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Driving report Ducati Sportclassic
Art, culture and passion
The Ducati Sport 1000 is a motorcycle that exudes elegance, caresses the soul and satisfies desires. For a sports motorcycle with style, one with classic, sporty genes. You can also call it sensual.
Florence, city of classics, art and culture. A perfect presentation space for the renaissance of classically inspired motorcycles, for the first two Ducatis three “Sportclassic” models: the undisguised Sport 1000 and the chic in
Half-shell wrapped Paul Smart 1000 Limited Edition (it’s worth turning the page). For a moment the tourists forget about it
the Piazzale Michelangelo, the graceful statue of David, prefer to admire aesthetics in metal. The Ducatis embody the spirit of sport bikes from the early 1970s.
Classic and modern in synthesis. G-Kat meets spoked wheels, double ignition meets tubular tires. Has for the retro concept D.ucati bar goods elegantly newly dressed. The round instruments, for example, have a white background and are decorated with chrome rings and chrome-plated buttons. Even the painted white Ducati lettering on the 15 liter tank is a nod to its own history. Its typeface shows the brand logo from the 70s. Even the color scheme follows the magic of the past.
Because the yolk yellow Sport 1000 emulates the 750 series of the same name from 1973. After the tourist GT, whose great-grandson followed in 2006 as the third “Sportclassic”, it was only the second series model with the then new V2. Ducati calls it the “L-Twin” because of the 90-degree cylinder angle and the forward-sloping installation position. It still characterizes every series Ducati today. Sports show their technique openly. No side cover inhibits covetous looks. The battery rests harmoniously on gusset plates under the bench. Only modern maintenance-free. Chrome-plated horns are enthroned under the Bosch round headlights. An ensemble of three round lights beckons at the rear. A break in style: plastic housing for the indicators.
The black vertical stripe over the hump and plastic tank also borrows from the history of the 750. The fuel drum is not quite as long, taller and wider than it used to be, a tribute to the air filter box below. The single seat and the hump behind it got much wider than in 1973. Like today’s drivers? Well, the most supple leather covered. Anyone who drives this motorcycle in textile clothes has understood nothing. The chrome mirrors mounted exclusively on the handlebars have been moved into position. You don’t build narrow, Italian-congestion-friendly, but the rear view is correct.
Classically inspired and yet completely different: the completely black painted, scratch-sensitive exhaust system. Both muffler fanfares are stacked on the right. In the original, they were chrome-plated and arranged on both sides. A heart that beats, a body that complies. Butt up, hands down. Yes, it was like that back then. Humbly. The L-Twin starts work at the first push of a button. Kicking was earlier. At the time, one could only dream of injection, and knew nothing of the Euro 3 emissions standard. After all, Ducati’s Desmodromic remained as it once did, no other manufacturer used the forced valve control.
The 750 series wore black vertical shafts, the 1000 series has darkly covered toothed belts. The 92 HP 1000 double igniter offers perfect midrange power. The area of the tachometer above 6000 remains orphaned on country roads, so powerful and smooth the V2 already starts below. Only up to 2000 tours in sixth gear, this corresponds to a speedometer display 60, the 94 pistons still unwillingly hammer on the transverse crankshaft. The exhaust sound is thinner than from open Conti pipes, times have just changed. Nevertheless, the airbox hums nicely, the exhaust bags slap in push mode.
Surprise: The 1000 series follows every steering impulse with great ease, scurrying through the Winkelwerk with wonderful agility with a short wheelbase. The Ducati should weigh only 179 kilograms? without oil, gasoline and battery. On picture-perfect asphalt, sport is a poem. That changes suddenly when the tar cover tears open. The non-adjustable upside-down fork from Marzocchi then starts to stumble, the huge mono-spring strut with a reservoir on the left side hits the back. It is supported by an asymmetrical swing arm, with plenty of basic hardness. This is also reminiscent of old times. Little consolation that rebound and compression damping can be varied without tools.
Pirelli developed the Phantom Sportscomp especially for the Sportclassics. They are radial tires with the latest rubber compound, only their profile imitates that of the Phantoms from the 80s. In fact, the tires announce in good time when Tuscan streets with cylindrical cypress trees like exclamation marks become slippery. In modern formats 120/70 and 180/55, the tires rotate on Japanese 17-inch aluminum rims from Excel, 3.5 inches wide at the front and 5.5 inches at the rear.
Brembo’s simple double-piston floating calipers bite effectively and properly metered onto the 320 mm discs at the front. They always get the tire to whistle. The rear single-piston floating caliper calls for heavy kicks. Turning in one train? Impossible. Ducati-according to a small steering angle thwarted this, provoked by the wide tubular space frame.
Passion that creates suffering requires the authentic seating position. When driving slowly, the wrists soon hurt. Then the left hand no longer has enough strength to couple because of the unfavorable angle; and the hydraulically operated dry clutch needs some of them. At least the adjustable hand levers allow different grip widths. And the standard immobilizer protects against art theft.
After Germania, 350 copies of the Sport and 400 of the Paul Smart will initially come. Real added value at cash prices of 11,245 and 14,550 euros. Most of them have already been sold. Because they hit a nerve, these motorcycles. People thirst for aesthetics and harmony, need sensual motorcycles as well as great art, build and admire them with the same passion as they create statues or visit cathedrals. Molto grazie for that, Ducati.
Portrait: Paul Smart – PAUL SMART
Paul Smart has never won a GP run. Nonetheless, his name is immortal because it is now worn by a beautiful and actively demanding motorcycle: the Ducati Paul Smart 1000 Limited Edition, of which 2000 copies are built. It’s steeped in history, a tribute to the Kent racing driver who pioneered hanging-off driving. Paul Smart started in April 1972 in the 200 miles of Imola, the first European round of the Formula 750 from the USA, on Ducati’s brand new 750cc racer.
Smart made a miracle possible. With the only one year old engine concept he defeated Giacomo Agostini on MV Agusta and Phil Read on Norton. Ducati took a double victory. In 1974 the Italians brought the street offshoot 750 Supersport ?? to this day one of the most legendary and sought-after motorcycles of all time. Its color scheme and line follow the Paul Smart: Its silver painted parts meet, like the prototype, the tubular frame and steel swing arm in turquoise green.
Frame, wheels and tires are the same as in the sport. This also applies to the
92 PS strong V2 with double ignition from Multistrada and Monster 1000.
The round half-shell, which extends long to the tank, is eye-catching. It completely shields the upper body, the head only when you fold yourself up tightly. Technically, the Paul Smart 1000 differs mainly through the noble Ohlins spring elements. With them, the 43 mm upside-down fork is also fully adjustable, not just the mono shock. The difference in driving operation is considerable, as fine as the golden yellow components respond, so tired they leave the machine lying around. Much better than on the sport, more stable and more comfortable. In addition, the Paul Smart has a Sachs steering damper in a polished housing across the tank. It can be felt when creeping through the minimal tendency to tumble. Furthermore, the Paul Smart no longer swings as easily as the Sport in an inclined position, you can see the few kilograms more on the front wheel.
And how did Paul Smart experience “his” motorcycle? “I enjoyed the ride very much. With this chassis you would have won everything 30 years ago! ”And adds:“ It looks good and it feels right. ”92 hp more than on his dama-
leagues racing motorcycle ?? and that with hardly any more weight despite being street legal. Something like that is enough for more than 90 percent of all motorcyclists.
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