Ducati SPORTCLASSIC reviews

This bike is certainly a fine looking bike, different from almost everything else on the road. Out of the box it is a good bike, but with some improvements it becomes a great bike. I added Termignoni pipes and the bike suddenly sounds fabulous and has some extra hp. I replace the shocks with Ohlins and now the bike gobbles up the road with aplomb. It is a blast to ride; you can spend all day on it comfortably, or take it to the track. It's very versatile, has a wonderful engine and great brakes. It's so much fun. I am sorry Ducati cut the line for 2011. If you can pick up one of these bikes used, I'd recommend it for anyone interested in an all-around performer. It's very reliable, also, I might add. Show less

I absolutely love this bike. Styling-wise, the GT is a perfect balance between having a retro vibe but with modern handling and performance. The lines are Italian sexy, eye-catching, and just plain unique. It's a head turner I get a lot of compliments on, and it's the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden. The torquey acceleration is a blast and the braking is silky and confident. Handles like a dream too. I love the bike's dual personality. Up to around 3500 rpm you really feel the strong thumping pull through the bars, the seat, and the pegs - just like a big torquey twin should feel. Above 3500 rpms or so it smooths out nicely, yet not so much where you don't feel connected to the road like you can on a 4 cylinder shaftie. If you like retro but want something that can run with the real world big dogs, the GT is it. The only complaint is that due to the factory ECU being programmed lean for emissions reasons, the throttle can be a little jerky in gears 1-2 below 3000 rpm. The Fat Duc O2 Manipulator is a cheap plug and play solution for this which I plan on getting soon. Show less

This is another head turner from Ducati. Nothing is typical in Ducati's product line, but the Sport 1000 which sells a very small portion of USA sales is a rare find on the road. It's like having a muscle car from the 60s or 70s. It is not a Superbike by any means, but it's more than the average rider could possibly handle or need. It is classy and elegant! Of course that famous twin cylinder music which is delivered from a Ducati exhaust is like no other! 150 mph! And 45 mpg! Not bad, and all at a reasonable price point. Show less

I finally found a unique bike that actually excites me. This bike has it all - Italian elegance, comfort and excellent canyon and freeway riding. It is smooth and has responsive power. I like the stock front brakes. The bike doesn't dive in quick stops. I love the vintage look with the modern performance and comfort. The stock engine has a cool thumping sound and it feels like a heart pounding softly. Going to work has never been so fun! Show less

Truly feels and sounds like a motorcycle should. I added a special order race exhaust from Shark that looks sounds and performs much better than the Termi. The way the engine delivers broad usable torque with that manly desmodromic roar must be experienced to appreciate. The bike looks amazing. I got #4 of 100 made with the ridiculously cool Darmah black and gold paint. It turns heads everywhere. I also put a gold pressure plate and slotted cover. I added the gold anodized CRG adjustable levers too. My friends ride various Ducati, KTM, and Harley models, but they all envy my superior machine! It's not super comfortable, but it's a motorcycle, not a lazy boy. Show less

This bike is exciting! Runs great and handles excellent. The most beautiful bike of 2006. My only complaint is the bars are way low, a mile away and not much you can do about it. Perfect for over 100+ mph. Stinks at legal speeds and don't even mention traffic jams. It lives for fast sweeper roads. Worth having just to look at and will definitely get your blood flowing especially wih open Termis. Show less

All of Ducati's sport classic line reflects their heritage and past and continued glory of the two wheeled sport. The difference in the GT from the other models lies strongly in its' humane ergonomics great for those who are old enough to remember the original bikes. Ducati's venerable DS1000 once again provides a great stepping off point for the basis of a very real world friendly motorcycle. Classic L twin vibes with a wide power band and proven reliability. Add a cool looking trellis frame, retro inspired body work, spoke wheels and excellent brakes and you have a well thought out motorbike. The only down fall in this package seems to be the very average suspension components. Though light years ahead of the original's pieces, the forks and shocks are described as functional at best. All and all I'd have to say that Ducati has done a fantastic job of reinterpreting their own history without relying on copying anyone else's design unlike every other metric cruiser. Show less

The bike is well thought out. It is very suitable for real world riding. It offers a very comfortable riding position, engaging engine, and suspension while not adjustable is spot on for spirited real world riding. Probably not the best choice to take to the track, buy a 999. Nothing drags with very spirited street cornering. The gearing sucks, I dropped the countershaft to 14 and find that a good compromise, though lower might be fun at some expense to the long leg highway cruise. I am getting close to 50mpg, but it only holds a tad over 3 gallons, they lie when they say 4. I ran it dry. Max range 130 miles to low fuel light then you have 30 miles left. Sorry for an all day sport tourer. The engine is great, the 1000DS makes the same power as the the 4 valve motors to about 7500 rpm, so in the real world you are not giving up much, unless you you want to cruise at 120mph, than buy something else, this one works great at 70-90. You need to augment the tools as basically there are none. The tubless tires are sure to make you mad if you ride it far enough. All in all I am super happy, a Ducati you can ride all day fast as you dare all while not looking at all like the squids. Show less

Good seating position, engine pulls very hard from about 3,500 rpm. Gearing is too high, I will replace the rear sprocket with 3 or 4 more teeth. Otherwise, excellent gear box, smooth shifting, first 3 gears are spaced adequately. The bike is easy to handle and holds its line under all circumstances. Throttle response is very quick, no hick-ups. Acceleration @ 2,000 rpm is possible if throttle is opened slowly. Best rpm range is 3,000 - 6,000. My wife, after 2 decades of non-riding, lost all of her anxiousness after a few minutes. Very un-intimidating. Wonderful sound with Termignonis! The original pipes are real "silencers"! I also installed Ducati Classic handle bar end mirrors. The bike scratches the roads surface on the left side with the exhaust underneath the engine, in right corner with the rear brake lever. This of course happens only in very fast ridden corners. On day-to-day driving conditions the clearance is sufficient. Vibrations, especially on the right side grip (here the rubber is thinner) make my fingers to become completely numb after about 30 minutes of riding the bike. I still need to find a solution for this. Apparently I can not say much about the reliability. However, the workmanship is 1st class, no matter where you look. The front brakes are very responsive, no fading. The front fork could be a bit stiffer; the rear is definitely on the soft side. (I think about upgrading the back to Oehlins) Seating for 2-up is OK; however, my wife is 5.8 and could use a bit more room. Driving at darkness, I find the front light too dim. I will need to find a bulb that offers higher output. Overall a wonderful bike and I am looking forward to put many more miles on it. (With some more upgrades ;-) Show less

Top rated for a sporty GT type bike. Performance & handling combined with excellent two up riding. Saddlebag option is a nice option with good looking mounts and very easy secure on/off. Show less