Ducati has just added a 3rd bike to the Sport Classics range, the GT1000. Created using most of the same nuts and bolts that you’ll find on the other 2 bikes in the Sports Classic range (Sport 1000 and Paul Smart) the GT1000 manages to still stand alone and has enough style to set it apart from the other family members.
At first glance the bike looks a lot tamer than the rest of the range. It’s styling is more reminiscent of older Brit bikes with its more refined looking mud guards and spoked rims and the lack of the wasp like tail section and side single seat. But the performance figures of this bike are pretty much identical to the Sport 1000…in fact if you have a look at this list you will see that side by side the bikes are almost identical
TypeGT : L-twin cylinder, 2 valves per cylinder; air cooled
Sport : L-twin cylinder, 2 valves per cylinder; air cooled
DisplacementGT : 992 cc
Sport : 992 cc
PowerGT : 67.7 kw – 92 hp @ 8000 rpm
Sport : 67.7 kw – 92 hp @ 8000 rpm
TorqueGT : 9.3 kgm (67.3 lb-ft) @ 6000 rpm
Sport : 9.3 kgm (67.3 lb-ft) @ 6000 rpm
Fuel injectionGT : Marelli electronic fuel injection, 45 mm throttle body
Sport : Marelli electronic fuel injection, 45 mm throttle body
Exhaust
GT : Chromed stainless steel exhaust system
Sport : Black exhaust system with two right-side mufflers
GearboxGT : 6 speed
Sport : 6 speed
Primary drive
GT : Straight cut gears; ratio 1.85
Sport : Straight cut gears; ratio 1.84
Final drive
GT : Chain; Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 39
Sport : Chain; Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 38
Clutch
GT : Wet multiplate with hydraulic control
Sport : Dry multiplate with hydraulic control
FrameGT : Tubular steel trellis
Sport : Tubular steel trellis
Front suspension
GT : 43 mm upside-down fork
Sport : 43 mm upside-down fork
Front brakeGT : 2 x 320 mm semi-floating discs, floating caliper 2-piston
Sport : 2 x 320 mm semi-floating discs, 2-piston, floating caliper
Front wheelGT : Spoke wheel with chromed steel rim 3.50 x 17
Sport : Spoke wheel with aluminium rim 3.50 x 17
Front tyreGT : 120/70 R 17 with air tube
Sport : 120/70 R 17
Rear suspensionGT : Twin shock absorbers with frontal cam system spring preload
Sport : Sachs fully adjustable monoshock absorber on the left side
Rear brake
GT : 245 mm disc, 1-piston floating caliper
Sport : 245 mm disc, 1-piston floating caliper
Rear wheel
GT : Spoke wheel with chromed steel rim 5.50 x 17
Sport : Spoke wheel with aluminium rim 5.50 x 17
Fuel tank capacity
GT : 15 L / 3.9 US gal (includes 3.5 L / 1 US gal reserve)
Sport : 15 L / 3.9 US gal (includes 3.5 L / 1 US gal reserve)
WeightGT : 185 kg / 407 lbs
Sport : 179 kg / 394 lbs
COLOUR COMBINATIONS
GT : (Metallic dark grey-black-chrome) (Ducati red-black-chrome)
Sport : (black-black-aluminium) (red-black-aluminium) (burnt yellow-black-aluminium
VersionsGT : Dual seat
Sport : single seat
So why would you go for the tamer looking GT1000 when you could spend an extra 2k and grab yourself a Sport 1000. Well if comfort and two up riding is high on your list this would be the better choice but I think there’s much more than practicality to be had from this bike.
The GT1000 features some nice design tweaks that stand out above the Sport 1000 and make it my choice of the 2…why? Well if you read my write up on the Sport 1000 you will know that I had a few nasty things to say about it’s design, such as the ugly black side mounted twin pipes and the massive chunk of plastic hanging off the tail. The GT1000 however has addressed both of these problems and come out a winner. The twin exhaust pipes sit either side of the bike and are finished in chrome and the addition of mud guards has allowed the removal of that plastic crap at the back. Also with a bit of imagination this bike could be modified to be a very cool looking Cafe Racer…Ace style bars, bar ends mirrors, single seat conversion (if you wanted) chrome guards and maybe some straight pipes…I’m starting to salivate!
All up another very impressive machine from Ducati. If Ducati keep adding to the Sport Classic range of motorcycles they may just become my favorite manufacturer for 2006 and possibly years to come.
