1997 Ducati 750 Monster

The 1997 Ducati 750 Monster motorcycle drew lessons from the past to set a standard for the future

The 1997 Ducati 750 Monster was part of a trend in motorcycle design toward minimalism. See more motorcycle pictures.

While a swoopy, full-coverage fairing was a defining necessity for any self-respecting sportbike of the 1990s, a new breed of performance machine was beginning to bloom.

Stripped of all non-essentials, bikes like Ducati's Monster were starting a new trend toward minimalist motorcycles.

On the Monster, there's nothing to shroud the tubular trellis frame
or V-twin engine. As opposed to Ducati's race-inspired sportbikes that carried exotic four-valve, water-cooled V-twins, the Monster came with a less-sophisticated air-cooled, two-valve engine, though it still sported the company's signature desmodromic valve actuation.

The machine's simplistic nature meant even a tachometer was superfluous, but the approach resulted in a feather-light curb weight of just 390 pounds.

As a result, the Monster followed a formula that proved so successful with American muscle cars of the 1960s: light weight, powerful engine, basic amenities, low price. Introduced in 1993 with a 900-cc V-twin, smaller 750- and 600-cc Monsters followed, though the last wasn't sold in the United States until recently.

On the next page are more pictures of the 1997 Ducati 750 Monster.

1954 Harley-Davidson FL Hydra-Glide

The Harley-Davidson company celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special edition Anniversary Yellow 1954 Harley-Davidson FL Hydra-Glide motorcycle that featured a special medallion on its front fender and a new trumpet-style horn.

The 1954 Harley-Davidson FL Hydra-Glide motorcycles accounted for nearly half of all Harleys sold in 1954.

With the demise of Indian in 1953, Harley-Davidson entered the 1954 model year as the sole surviving American motorcycle manufacturer. While that might seem like a cause for celebration in Harley's Milwaukee hometown, the truth was that Harley's fortunes were in doubt as well, since bikes from across the pond -- particularly England -- were becoming as much a threat as Indian ever was.

What Harley-Davidson did celebrate that year was its 50th anniversary. Why this didn't take place the year before (the company having been founded in 1903) is a mystery, but all the 1954 models wore special medallions on their front fenders to commemorate the occasion.

The Anniversary Yellow Harley-Davidson FL Hydra-Glide pictured in this article sports the hand-clutch/foot-shift arrangement introduced in 1952, though traditionalists -- and police departments -- could still order one with hand shift.

Many preferred the older setup because the bike could be left running with the transmission in gear and the clutch disengaged thanks to the "rocking" clutch pedal.

In addition to the commemorative front fender badge, the 50th anniversary 1954 Harley-Davidson FL Hydra-Glide motorcycles were shown with a new trumpet-style horn.

Our picture subject is fitted with the optional color-matched hand grips and kick-start pedal. Two-tone paint (with the tank and fenders in different colors) was also optional.

The 1954 Harley-Davidson FL Hydra-Glide models accounted for nearly half of all Harleys sold in 1954. Total sales were down from the previous year, and wouldn't rebound until 1957, when the import-fighting Sportster was introduced.

Go to the next page to see more 1954 Harley-Davidson FL Hydra-Glide pictures.