Italian motorcycle brands
Italian motorcycles are known throughout the world for their incredible performance and great personalities. Which ones are the best? If you have no previous experience with Italian motorcycles, how do you know which ones are the best? This is a common question and we’re here to answer it with our collection of the top ten best Italian motorcycles of all time.
10. The Laverda 750 SFC
This Italian beauty has earned the distinction of becoming the first factory rider with a massive 744cc parallel-twin engine making 75 horsepower. He became an icon in the early 1970s, highly respected as a 24-hour endurance runner who could take on the competition without falling behind. He held his own against the Japanese and British bikes and was bold enough to take on the Ducati 750 Super Sport and the MV Agusta 750S. It took a few years of evolution, but the Laverda 750 SFC became a reality and won its fair share of titles across Europe. This example is a rare collector’s item, as it is one of 55 from the third SFC series.
9. The Cagiva V589
The Cavagna V589 burst onto the scene in the late 1980s and emerged as a legend as the bike of choice for Randy Mamola who secured a podium win. The two-stroke is powered by a liquid-cooled 498cc V4 engine that produces 150 horsepower and has a top speed of 190 mph. The super cool racer is the design of the great Massimo Tamburini and is a highly desired motorcycle for those who are aware of its prowess.
8. The MV Agusta F4CC/ An Italian motorcycle brands
The MV Augsta F4CC is a member of the exclusive Italian motorcycle family that saw fit to release a CC at the end of its title, along with additions that took it to the next level from an already good place. This bike is the definitive member of the family with a retuned 1078cc engine, magnesium fittings and titanium materials on the internals. There are quite a few hand-machined components. This beast boasts 200 horsepower with a hat tip for its 4-cylinder, 16-valve engine.
7. The Ducati 916 SPS/ Famous Italian motorcycles
Ducati is a name that speaks for itself, but the 916 SPS of the 1990s achieved bragging successes in the World Superbike championship. Not only was it done with precise power, it was done with a cool aesthetic that looked more like art in motion to the trained eye. The SP variants performed very well, but the SPS outperformed them all. What moved this beast down the road? An eight-valve Desmo 916 engine with a serious internal component reshuffling that gave an extra boost to 134 horsepower with larger valves, a lighter crankshaft and a new full carbon exhaust system. This was not all, but it is enough to start. It’s a curvy, sexy speed machine that comes at a price that isn’t often mentioned, because if you have to ask,
6. The Ducati Scrambler (Original)
The Ducati Scrambler was never the best bike produced by the brand, but its value lies in its iconic status. 1962 rolled off the production lines with a variety of engine sizes ranging from 125cc to 450cc. You can tell the original from the second generation because it has a narrower motor housing, but not much else has changed. Ducati presented its new improved version of the Scrambler in 2014 at the Intermot fair in Germany. Years after its original production, the world saw a resurgence of interest in the Scrambler.
5. Moto Guzzi V8/ An Italian motorcycle brand
The 1955 Moto Guzzi V8 is a 1950s road racer that features a 500cc water-cooled engine with four overhead camshafts and eight small carburettors. It makes 78 horsepower and has a top speed of 175 mph, which was a high figure for the time. This iconic motorcycle is one of Italy’s most memorable and desired machines, ranking fifth on our top ten list.
4. The Moto Guzzi V7
Two in a row for the best Italian motorcycles, in fourth place, is the Moto Guzzi V7 III. The brand evolved from a simpler design to employing the use of wind tunnels to improve its special aerodynamic racing technology. Another evolution occurred with new ownership in the 1960s that brought the air-cooled V-twin into a 700cc that featured a longitudinal crankshaft in the creation of the Moto Guzzi V7.
3. The Bimota DB7/ Another Italian motorcycle brand
Of all the Bimota models we could have chosen, all worthy of inclusion, the DB7 is the best dog in the family. This model is a conglomerate of the best components inspired by other models with a 160-horsepower Ducati Testastretta 1098 engine and mounted on a carbon fibre frame. They gave it a fiery Italian temperament and over-the-top aesthetics, making it the third greatest motorcycle of all time.
2. The Ducati Desmosedici RR/ Italian motorcycle brands
The Desmosedici RR is the second-best Italian motorcycle of all time. It comes with a price tag of $72,000 and is worth every penny for collectors who highly value 200 horsepower from a 989cc V4 with a top speed of 188 mph. It is the right bike for a world-class motorcycle racer. The Desmosedici RR is packed with state-of-the-art technology as a replica motorcycle and has been produced on a limited edition, low production volume basis, making it a rare find highly desired by serious enthusiasts and collectors alike.
1. The Aprilia RSV4 FW/ The best Italian motorcycle in the world
The best Italian motorcycle of all time is the Aprilia RSV4 FW. If you have the choice between all the contenders on this list, it’s a safe bet that this would be the pick for most. This special model rolled off the production lines for the first time in 2009 and became Aprilia’s first production motorcycle in a four-cylinder. The first edition was built with a 178-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, which was good at the time, but more recent models give it a whopping 201 horsepower with 85 pound-feet of torque at peak, and climax at top speeds of 180 mph give or take.