And Then There Was One: Ducati Sportclassic Range On the Way Out
Launched in 2005 to great acclaim, the Ducati Sportclassic range brought a new kind of air-cooled, 2-valve simplicity to the model lineup. The fact that it was dressed in 1970′s replica bodywork that evoked the original 750 Supersport was just icing on the cake. Even the Pirelli Phantom tires had the trademark old style tread pattern. For those who pined for a new Supersport, this was the next best thing. Well the journey is almost over as the range for 2010 has been cut from 4 models down to the solitary GT1000.
The 2010 SportClassic family is represented by just the 70s-era style of the GT 1000 available in the traditional Ducati red and in the black with white stripe livery. The GT1000 Touring, Sport 1000 biposto and Sport 1000S models are all discontinued, a sure sign that the whole range is not long for this world. Another sign is the the lack of any mechanical changes, the bike soldiering on with the twin spark 1,000 engine.
Ducati is of course putting on a brave face.
Celebrating the essential beauty of the Ducati GT models of the 1970s, the GT 1000 is a bike to be ridden every day, with a balance of two-up comfort and Ducati Desmo Twin performance. As you would expect from a motorcycle inspired by one of the original icons of Ducati, every element and component is built with the highest quality materials and engineered with performance as a priority. Although classically inspired, the GT is a thoroughly modern Ducati motorcycle, that’s powerful, handles confidently and is exciting to ride.
The GT1000 does indeed resemble the original and first production Ducati V-twin, the 1971 valve spring 750GT. Which is nice if that is your kind of thing. But what about a proper aircooled sports V-twin?
The key question is what will Ducati replace the Sportclassic range with? Does the factory believe that sports orientated Ducatisti who have a hankering for the air-cooled powerplant will be satisfied with the Monster range or will Ducati release a new Supersport or even Pantah labeled range for 2011? Sign me up for a Ducati Pantah 796 please Mr Ducati. Something like this would do nicely!!
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Hopefully, they’re just making room for a more modern “Gentleman’s Superbike.”