Italian Twins Face Off

We're a lot like you out there in cyberspace. We have lustful, nearly immoral thoughts about motorcycles. And few things turn our crank harder than exotic sportbikes, even more so when they're bred in the region of Northern Italy.

If you've ever been to Italy, then you understand the fervor there for mechanical entities with soul. From Ferrari and Lamborghini to Moto Guzzi and Laverda, Italian vehicles exude a "soul" perhaps more clearly than machines from other parts of the globe.

That same passionate soul is shared by Ducati and Aprilia, separated by a day-ride blast up the Autostrada from Bologna (Ducati) to Noale (Aprilia) near Venice. Both companies have flourished by tapping into the Italian passion for racing.

The biggest problem with the Italian bikes is finding the money to afford the throbbing V-Twins in sexy clothes. Well, we don't have the 17-large entry fee, but we do have access to test bikes. We've wrangled the hottest sportbike from Bologna, the $17,695 Ducati 998, and the coolest race-rep from Noale, the $17,299 R-version of Aprilia's RSV Mille, for your reading and viewing pleasure. Feel for us, dear readers, as we were forced to flog these streetable Superbikes in the canyons, on the freeways, commuting around town and on the racetrack in the battle for high-end sportbike supremacy.

Here's Looking At You

Unlike cruiser riders, sportbike fans care only about performance and don't care a whit about the appearance of their bike, right? Well, despite what most of us might say publicly, how a bike looks is a major factor in a sportbike purchaser's decision.

The problem with comparing the aesthetics of a machine, though, is that it can be judged only subjectively the eye of the beholder, and all that. Regardless, we'll point out some of the stylistic successes and failures in each design. Although the general public won't be able to distinguish your new 998 from an eight-year-old 916, the Ducati still looks fresh. Bystanders regularly locked their eyes on the 998 when traveling with the Mille, and these are people whose brains aren't sucked into the whole Ducati legend, either. It's easy to admire the graceful simplicity of its enduringly sexy styling. From the low, angular cut of its nose to its wonderfully exposed Marchesini rear wheel thanks to its single-side swingarm, even casual observers know they've seen something special and exotic.

Which is not to say the Mille is a styling dog. It is blessed with a beautiful aluminum perimeter frame and what surely must be the most gorgeous double-sided swingarm in the biz, with shiny alloy snaking almost liquidly to the back axle. And in the cockpit, the Mille's gauge panel looks almost aircraft-like, what with its comprehensive digital displays (except, thankfully, for its easy-to-read analog tach) that offer all the information you could want, including a lap timer function! Try finding that on a bike not built in Italy. And if seen at night, the sinister looking, blood-red backlighting on the gauges usually causes oohs and ahhs. Those more knowledgeable about machinery often stoop down to their knees to check out the trick eccentrically-adjustable shifter and rear brake nubs attached to lovingly relieved levers.

Compared to the 998, however, the Mille's styling, though voluptuous, is just a little too busy for us, and its slathering of decals somewhat cheapens its appearance. Your mileage may vary. And even though Claudia Schiffer may be at the top of your list, that doesn't mean you'd turn down a date with Heidi Klum. Both of these bikes are supermodels in their own right.

Power from both bikes is more than adequate on the street, with the readily available thrust from the torquey V-Twins allowing a rider to get on the gas early, squirting out past the apex with controllable urgency, an oxymoron for some sportbikes. Despite the higher-revving nature of the new Testastretta powerplant, the Ducati has a big boost in midrange power compared to the 996. That bulging midrange combined with its surging top-end makes it feel like it has a big-bore kit next to last year's model. The Mille's relative power deficiency, though still strong and meaty, is offset by its more street-oriented gearing.

As a side note, we were surprised by the discrepancy between the speedometers of the two bikes. When the 998's analog speedo was reading 80 mph, the Mille had 71 mph showing on its digital display. At the next gas stop, the Duc had 57 miles on its odo while just 54.2 were on the Aprilia, a pattern that would repeat itself later, with 85/80.6 readings, respectively. With no radar guns pointed at us (thankfully), we can't confirm which bike has the accurate numbers.

Other details: The mirrors on the Aprilia have a small adjustment range, but are easily superior to the tiny and barely adjustable reflectors on the 998. The biposto 998 we tested has passenger accommodations, but the hard pillion seat with high pegs is for short trips only. The Mille R comes with a tail seat hump where the passenger seat would be, so you'll have to leave your friend at home.

Perhaps the Mille's most obvious distraction is the placement of its turn signal switch. It's placed lower than typical, making a rider look foolish by occasionally honking the horn when trying to signal a lane change.