A New Buyer Has Emerged

Harley-Davidson enters race to buy rival Ducati

LONDON - U.S. motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson is lining up a takeover bid for Italian rival Ducati, potentially bringing together two of the most famous names in motorcycling in a deal that could be worth up to $1.7 billion, sources say.

Indian motorcycle maker Bajaj Auto and several buyout funds are also preparing bids for Ducati, which is being put up for sale by German carmaker Volkswagen.

A deal with Harley-Davidson would bring together the maker of touring bikes like the Electra Glide that are symbolic of America with a leading European maker whose high-performance bikes have a distinguished racing heritage.

Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson has hired Goldman Sachs to work on the deal, one source familiar with the matter said, adding tentative bids are expected in July.

(AutoBlog.com) 

A Great Piece Of Machinery For An Anniversary Celebration

Ducati 1299 Panigale S Anniversario Edition celebrates 90 years

This year marks Ducati's 90th anniversary. To celebrate, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer created this special-edition 1299 Panigale S Anniversario. Based on one of Ducati's most potent motorcycles, the special edition is littered with a host of upgrades that make it more memorable. For starters, there's the red, white, and black livery that's accented by gold wheels, which is inspired by the manufacturer's racing team. Thanks to steering-head inserts that are machined from aluminum and a new top triple clamp, the S Anniversario has the same chassis geometry as the Panigale R.

The upgrades don't stop there. The special edition is also equipped with an Akrapovič titanium exhaust and billet aluminum mirror blockoff plates. Carbon fiber heel guards, shock-absorber cover, and rear mudguard help cut roughly six pounds off the bike's weight. The motorcycle will use a new version of Ducati's Traction Control system – dubbed DTC EVO - that allows riders to drift without crashing. Ducati has also fitted the bike with its extensive lineup of electronic aids, which include Bosch Cornering ABS, Ducati Electronic Suspension, Öhlins Smart EC, and Ducati Wheelie Control.

Power still comes from the 1,285cc, 205-horsepower V-twin found in the 1299 Panigale

(AutoBlog.com) 

Beauty & Pain Is In The Eye Of Beholder

The Ballad of Ducati Ownership

The troublemaker Ducatis I’m referring to are the now-affordable and forever gorgeous 916 era bikes. This includes the 916, 748, 996, and in some cases the 998. These are the machines that really nailed down the high-maintenance and expensive-to-operate Italian motorcycle mentality. But oh, are they ever beautiful.

(Jalopnik.com)