Ducati999r

I admit to being biased towards Ducati’s 749 and 999, but can hand-on-heart say the 999R stands out as perhaps the greatest road-going sportsbike I’ve ever ridden. Loads of power, but not so much as to overwhelm. A chassis that encourages smooth, flowing pace. The plushest, most luxurious Öhlins suspension ever. And carbon bodywork that lets the bike slide along on its side when you fall off on a magazine shoot (oops). This 2005 model has only done 7000 miles, and when my numbers come up it’ll make its way to my leaky garage.