Ducati Touring Bike reviews

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

Out of all the bikes I have owned (20+), this one tops the list. I have abused it and it never seems to stop ticking. It has taken me far and close from my home. Every time it leaves, it brings me back with a smile. Even riding to and from work I can find something it will astonish me with (a wheelie or two). Maintenance has been very low on it to date. Just several pairs of tires, pads and many oil changes. This bike scores an A+ on my favorite bike list. Show less

I bought this bike on a bit of a whim, looking at a Triumph and the dealer had this leftover demo bike for a great discount. It fit very well so I snagged it. After a little over a month and over 2500 miles I am very satisfied. I have ridden it several times on 400-500 mile trips (I am working out of town) and local commuting and weekend riding. So far the transmission, which started out kinda clunky, has gotten much smoother. The panniers hold everything I need, the seat is wonderful, no need to change it. I changed the windscreen for cosmetic purposes only. The power is immediate and there's certainly more of it than I will ever need. My only complaints are the bars are too low, it needs adjustable risers. Also, it could use a throttle lock. Again as the bars are so low I can relax my left hand from time to time but not my right. I know the aftermarket can supply these things, but for an expensive bike these are simple items. One other thing, and not a big deal but my chain had too much slack in it, while attempting to adjust the axle I realized why there are aftermarket axle plates. The stock ones are junk. Show less

This was my second bike and second Ducati. It's a great step up from the old 620's in performance, looks and craftsmanship. Easy to flick around in traffic, though it could use a little more low-end grunt. In 2nd/3rd at 4000rpm it really moves. Everyone wants to talk about it - next step: 999R or 1098... Show less

The finance manager said it was gonna be stupid fun when I bought it, and he was right. Plenty of power on reserve, pulls hard through all gears, and is very quick/fast. It is a little intimidating, not for beginners. Riding position can get a little uncomfortable after a short while, handle bars are a little low. Sounds like a indy 500 car. Every one looks when you go by, but no one gets too rambunctious. Show less

Aftermarket exhaust modification (pipes)substantially throws off the computer calculations on all fuel statistics if you tweak the air/fuel mixture from the original factory settings. The computer is designed to only work with factory pipes and ratio settings. The sound and look cool, but you computer will become useless. 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

Great first 'big bike' due to the friendly nature of the 803cc engine, slipper clutch and the riding position. Pokey enough for all but the mentalist of fast sportsbike riders, it can really handle in the twisties. Add an aftermarket exhaust and you will only then really hear what owning a Duc is all about! The stock system is about 80 decibels, and the Zards I have fitted come in at about 102. There is no shortage of aftermarket parts and accessories, so making it your own isn't a problem. Totally recommended for all those who are bored of 186mph loonatic tools. 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

The bike is incredible to ride. Handling is so impressive and the power takes my breathe away at times. The look of the bike draws attention from everyone. Show less