Italian motorcycles are globally renowned for their superb performance metrics, aesthetic perfection, and innovative and elegant designs. Italians have always oozed an exotic touch of class and finesse that trickles down from a rich heritage religiously passed down through generations. For this reason, it is damn near impossible to replicate or replace Italian culture and its impact on the motorcycle industry.

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Marque brands such as Ducati, MV Agusta, Benelli, Piaggio, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, and Vespa have held the Italian banner high, delivering some of the most incredible motorcycle models the world has ever seen. Although countless classic Italian bikes slipped through the cracks of success, a few great models have enjoyed the limelight to date. Here are some of the most iconic Italian motorcycles ever made.

10  The Laverda 750 SFC

The Laverda 750 SFC
Via classicdriver.com

For all their great looks, Italian bikes have always lagged behind American motorcycles in terms of capacity. The 1960s US market was dominated by large capacity bikes capable of covering distance with ease, and Laverda had this in mind when building the Laverda 750 SFC.

The Laverda 750 SFC
Via youtube.com

Laverda relied on their experience in farm machinery manufacturing to build an indestructible bike that was fast and tireless at the same time. Fitted with a four-stroke 744cc SOHC parallel-twin engine, the Laverda 750 SFC made its iconic statement with numerous racing accolades and titles in its debut year. The bike was rated the ultimate 1970s endurance racer, although Laverda ended up making just 550 units.

9 The Ducati 916 SPS

The Ducati 916 SPS
Via raresportbikesforsale.com

When Ducati released the 916 SPS model, the company was able to homologate a new engine in preparation for the Superbike competition. Stress fractures and cracking problems hampered the base 916 models under racing conditions; therefore, the 916 SPS models arrived under great expectations.

Red 916 SPS parked
Ducati

Using their experience in racing Desmoquattros, Ducati upgraded the crankcase, camshaft, engine heads, and barrels for the 916 SPS. The light cranks and rods in this model allowed for faster revs that made it the best Ducati in the market. Although the 916 SPS was a nightmare to ride in slow traffic, its thundering power delivery and snappy torque were undeniably above par.

8 The MV Agusta F4CC

The MV Agusta F4CC
Via raresportbikesforsale.com

Following the abysmal bike sales in the late 90s, the Agusta F4 series was solely responsible for resurrecting the MV Agusta brand. The MV Agusta F4CC stood out in the F4 bike series since it was Claudio Castiglioni's brainchild. The bike received the managing director's CC initials and benefitted from the latest technology and exclusive materials available at the time.

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The MV Agusta F4CC
Via raresportbikesforsale.com

Fitted with a 1078cc engine, the Agusta F4CC managed a stunning 200bhp at 12,200rpm. The bike featured extensive carbon-fiber use, Sachs rear shock absorber, Brembo brakes, Brembo Y-spoke wheels, and magnesium swinging arm and frame plates. Since MV Agusta planned for only 100 F4CC units, the bikes demanded a hefty $120,000 price tag that included a special Trussardi leather jacket and a numbered Girard-Perregaux watch.

7 The Cagiva V589

The Cagiva V589
Via classicdriver.com

Italian racing bikes never fail to make a good impression, evidenced by the stunning Cagiva V589 model. Cagiva designed the V589 for the Grand Prix motorcycle races in the 1980s, boasting an innovative Massimo Tamburini one-piece bodywork and banana swingarm.

The Cagiva V589
Via dhrofgo.com

The Cagiva V589 featured carbon wheels, Michelin tires, Brembo brakes, Ohlins suspension, and Plexiglas on the front fairing. The bike relied on a liquid-cooled two-stroke 498cc four-cylinder V4 engine fitted with contra-rotating twin crankshafts. The engine was capable of 150bhp, enough power to propel the Cagiva V589 to a 190mph top speed.

6 The Original Ducati Scrambler

The Original Ducati Scrambler
Via rideapart.com

Although motorcycle enthusiasts today are familiar with the Ducati Scrambler nameplate, the original Berliner-inspired Scrambler earns itself an iconic spot compared to its 2015 V-Twin counterpart. The original Ducati Scrambler mainly targeted the American market in the 1960s, although its practical features also increased its popularity in Europe.

