Ducati Shows Classic Replicas At Tokyo Show

Ducati Shows Classic Replicas At Tokyo Show

© 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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From a press release issued by Ducati North America, Inc.:

DREAM MACHINES: DUCATI LAUNCHES THREE NEW CONCEPT BIKES IN TOKYO



Inspired by the Sportbikes of the 1970s, Ducati’s Three SportClassic Prototypes are the Stuff of Enthusiast’s Dreams

Tokyo Motorshow, 22nd October 2003 – “Our dreams live in the legends of racing, in riders like Paul Smart who helped us to write some of the most wonderful pages in the history of world motorcycling. Our dreams live in the simple and classic lines, the rich details and the colours of those trail-blazing Ducati sport bikes of the 1970s.

“The three bikes that we are unveiling today represent the perfect mixture of winning technology – always a Ducati hallmark – with the timeless beauty of Ducati Design. Paul Smart, Sport, GT – three motorcycles designed to wet the appetites of enthusiasts everywhere, giving our Ducatisti, we hope, something to dream about. The bikes you see today are one-off items. They are not for sale. And yet, at Ducati we know that dreams sometimes come true.”

It was with these words that Federico Minoli, President of Ducati Motor Holding, presented the company’s three concept bikes to the press at the opening of this year’s Tokyo Motorshow.

Whilst all three machines embody the same essential concept, timeless Ducati design linked with high performance, the individual designs, named Smart 1000, GT 1000 and Sport 1000 offer three particular expressions of Ducati heritage while utilizing the latest and most innovative Ducati technologies.

The Smart 1000 is inspired by the 750 Imola on which Paul Smart rode to victory in the historic 200 Miles of Imola in 1972. The Smart 1000 bike brings the spirit of its predecessor back to life with levels of performance able that surpass the expectations of today’s most demanding two-wheel enthusiasts.

The GT 1000 is a sport bike eminently suitable for everyday use, striking a perfect balance between the comfort of a two-seater and the performance of a two-cylinder Desmo. Tradition and stylish elegance are merged seamlessly in this machine, made even more interesting by high-spec components and by the handling and safety typical of present-day Ducati motorcycles.

The Sport 1000 is a gutsy “Café Racer”. Ducati through-and-through, with a coat of bold Ducati yellow paint, the Sport delivers timeless good looks and excitement that fans and enthusiasts expect of all Ducati sport bikes.

All three bikes are equipped with the Desmo 1000 DS engine and cut a stylish figure with the unmistakable tubular trestle frame, characteristic of models made in Borgo Panigale. State-of-the-art engineering solutions make these three machines benchmarks in terms of technology, design and performance.

Founded in 1926, the Ducati Company is a maker of sport motorcycles with powerful “desmodromic” engines characterized by innovative design and cutting-edge technology. The Ducati range of bikes covers five market segments, differing in terms of technical specifications and customer profile: Superbike, Super Sport, Monster, Sport Touring, and Multistrada. Ducati bikes are sold in more than 40 countries around the world, mostly on the European and North American markets. Ducati has won eleven of the last thirteen World Superbike Championship titles and notched up more individual race wins than all the other competing marques put together. For more information on the company, visit our website http://www.ducati.com.





DUCATI SPORTCLASSIC

Only one sport bike manufacturer designs motorcycles that can make enthusiasts dream. Welcome to a new Ducati family of concept bikes – The SportClassic – motorcycles that capture the essential beauty, timeless style and emotion of the original Ducati sport bikes of the 1970’s. Even though they reflect the best of the past, they incorporate the latest Ducati technology and engineering, creating a thoroughly modern motorcycle that lives up to today’s standards of road-going performance.

Ducati sport bikes of the 1970’s were typically long and low in stature, with fairings and tanks with curving lines that forced the eye to sweep from front to back and side to side. The shapes of the body combined with colors ranging from bold, monochromatic yellows and blacks to subtle silver, blue and green hues giving the bikes a sophisticated yet muscular look. The bikes made a powerful visual statement whether parked or in motion. Above all, these were essential, purposeful-looking motorcycles, harmonized by quality components.

Tubular frames wrapped the engines that were left proudly exposed for all to see, exploiting the beauty of their cooling fins and polished cases. Twin rear shocks and wire wheels with their radiating spokes laced to chrome or alloy rims were essential to the “look” of the period. Moreover, no bike was complete without long, elegant chrome silencers or black-painted, race-inspired exhaust systems.

Although classically inspired, these are modern Ducati motorcycles, so they must be powerful, handle confidently and be exciting to ride everyday.

The PaulSmart, GT and Sport are all powered by the advanced Desmo 1000 DS engine. The torquey air-cooled 90º L-Twin is the perfect match to power these sport bikes. Slim between the legs and exposed for all to see, the latest two valve Desmo system, fuel-injection, computer controlled engine management and Ducati Testastretta technology ensure that the 1000 DS engine is powerful, dependable and thrilling to ride.

Of course, the entire SportClassic range exploits the beauty of the signature Ducati tubular Trellis frames. The mitered and welded ALS 450 tubing gains its renowned strength and rigidity from complex triangulation and the integrity of quality material.

The entire family uses only the best suspension components. Fully adjustable and built with quality throughout, unique swingarms and suspension layouts ensure their look matches the classic appeal of the bikes, while still delivering the superior road holding and performance you expect from of Ducati.

With bikes that are as capable as the SportClassic, great brakes are fundamental. The high quality Brembo “Serie Oro” four piston calipers are used, gripping huge 320mm discs up front for strong and consistent stopping power. Performance is further enhanced with steel braided brake lines front and rear.

As you would expect from a motorcycle inspired by the original icons of Ducati sport motorcycles, every element and component is built with only the highest quality materials and engineered with performance as a priority.

Three classics, three dream machines:

DUCATI PAUL SMART 1000


Inspired by Paul Smart’s 750 Imola Racer, the new Smart 1000 captures the verve of the original and fulfills the performance demands of today’s sport rider.

DUCATI GT 1000


A sport bike to be ridden everyday – with a balance of two-up comfort and Desmo Twin performance – the new GT 1000 combines heritage styling, quality components and modern road manners.

DUCATI SPORT 1000


Bold “Café Racer” style in bright Ducati yellow paint. Timeless beauty with all the performance you expect from Ducati

These are motorcycles to make enthusiasts dream. Right now, the project exists only in show bike form – conceptual projects to ponder, unique and not for sale. But as all Ducatisti know, sometimes dreams become reality. Ducati wants to hear your thoughts on these remarkable new motorcycles. Visit www.ducati.com to check out the bikes up close; then take the SportClassic Survey and give Ducati your input.

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