The Multistrada is a new branch in the Ducati tree, and one that it sees as critical to expanding its appeal to a larger demographic. Underlining the importance of the new (motorcycle) to the Italian manufacture was the appearance of Ducati's top dog at the press introduction. It was the first time in my six-year motojournalism career that the head of a foreign manufacturer has traveled overseas for a press launch.

On paper, this factory supermotard doesn't measure up. It weighs as much as Yamaha's R1 with less than a third of the power. A seemingly weedy 48-hp Single pulling 381 lbs. (dry weight) of motorcycle around is never going to set the world on fire. But the XT660X sparks enthusiasm after just a few minutes in the saddle. It's all to do with the fun factor and being able to ride at full throttle anywhere.

The engines appetite for revs means it is most happy with more than 5,000rpm on the tacho, just as the cams really start to reach into their sweet spot. That is not to say there is nothing below this mark as that is certainly not the case. The 749 pulls reasonably well with only 3,000rpm on the tacho and the remarkably fine Marelli fuel injection system that is now synonymous with Ducati ensures that there is no complaints from the engine when lugging around on city streets. Ducati twins are now smoother and more refined in the lower parts of the rev range than any similar capacity Japanese twins.

In talented hands, any new Japanese 600 super-sport is faster around a racetrack. Everybody else who's willing to admit they're actually not Aaron Yates will have more fun on the Speed Four.

Despite all the common mechanical DNA, it's also a lot more fun than a TT600, and much better at being a Triumph. What it's not, at $7499, is particularly inexpensive. If naked British chic is your deal, the good news is a Speed Four costs $3000 less than a Speed Triple.

Our trio is in varying states of model life with the Honda RC51 likely making its final appearance on the showroom floor in 2004. The Aprilia Mille that arrived in the Superbike world in 1999 has been thoroughly reworked for 2004, and our final participant, the 999, is in its second year of production and is poised to carve out a niche in the heart of Ducatisti.

The Virago is a kick-butt little cruiser, designed and styled to fulfill its particular special mission. Sporting nice metallic paint, cool forward controls and wide handlebars, riding the Virago certainly didn't look any different from riding any other cruiser, except that it is a bit smaller (and therefore a fraction of the weight). For the rider, though, the real pleasure started at the right wrist with the best power delivery and most sensitive throttle control of the group, by far. The 249cc air-cooled V-twin packed about as much torque as possible into those two little lungs and twisting the grip resulted in a pleasantly smooth and insistent tug while floating along on the soft but capable suspension.

With single cylinder machines, large capacity boxer twins and four-cylinder machines already well established in the BMW range, the latest engine configuration to roll out of the Munich factory is an all new parallel twin dubbed the F 800.

The Bombardier-Rotax built 798cc engine provides good drive from 3000rpm right through to the 9000rpm redline. Unusually for a twin, the engine is also extremely smooth with very little of the shudders and shakes common to large capacity twins.

The EV Touring isn't going to set any records for mechanical perfection or objective motorcycle performance, but it has a certain attractiveness or charm that stems from its design and performance, nonetheless. It is also a machine that has a devoted, and even fanatical, following.