The Original Ducati Scrambler
Via mecum.com

This Scrambler model boasted a classic styling with a sat-up sitting position, low center of gravity, and attractively bright colors. Throughout their production run, all the original Ducati Scrambler series bikes featured a narrow case 250cc engine. Ducati introduced a 450cc engine variant in 1969 and sold it as the Jupiter in the US market.

5 The Moto Guzzi V7

The Moto Guzzi V7
Via motorbiscuit.com

In the early 1960s, car mass-production was gaining more success than ever before at the motorcycle market's expense. Moto Guzzi responded to the slowdown by venturing into new markets, a decision that yielded Giulio Carcano's impressive twin-cylinder V7 engine.

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The Moto Guzzi V7
Via revivalcycles.com

Although Moto Guzzi initially used the V7 for the policy-oriented V7 700 model, the engine also featured in the V7 Special, V7 Ambassador, V7 California, and the popular V7 Sport variants. The Sport version made an iconic mark for the V7 series with impressive results in the Le Mans and Liege 24 Hour endurance races. Arguably, Moto Guzzi's V7 is highly ranked among the most famous 1970s Italian sports bikes.

4 Moto Guzzi V8

Moto Guzzi V8
Via pinterest.com

By the mid-1950s, Moto Guzzi had already marveled the motorcycle world with its engineering prowess. However, the company made a historical engineering milestone with the Moto Guzzi V8, designed by Giulio Cesare Carcano. Dubbed the Otto motorcycle, the Moto Guzzi V8 served the Moto Guzzi Grand Prix racing team between 1955 and 1957.

Moto Guzzi V8
Via pinterest.com

Moto Guzzi pushed engineering boundaries with the water-cooled four-stroke 500cc DOHC V8 with 8 Dell'Orto carburetors, capable of 78bhp at 12,000rpm. The bike achieved an unprecedented top speed of 172mph, a record that stood for close to 20 years. Although technical issues eventually forced Moto Guzzi to pull the bike from competitive racing, it remains an iconic Italian model that is unmatched to date.

3 The Bimota DB7

The Bimota DB7
Via robbreport.com

Bimota manufactured the DB7 intending to produce a powerful, light, and superior motorcycle that retained Bimota's attitude and style. The DB7 came with an elegantly crafted rolling chassis, boasting power from a 1098cc V-twin Ducati Testastretta motor that delivered 160bhp and 90ftlb of torque.

The Bimota DB7
Via pinterest.com

The motor was completed by an exhaust system designed by Bimota and fitted with a titanium silencer to comply with Euro3 emission standards. The iconic DB7 is distinguished by its premium carbon fiber body laced with Bimota's white, black, and red team colors. The bike's lightweight carbon fiber body enhanced its aerodynamics, making it sleek with exceptional handling.

2 The Aprilia RSV4 FW

The Aprilia RSV4 FW
Via piaggiogroup.com

The RSV4 FW was part of Aprilia's "Factory Works" program, a marketing program that offered Aprilia customers utmost attention with premium services only a few could afford. Aprilia fitted the RSV4 FW with a V4 engine derived from its 2015 World Championship winning racing bike, the RS-GP 15.

The Aprilia RSV4 FW
Via piaggiogroup.com

The Aprilia RSV4 FW featured an adjustable Ohlins Racing front fork, a lithium battery, fully programmable ignition, Akrapovic titanium exhaust, and Brembo brakes. The bike remains one of the few iconic models where owners discussed directly with factory engineers on the bike's setup and configuration.

1 The Ducati Desmosedici RR

The Ducati Desmosedici RR
Via wikipedia.org

As far as iconic Ducati models are concerned, the Desmosedici RR overshadows numerous models. Ducati designed the limited production Desmosedici RR as the road-legal variant to the Desmosedici MotoGP racing bike. Turning a track-only machine into a road-worthy one is difficult; therefore, Ducati blew away many enthusiasts and fans with the homologation special.

The Ducati Desmosedici RR.
Via bike-urious.com

The Ducati Desmosedici RR packs a 989cc Desmodromic V4 that churns out 197.3bhp and 85lb-ft maximum torque. The bike boasts a hybrid tubular steel chassis with a carbon fiber bodywork and subframe, forged magnesium wheels, and Ohlins suspension. Although it was lauded as the first serious race replica bike, the Desmosedici is also iconic for its standard racing kit.

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