Ducati Sport Classic 1000

[paulR]

Anybody got one or had a go on one? I'm rather tempted, I quite fancy something a bit retro. It's either the Ducati or a Triumph Bonnie

[plivez]

I test rode one when it first came out. Lovely looking bike. Great performance, pretty extreme riding position. For me really only useful as a sunday afternoon ride, if you don't need anything more practical go for it. The bonnie would be far more practical though.

[horse27]

Get a Bonnie

(I like the Ducati too though)

[f90x]

are you sure you mean the 'sport classic' ? the ducati version of the bonnie is the gt1000. i'd like one of those myself. the gt that is, not the sport classic, i'd be a cripple in 5 miles on the sport.

[horse27]

Or the Moto Guzzi V7 Classic, Sir?

http://www.maxmoto.co.uk/moto_guzzi_v7_classic.shtml

Just to confuse matters

[plivez]

Stay away from the Moto Guzzi.
Mate of mine has a new Moto Guzzi Bellagio, what a heap of S***.

[horse27]

Good point ... Bonnie it is then!

[Gromit]

To be perfectly honest I wouldn't have either of them - had a brief spin on a Thruxton a couple of years ago and it was an insipid, characterless and completely unrewarding thing to ride.

I'll get flamed for this (mostly by those who've never even sat on, let alone ridden one) but give a Harley 1200R Sportster a try - they go pretty well once you let them breathe, are great fun to ride and handle well too in an old-school 'keep it smooth' fashion.

[Red Fokker]

I traded a Thruxton in when I got the beemer. I loved the bike but it was playing havoc with a recurring knee injury although thats not half as bad now as it was then and I wish I could own both. The thing I found on the Bonnie was that it was deceptively quick and handling was very light - it could be thrown about with wanton abandon. The brakes were adequate up to a point but if really hard braking was applied it did tend to tie itself up in knots somewhat. I don't know if that was more down to the narrowish (by todays standards) forks. I Intended keeping it and even bought a monza style fuel cap for it just prior to trading it in(which I still have... at the back of my mind I am going to get another). I really did like it and I've owned fireblades and 350lc's in the past but at the end of the day it's not about ultimate speed. You'd be surprised however at how many so called sports bikes were embarrassed to see it in their mirrors.

[horse27]

Insipid? How dare you, Sir!

I reckon it's the first ride thing (sticking up for the Bonnie) - just like the R11S - doesn't make sense until you get used to it and start riding it a bit harder (within reason), I hated it the first time I took it out - brakes are 'OK' (not really)- wallows in corners - you can thrash it everywhere - I find it pretty rewarding as you can ride it to it's limit (rather than my limit on other bikes).

Horribly restricted though. So I have tweaked mine somewhat. Open cans, 130 mains, dumped the SAIS gubbins, fitted a K&N and dumped the snorkel. Uprated Hagons front and rear with preload spacers in the front and dropped the forks through the yokes by 10mm - seems to have done the trick. It is a bit noisy though

130 rear tyres rock for quick steering (the 'wanton abondon' Red Fokker mentions).

Anyway - that's me standing up for the Bonnie but I can understand why you would or would not like it.

Now then, Red Fokker - you want to sell that Monza cap???

All the best.

[GeordieBoy]

A Sport Classic 1000S will be joining the RSV in my garage as soon as funds allow...





Mark

[winger]

The Sport 1000 and S models are both in the realms of long arms short leg syndrome same as the Aprilia Millie,i've done a few miles on a sport 1000 with the twin Termis up the side,and if you bump into one on your Beemer they'll be more than able to give you a run for your money,which in a way defeats the Classic pose.

The GT is a totally different kettle of fish,same engine,but bikes just don't get anymore comfortable,upright armchair i'd say,no fairing so you haven't a hope of useing the performance,in typical Ducati style they have high gearing,so at 70 it's barely off tickover,which hasn't stopped me riding one at a steady 100mph hanging on for grim death.

The silver one is a Paul Smart rep,the red'un is the 1000's

[paulR]

I had a test ride on a bonnie, the standard one not the Thruxton, a couple of weeks ago and I loved it. It wasn't quick by any means but it was certainly fast enough and I was impressed by the handling. A most enjoyable hour was spent on the Dorset lanes

I want the bike as a 'ride to the pub on a sunny evening' sort of bike. Something you can ride wearing a leather jacket and jeans, park up and admire whilst supping a pint. I normally go out on my KTM 950SM but my two drinking mates are more into having a gentle cruise to the pub so the KTM is a bit wasted in that role!

I'm not overly struck on the styling of the GT1000, but I really like the unfaired Sport. They've made a few changes since it first came out, the newer handlebars are quite a lot higher. Most of the reports I've read from the launch of the original complained about the crippling riding position so it looks like Ducat have listened to that. I'm probably going to have a test ride on Saturday so I'll report back with my thoughts.