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Torrid Romance
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2007 Ducati SportClassic GT1000
David Morris
07/01/2006
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The
desmodromic L-twin engine’s unmistakable baritone is our call to action. Our
quartet leaves the factory and within minutes, we are clear of the traffic. Soon
the landscape resembles a Titian painting. Astride the pride of Borgo Panigale,
we discover the winding country roads through the small towns in the hills south
of the city. As the throttle is twisted, a velvet band of power flows. The slim
machine is propelled along a variegated path of sweepers and switchbacks with an
ease and swiftness that inspire confidence in the most tentative rider, and
ambition in the expert. From a sprint to top speed, it can be reined in with no
effort to almost a full stop and then just as quickly unleashed again, like a
champion quarter horse.
 The miles are gobbled up as the sylvan countryside
tempts us to get lost on purpose. Carving in and out of whatever traffic there
is presents no issues as the featherlike throttle and ample torque make
overtaking simple and safe. The customary encounters with buses and vans that
drift across the centerline are preempted with a flick of the bars, a dab on the
brakes, then a touch of gas. Catlike, the Gran Turismo extracts itself from
potentially perilous moments so the rider can focus on the pleasure it so
willingly provides. Even in downhill hairpins at dizzying angles with
stomach-tightening drop-offs, the Ducati is a ballet dancer on point, never
breaking a sweat or losing its poise. (Click image to enlarge)
The new GT combines sportbike
performance, usability, practicality and comfort in its stylish neoclassical
clothes. Still, it is not easily categorized as a retro-roadster. Doing so many
things so well, thanks to the balance of its elements, the GT1000’s versatility
will make you find excuses to ride it. The array of accessories that includes
luggage, a fairing and an upgraded touring seat to enhance the grand touring
experience.
If one can fall in love with a machine, then, the Ducati GT1000
is destined for a well-deserved share of torrid romances. But can one hope for
conjugal bliss with such spirited temperament? Much like classic Ferraris,
owning a Ducati was once not only a sign of individuality and refined taste but
an admission of a deep relationship with a mechanic. “Bevelheads”, as
enthusiasts of Ducati’s classic twins refer to themselves, commiserated on a
constant basis as they maintained their passionate, but often problematic,
marriages.
 Cognizant of its responsibility, and true to a commitment to
performance without compromise, Ducati has addressed the realities that once
made trepidation synonymous with ownership. Nowadays, Ducati’s kaizen approach
of continuous improvement and its transformation to a customer-focused
organization, while maintaining their artisan’s qualities, means Ducatis are as
solid and reliable as they are beautiful. (Click image to enlarge)
Indeed, the love is evident in
this new Gran Turismo just as it is in all great things Italian. Perfect balance
and an indefinable element of style, along with its unapologetic brio as a
performer, set the GT 1000 apart from the retro-poseurs. Ducati’s winning
spirit, and its obsession to excel, no matter how daunting the competition, is
captured in a local Bolognese expression: Noi non siamo i migliori, ma gli altri
non sono migliori di noi—“We are not the best, but the others will not best
us.”
www.ducatiusa.com
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