Ducati's CFO mentions a Ducati/Harley-Davidson merger in a recent Financial Times article.

It won't be the first time rumors have placed the two motorcycle firms getting together. Both companies have a lot in common, even though most of their product offerings pursue different market segments.

Harley's current "performance" brand is Buell.

It wouldn't be the first time H-D lined up with the Itailians. In 1960, Harley began a business arrangement with Aermacchi.