Is Ducati expanding into the bruiser cruiser market? Is the Italian motorcycle manufacturer really looking to compete with Star Motorcycles’ V-Max and Harley-Davidson’s V-Rod and Muscle? I say, bring it on. Usually it’s the other guys in the office that snag invites to the Ducati intros. But the Ducati Vyper just might fall into the power cruiser category, which means maybe I’ll get a chance to ride it if it the new Ducati Vyper is more than just a rumor.

Italian motorsports publication Motociclismo posted pictures of the hybrid streetfighter/dragster this past weekend. Though it was reported that Ducati is denying the Vyper’s existence, Ducati said the same thing about the Streetfighter a year ago, while today Motorcycle USA.com’s Road Test Editor Adam Waheed is in Spain preparing to ride the Streetfighter at the Ascari racetrack. And Claudio Domenicali said that the Company was looking to branch out into segments that the Italian marquee doesn’t compete in yet. Is the musclebike category Ducati’s new frontier?

It’s reported the Vyper will feature a stroked version of the company’s Testastretta engine in a V-configuration. The liquid-cooled 1400cc engine is said to put out in the range of 170 hp. It will feature Ducati’s signature steel trellis frame and its tank and tail section will be angular and aggressive, similar to the styling on the Streetfighter. The Vyper’s backside is highlighted by a meaty 240mm tire on the rear mounted to an aluminum swingarm. Dual exhausts run along the lower right side.

Motociclismo reports that we could see the Ducati Vyper reach showrooms by 2010. I know we just finished pitting the 2009 Suzuki B-King against the 2009 Star Motorcycles VMax. Maybe next year we can throw in the Harley-Davidson Muscle and the Ducati Vyper and see which one of these muscle bikes is the ‘King of the Quarter-Mile.’