Road test: 2004 BMW Rockster vs. Moto Guzzi Ballabio

Both the Rockster and Ballabio facing off in this shootout can be lumped into the nakedbike category. They aren’t stripped down sportbikes, but rather are standards that have been modified to look more menacing than their performance would seem to allow.

Despite their apparent dissimilarities, the Italian Guzzi and the German BMW share many of the same qualities. Both use non-overhead-cam, air-cooled twin-cylinder motors mounted across the frame making around 75 horsepower, and both are quirky shaft-driven European machines with the same 120/70-17 and 180/55-17 tires. Each can be purchased for about $11,000.