November 23, 2004
Road Test: Ducati 999R
"It accelerates to 90 miles per hour—in first gear," said Ducati's rep as he handed me the key. I decided I'd take his word for it rather than attempt my own Evel Knievel tribute on the streets of Manhattan and upstate New York.
Even so, this thing should come with a fuse. I barely had to touch the throttle before I was already at the speed limit. There's a good reason: the 999R features the most powerful street-legal engine Ducati has available. It's matched by a chain-saw roar and flawless handling.