2010 Ducati GT 1000 User Ratings

When Ducati revealed the SportClassic series of bikes at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show the company expected them to be show only machines. But designer Pierre Terblache expected otherwise. He knew these were the bikes many Ducati lovers had been waiting for. The noisy clamor quickly changed the corporate mind and one by one the three models saw the light of day as production machines with relatively few changes from their show-only precursors. Of the three the GT1000 was, on paper at least, the least exciting model. But owners understand why it has proved to be the most enduring, and that is its superb daily ridability. The GT's ergonomics are about perfect for the street, the seat comfortable, and with an easy change to a 14 tooth sprocket, the gearing is just right. As delivered the fuel delivery of the otherwise excellent Twin Spark motor is less than perfect down low, but that too is an easy and inexpensive fix thanks to a gizmo known as the Fat Duc 02 Manipulator. With these two csmall modifications made the running of the bike matches the look's classic perfection and the GT1000 becomes a dream almost fulfilled. Why "almost?" Because in several important respects Ducati cheaped out. The suspension is one such place. The Marzocchi forks are totally nonadjustable and on less than perfect road surfaces quite harsh. The rear shocks are little better. The fuel tank, for reason likely of cost, is made of plastic. That should not be a problem but in countries (such as the US) where alcohol is mixed into the fuel the tank starts to spread and after a while no longer tightly fits into its forward mounts. Several other components show signs of the design's cost constraints as well such as the slightly flimsy turn signal stalks and the (in some cases) rust prone spokes. All of this sounds more negative than it actually is. Owners of the bikes love them and the machines are for the most part quite reliable. But not for nothing has it been said that the saddest words ever spoken are "It might have been." With slightly less cost constraint the Ducati GT1000 could have been everything it deserved to be.