Just got back from a business trip to Balogna Italy, and the company that we visited arranged a factory tour of one of the many manufacturers in the area (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Ducati, Lancia, etc...) Well, the closest one just happened to be the Ducati factory up the road (about 5 miles), and although small, still impressive. We got there about 9 in the morning to hear a wail and roar unlike any other noise I've heard in a long time. Apparently, just inside the gate they have a test bench in a building next to the old World War II era Ducati building (now abandoned). Well, just as we walked up to the gate, they were apparently doing full-throttle bench tests of one of their Desmosedici RR 989cc GP race bike. WOW! They build approximately 220 bikes a day in the high season and 100 a day during the slow season, which is pretty impressive given the level of hand assembly they do. Although I'll never trade my bike in, especially given the price tag (the GP bike is over $70,000!!!!), the beautiful red bikes are a delight to hear and gorgeous to look at, that's for sure.
