Er , didn't everybody? Thrupenny bungers under metal buckets would go 40feet in the air. And cracker guns full of nails and snails to pummel the garden gnomes, yes those were the days.
I don't quite understand what you are saying about Italian Motorcycles though. Victim? Que? I now ride a Ducati ST3 which is the most beautiful fast well handling bit of machinery I ever piloted.
For masochism I also have an old Trumpy TR7RV , not really old, 1973, just nicely old. A lovely thing in it's own write as it were.
One of the nicest exhaust sound I have heard was a 900(?) Ducati (late 70's early 80" with Contiki(?) pipes ).