Sometimes a bike comes along that makes no sense whatsoever, but you just feel the need to own it. The provenance for most of these whims is Italy, because it’s the home of some of the most gorgeous creations ever made. The only problem with these trinkets is, however, that most of the time making them was spent in getting them to look nice – getting them to work in an everyday environment is another thing altogether.
Want one? Why wouldn’t you – apart from the obvious reasons...
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But for whatever reason, the allure of these bikes is too much and we think about spending money we haven’t got for the pleasure of owning a rare Italian machine. Now, these come in many forms what with manufacturers springing up all over Italy over the last 50 years. Modern motorcycle economics have culled these centres of artisanal excellence somewhat, and most of the famous names have now gone belly up. Ducati, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and MV have stood the test of time, but these were always the strongest of the bunch. The likes of Bimota, Cagiva and Benelli have had a much tougher time – but that’s not to say that their output is unworthy – far from it.