TEMPTATION

Mouth watering, high cholesterol, Italian delicacies. At a price.

£59,950 Mvagustamonza

» Some things are just right. Look at the seat unit, curvy pipes, bubble screen, colours… the Monza is simply cock-on. Developed from the 750S America, the limited-run Monza had its fourvalve, DOHC air-cooled inline four stretched out to 837cc. Cycle World tested a Monza at 144mph in 1977, making it one of the fastest production bikes in the world. It was also one of the most expensive. This example is a UK bike and has tasty period modifications, including an 860cc Magni big-bore kit, Veglia tacho and Dell’orto carbs. It’s not even covered 10,000 miles.

£25,000 Laverda600tt2

»When the world opens backup and classic racing events restart, buy this Laverda and join the parade action. These ‘parades’ are effectively trackday sessions full of gorgeous machinery, and this orange twin would be perfect. One of just two Team Cavazzin Corse Formula 600 TT2 bikes built and raced in the Italian TT2 championship in 1981-83, it drips with period cool: Geminiani frame, magnesium forks, GP caliper, unique Campagnolo wheels and more. Bet that parallel twin sounds ace at full chat through that stubby left-exit pipe.

£24,950 Ducati900ss

» A lovingly-restored 900SS might cost £50k. Despite being mint this one costs half that – because it’s a new-build, created to full 900SS frame and engine spec. So that’s new bearings all through, rebuilt forks, new shocks, alloy tank, original hubs with new rims and stainless spokes... you get the idea. Best of all, it has fresh wiring with a modern fusebox, Motogadget speedo and keyless ignition. So that’s a genuine 900SS dynamic, with modern usability – or as Made in Italy put it, ‘built to the highest standards, and built to last and blast’.

£15,900 Motoguzzi500gts

» Guzzi were known for singles way before they started making sticky-out V-twins. Made during the 1930s their 498cc, 13bhp horizontal single had an external flywheel on the left-hand side (just like a modern Motogp bike) and could be ordered with hand or foot shift for its four-speed gearbox. There were two versions: the S with rigid frame, and the GTS with a sprung rear. This bike is the latter, and was originally sold to the Ministry of the Interior in Rome on 11 January, 1937. It’s fully sorted, registered and ready to create tailbacks as you thud happily around.

£17,000 Motoguzziv7

» The ultimate trackday bike? Your blingy BMW S1000RR with slide and traction control, antiwheelie and cornering ABS is a truly wonderful thing, but we’d rather have the engagement and satisfaction of hustling something that... well, that needs hustling. This V7 race bike was campaigned in Italy through the ’90s and has loads of special bits – magnesium forks, huge Keihins and a switch on a bit of checkerplate, screwed to the top yoke. It also raced at Daytona, where it was clocked at 163mph. Just imagine bellowing past modern bikes round Donington…

£9950 Ducati 916 Biposto

» I’m as excited as anyone by a go-faster 996R or the ‘ultimate’ 916, the booming 998. Think back to 1994, however, and the slender red Ducatis that made such an impact. They weren’t Öhlins-shod Rs or limited-run exotica dripping in carbon; they were the regular twinseat 916 Biposto. Like this one. Having only done just over 11,000 miles it’s been fitted with the aluminium subframe and single seat from a racier model, but the original rear-end and pillion ’pegs are included. New belts, too. Not all beauties are big money.