“Compared to Ducati’s majestic MotoGP-replica tool, everything else on two wheels is, frankly, just a bit soft.” – visordown.com, March, 2010

Pro Italia now has available the last brand-new, un-registered Ducati Desmosedici RR Superbike available from Ducati North America; it is the last new Desmo west of the Mississippi and south of the Great White North. We have this bike available right now as part of our Last Desmo Offer. What you’ll get:

Desmo #1004 in the team livery
titanium engine bolt kit
titanium frame bolt kit (over a $3300.00 value for both kits)
set of VIP paddock passes, parking and hospitality suite tickets to the 2010 Moto GP at Laguna Seca

Price: $72,495 including all the extras and the titanium bits installed. In addition, and separately, we have for sale a spare set of wheels for a Desmo. The total count of all available new Desmos in North America is a mere 8 including ours. The others are located at these fine Ducatisti:

Battley Cycles, Gaithersburg, MD
Gold Coast Motorsports, New Hyde Park, NY
Duc Pond Motorsports, Winchester, VA
Ducati de Puerto Rico, Carolina, PR
Giant Motorsports, Chicago, IL
TT Motorcycles, Clinton Township, MN
Southwest Motorrad, Kelowna, BC, Canada

Since selling the very first Desmo in the US (to much fanfair in February 2008, hours before Maverick got his) we’re excited to have available one of the last. We continue to service many Desmosedicis. When owners want the best they leave their bikes in the care of our shop chief/3rd level Ducati wizard Marc Maidens. We’ll work to add you and #1004 to our list of clients. Contact our Sales team for information on purchasing this ultimate Italian superbike.

“Writing about the Multistrada 1200 S is challenging, because of all the technology, the features, all the ability of the bike that can be summoned up at the click of the button. But riding the Multistrada is easy. You settle in, forget about the abbreviations, DTC, DES, ABS, RBW, TTX, and the number 11, and connect with this bike. It’s truly a special motorcycle, from a company that often produces very special motorcycles. But what is unexpected is how livable, how practical the Multistrada is; no aching wrists, no sore neck, fillings safe in your teeth.”

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Angeles Crest will remain closed until sometime this summer due to road repairs between the bottom and the Palmdale turnoff.

You can get to Newcomb’s by taking the 210 freeway exiting at Sunland Blvd and heading east 2 miles to the Jack in the Box and turning north on Oro Vista which becomes Big Tujunga.

The first part of Big Tujunga is very bumpy for about 1/4 mile with some damp patches. Continue on Big Tujunga to the Angeles Forest Highway and turn left. After you pass through the tunnel the road narrows to one lane just before where Hidden Springs Cafe used to be.

When you reach Upper Big Tujunga (9 mile) turn right. The road is clear all the way to Angeles Crest where you will turn left. The shady section about 3 miles ahead is damp and icy early in the morning so head up after 9 or 10am.

Newcomb’s is now open limited hours, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for now.

“The 2010 Multistrada 1200 S is arguably the most important Ducati introduced since the 916, a game changer not only for the Bolognese manufacturer, but indeed for every company producing motorcycles today.”

The article is being broken up into three parts – be sure to check back at Soup for parts two and three.

“I’ll be adding more Multistrada features in the next few days, but as far as the riding experience is concerned – the most important aspect after all – this bike absolutely rocks. It’s searingly fast, laden with torque, handles superbly, the electronics not only work they’re extremely useful, it’s comfortable, characterful, beautifully made, and one of the most exciting motorcycles you can buy. If you’ve placed an order already…lucky you!“

We are, naturally, taking deposits for the new Multi. Call them boys in Sales to save your place in line.

Moto Guzzi, one of the brands owned by Piaggio and Co. SpA, was established in Mandello del Lario, Italy in 1921. As an anonymous wikipedian wrote: “Similar to Harley-Davidson and other storied motorcycle manufacturers that have survived for decades, Moto Guzzi has experienced a series of business cycles and a series of ownership arrangements – some complex, some brief, some that have endured. “

The early days of Moto Guzzi featured a horizontal single; the early days meaning the first 40+ years of the companies existance. The company competed on the world stage and garnered 5 consecutive 350cc world titles in the mid-fifties.

The mid-sixties to early-seventies saw Guzzi in financial trouble as well as develop the engine configuration that has become symbolic of the company; the 90 degree V-twin with longitudinal crankshaft with the cylinder heads protruding on either side of the bike. This engine was designed by Guilio Cesare Carcano, a Guzzi legend. A 750cc version of this motor was used for the original V7 Sport that the company pays homage to with the V7 Classic.

Through continued ownerships Guzzi still was able to create the 850 Le Mans – a highly regarded masterpiece from 1976. Five versions, or Marks (Mk II, Mk III…) have been created over the years – whether patina’ed road warriors or mint rebuilds, Le Mans’ never fail to draw a crowd. Created around the same time was the Tonti frame. Named after the engineer Lino Tonti, “the Tonti Frame represented a significant breakthrough for Moto Guzzi, giving the company a new and up-to-date structural backbone for its cycles beginning with the famed V7 Sport of 1971. Tonti designed the frame with racing in mind, with the goals of mass centralization, lighter weight and compactness. The frame is especially light and strong, and remains in use to this day in modified form in the small block Breva 750 and Nevada Classic and in the big block California. The design contrasted sharply with competitors’ frame designs at the time of its introduction; many motorcycles were noted for their “hinge in the middle” feel. Notably, the frame tilts the engine slightly rearward.”

Continuing to build intriguing motorcycles even through yet more choppy financial seas, Moto Guzzi was bought by Aprilia and then finally the whole kit-and-kaboodle was absorbed into Piaggio. For you this means that these days availability of parts and bikes is better than it has ever been. Pro Italia is now getting parts and accessories from Aprilia and Moto Guzzi at least as well as from Ducati. The days of not being able to order oil filters and/or replacement mirrors are behind us.

Want to start driving yourself mad with Guzzi lust? Simply wander around the internet looking at some of these bikes. Like other Italian bikes with so much heritage you’ll find drool-worthy bikes from home-made customs, Japanese made racers, restored beauties to futuristic show bikes and articles about heritage.