NGC is the GT 1000 sport the ugliest Ducati ever built?

[larrys]

That's just fugly.
Larry

[LowRyter]

i think they look pretty nice.  I have more heartburn with adventure bikes with beaks, Brat cafe bikes with knobbies, praying mantis street fighters, murdered nakeds and extreme cruisers most often.

....but ride your own ride.

[jas67]

Whoever thinks the GT1000 is the ugliest Ducati has never laid eyes on the Indiana or early Multistrada.

[roadscum]

At onw I owned a  1000 Sport Paul Smart, it was the most beautiful bike I've owned, and I've more then 50. It had a seafoam green frame and silver plastic, handling was excellent and the motor was a joy with big low end torque. Wish I had l had kept it, maybe for living room art.

If you enjoy an very good sporty ….. buy it. It does need a lot of loving attention, the timing belts need to changed frequently and that is a time consuming task.

Paul   

[kirkemon]

Not only on the GT1000, but on other newer bikes, it seems that there is too much space above the rear wheel. Why is the fender (or the bottom of the seat so high above the rear tire?

[Yukonica]

this is one bike that looked better with side bags.

I agree. The front half is fine.
A hard case somewhere half way between Hepco-Becker juniors and Craven comet would actually look nice.... in my opinion.

[Turin]

The big space between the seat and tire is aggravated by that giant rear fender.

Still like it but I'd rather have a 91-98 900SS

[Tusayan]

Not only on the GT1000, but on other newer bikes, it seems that there is too much space above the rear wheel. Why is the fender (or the bottom of the seat so high above the rear tire?

Rear wheel suspension travel.  It works out better when the design does not attempt to blend 1970 styling into a more modern mechanical design.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Rear wheel suspension travel.  It works out better when the design does not attempt to blend 1970 styling into a more modern mechanical design.

But, it has 8" + of air between the tire and fender and maybe 5" of suspension travel.

[Rusnak_322]

But, it has 8" + of air between the tire and fender and maybe 5" of suspension travel.

I think it has to do with the way they designed the tank and seat to give it the flat look. The Monster had the same amount of space above the wheel but the frame, seat and tank shape makes it look OK.

[JJ]

Change the mirrors, (bar end), and the seat...and it's not all THAT bad! (IMHO)

[Huzo]

Not while those vile 500 twin things remain in the human consciousness..
Or..
Those 860 GT things..

[sdcr]

I do like the Sport Classic line that Ducati produced at that time.

  However, I can't help but wonder what the designers were thinking when the GT came out. They most likely saw that the rear tire gap was enormous. One would think that they would have done something to alleviate this glaring flaw. ( other than adding saddle bags)

[TodkaVonic]

At onw I owned a  1000 Sport Paul Smart, it was the most beautiful bike I've owned, and I've more then 50. It had a seafoam green frame and silver plastic, handling was excellent and the motor was a joy with big low end torque. Wish I had l had kept it, maybe for living room art.

If you enjoy an very good sporty ….. buy it. It does need a lot of loving attention, the timing belts need to changed frequently and that is a time consuming task.

Paul

+1
I don't think I could ever sell mine. Well, that's not true. Everything has a price. It's a lot. I could sell it for a lot. When I'm too old and crotchety to ride it, it'll end up as artwork someplace in my home.

Nate

[Numbercruncher]

No ugly Ducati thread is complete without mentioning the DUcati Paso.  Some of the bikes mentioned here at least look unique and one can claim form follows function.  But the Paso?  Inexcusable.

I would post a link to a google image search but I don’t want to be banned.

NC

[Tusayan]

I suspect that at some point the Paso will become collectible as the first Tamburini design for CRC (Cagiva & MV). It may not have been Massimo Tamburini’s best work, I’d vote for the 916 or Bimota SB 2, but I think the main issue with the Paso was 53 rear wheel horsepower and a huge carburation flat spot.








.

[pete roper]

Not while those vile 500 twin things remain in the human consciousness..
Or..
Those 860 GT things..

(Sigh.) I think the 500 vertical twins are beautiful. Sure they were/are a dreadful grenade but if I suddenly lost control of my senses and wanted a Ducati it's probably the one I'd look for.

Yeah, I know, I'm an 'Orphan Magnet'.........

Pete

[reidy]

I built this from an incomplete basket case. I wish I had it back.





I sold it and bought a Nevada that I made a few changes to over the years.





Steve

[Turin]

The Paso was drop dead gorgeous at the time it came out. It was a two wheeled Testarossa. ( Neither design has proved to be timeless.)


Here is my pic for the ugliest Duc:
Looks like a terrier pinching one off.

[LBC Tenni]

I found the ergonomics of the GT far worse than the aesthetics. I rode one briefly and felt as though I’d been on the torturer’s rack. Possibly the most uncomfortable bike I’ve ever ridden. But then I’ve never ridden a chopper or anything with ape hangers, so I suppose there are worse.

[jpv7]

At onw I owned a  1000 Sport Paul Smart, it was the most beautiful bike I've owned, and I've more then 50. It had a seafoam green frame and silver plastic, handling was excellent and the motor was a joy with big low end torque. Wish I had l had kept it, maybe for living room art.

If you enjoy an very good sporty ….. buy it. It does need a lot of loving attention, the timing belts need to changed frequently and that is a time consuming task.

Paul

I'm not arguing with the maintenance manuals, but the belts do go far longer than the replacement schedule suggests.  I would do them at 4 years or so, and 20Must be a question of limiting risk I guess.

And if its the air cooled 1000 ds motor, replacement is not difficult at all.  Quite easy.

[jpv7]

Sorry I meant 4 years or 20,000 km

[Tusayan]

The description of replacing 2V Ducati belts as timing consuming must result from time used to remove the fairing. On 2V Ducatis with no fairing, I’d say it takes about 15 minutes every 12K miles or 20 K km.  The factory belts are expensive so I tend to use the California Cycle Works belts at about half the price.

[Rusnak_322]

The Paso was drop dead gorgeous at the time it came out. It was a two wheeled Testarossa. ( Neither design has proved to be timeless.)


Here is my pic for the ugliest Duc:
Looks like a terrier pinching one off.

Totally agree on both accounts. Love the Paso (especially in red with the black seat) also LOVE Ducati Monsters. On my third now. Wanted to like the new 1200S or 1200R, but cant. test rode one and it was great, but I need my bikes to speak to me visually and i cant get excited at looking at that new bike.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

This ranks right up there for the "ugliest" title:

[Turin]

Do prototypes count? I would hope that if the apollo had gone into production, they would have tried a bit harder.

[Muzz]

Did Apollo make their own engine or did they flog some bits off Enfield?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Did Apollo make their own engine or did they flog some bits off Enfield?

The engine of the Apollo was built completely by Ducati...

[Turin]

I like the old V4 better.

[Huzo]

(Sigh.) I think the 500 vertical twins are beautiful. Sure they were/are a dreadful grenade but if I suddenly lost control of my senses and wanted a Ducati it's probably the one I'd look for.

Yeah, I know, I'm an 'Orphan Magnet'.........

Pete

I saw a cement mixer out the back of your shop when you were installing my map..
It was better looking than the 500 Duke.