intermot. The Diavel steals the show but more for the novelty factor than anything else.

Continue reading: Live at EICMA: Ducati Diavel and the Ducati stand

....

0 comments

Here’s the Ducati Monster 796 official video where we get to hear very little of the engine but lots of funky music. The new Monster is a stepping stone in the range from the 696 to the 1100, and completes the Monster family line-up. It will be available already in Italy from the end of this month, and the mediterranean scenes slipping by in the video just make us want to go and buy one for summer coastal cruising. Coming soon we check out a Ducati Monster 796 test ride, so stay tuned, and see our post for videos on the Monster Art Colour Therapy project.

....

0 comments

We’re not really keen on the Ducati Monster 796 in lilac, but we’re definitely sold on the idea of a Monster that sits between the 696 and 1100. The new Monster 796 is equipped with Ducati’s 803 cc engine from the Hypermotard 796. It has 87 hp and weighs just 167 kg, dry. While still the bike we know and love, the 2010 Monster 796 will have a few improvements to make it even more rider friendly.

The comfortable riding style gets new ergonomic design, making this a rider’s bike that adapts to most riding styles. It has a wet slipper clutch and the same characteristic red trellis frame. ABS is available as an optional extra. In addition to the classic Ducati Rosso red, Arctic White and Diamond Black silk colours, we also get some historic Ducati colours as an add-on in price. On the Italian market the Ducati Monster 796 will be available from the end of April at a price of about 8,990 euros.

Continue reading: 2010 Ducati Monster 796: new engine and colours

....

0 comments

This Ducati Monster in titanium has been created by Motocorse and includes both mechanical and stylistic upgrades. The Ducati Monster 1100 Titanium is a unique model with a hugely reduced weight and greater performance.

The Monster Titanium has a black tint with red finish and titanium and carbonfibre parts which reduce weight by 156 kg. It now has 102.6 hp on a bike where more than 60 standard components have been changed.

The exhaust is a titanium Motocorse Evoluzione ø54mm and the modifications to the engine now result in figures of 102.6 hp and 113 Nm, up from 95 hp and 103 Nm. The brake discs are made from composite ceramic materials and measure 320 mm. They pair with Brembo Racing calipers and titanium pistons on a Motocorse radial mount.

Forged aluminium Marchesini wheels are included, and a full set of various titanium bolts and screws, with adjustable foot pegs on their own reduce weight by 12 kg. Motocorse offer two personalisation programs: Kit One Full Upgrade or Kit Two Standard Upgrade, and will also do the paint finish and assemble the parts. For more information see the Motocorse site.

Source | Motoblog.it

....

0 comments

After yesterday’s Ducati Colour Therapy launch with their Monster Art Kit, here’s the promotional video, and it’s episode 1 so there’s more to come.

....

0 comments

Will the Ducati Streetfighter eclipse the legendary Monster? For Ducati fans, we expect the Monster will always hold a special status, and there’s still those intent on making the Monster even more exclusive.

This Monster Bayliss Replica has been created by the Ducati Metz dealership in France, in a special version dedicated to the Australian champion. The Monster Replica costs 15,900 euros and in addition to the white and red colours, is equipped with Termignoni carbon exhausts and other Performance series accessories.

Source | Motosblog

....

0 comments

While there are many reasons why you might want Angelina Jolie as a wife, one very good reason (for our TwoWheels readers) is that she gives great birthday presents. Already having given her husband one motorcycle, Jolie provides Brad Pitt with another motorcycle: this time a Ducati Monster 1100S.

Whether Brad Pitt will be able to ride all the motorcycles he has in his collection is a different issue, and now the surprise of a Ducati Monster 1100S titanium, seeing as it’s doing the rounds of the media, may not be such a surprise.

It looks like Jolie takes her husband’s role as a celebrity biker quite seriously, though Angelina doesn’t look like the kind of woman content to be just the passenger. Happy Birthday Brad Pitt…

Source | MCN and Motorbiker

....

0 comments

As we gather our news from the opening press day at Milan’s Eicma show, we give you this video (in Italian) of a road test of the Ducati Monster 1100, from the guys at MotoTV. Over the next few days we’ll be bringing you all the news and photos from the Eicma show, including a glimpse of the Ducati streetfighter, NCR novelties and much more.

....

0 comments

Whether you’re a Ducati fan or not, you have to admit that the Monster 1100 is a beautiful bike. And it’s red, which is always an indication of true Italian style. Below we give you a complete gallery of the Monser 1100 and the 1000 S.

In November, Two Wheels Blog will be doing its own road test of the Monster, so look out for that, while we give you all the technical details to dream about that next Christmas present.

Continue reading: Ducati Monster 1100 all the details and more pics

....

0 comments

On a tip from our reader, who is a passionate ducatista, we give you this patriotic Italian post-script to the Monster Day in Belgium.

If there were 405 Belgian owners of Ducati Monster models out for the Monster Day, the Italians generally go one step further, in 2005 for example, making it 998 - what a magic number!

The event was originally developed in 2003 by MaleDucati, when the owners who attended were already at 350. After the 2005 invasion, the event was held in Rimini 2007 with bad weather, though 815 Ducatisti still attended. Where else would you expect the real Ducati fan base to be but in Italy?

Thanks to Peter for the tip.

....

0 comments