Testing the 2007 GT1000

            I started out on the GT1000 and put it on 465South towards Greenwood.  The first thing I noticed was that 6^th gear was like overdrive.   We’ll try some different gearing in the near future and put it in the database.  The bike and I were getting a lot of looks from the Sunday drivers and I know it was the combination of a cool bike and a rider dressed in full roadrace leathers with kneepucks.  I passed a rottweiler in the back of a pickup truck that really got a kick out of me and that was the highlight of the freeway jaunt.  The right turn exit ramp onto 31 South was marked 25MPH, which was perfect for about 60MPH and 45 degrees of lean.   The GT’s chassis had no problems with the aggressive cornering and was solid as a rock.  Like the Multistrada, the extra leverage of the wide handlebars makes for a great handling bike.  When I met up with Mike at the gas station the bike gave off a strong sent of newness and the rear tire had given up the chicken strip on the right side. I noted how smooth the GT1000 was yet it was ready to snap into action with loads of torque when I twisted the grip.  He mentioned with a smile that the HyperMotard S was no slouch in this department as well.

            Mike and I were waiting for others to show up but the extreme heat had probably kept a few regulars back at home in the AC or the swimming pool.  By noon it was already in the mid 90’s and keeping the bikes moving was the order of the day.  I slammed an entire large bottle of water and I knew that it wouldn’t be enough.  Lucky for us, 90degree days and grippy pavement make for an excellent combo. 

            We met up with Eric on his Blackbird down by Trafalgar and he led us down some 1 ½ lane roads (at least I think they were roads) that twisted up and down the edges of a creek.  Trees, weeds, and tall grasses crowded the roadway but Eric towed me along.  Later when we stopped I had to pick some weeds out of my Boots.  I had never ridden with Mike before so I was glancing back to make sure he was doing all right.  No problem for Mike, he was right on my tail on the Hypermotard.  I imagine these roads suited the Motard just fine, but I wouldn’t really understand until I got to ride it later in the afternoon.  The GT1000 was eatin up the pavement and the nice wide and amply padded seat was a pleasure for my rear end.  I could ride this thing for hours and even with the comfy seat the feedback from the chassis and suspension was terrific.  I think we have a sleeper here!  A wolf in sheep’s clothing.

            Of course, now I wanted to race someone right away and embarrass them on their GSXZZRRTenThousand with the sleeper Ducati.  In due time, due time.  Mike was still smiling about his mount, the Hypermotard.  I just kept looking at the huge forks, brakes, and the Ohlins shock.  He offered to switch but he had already told me how good 135South was from this point on down to 58, and I needed to push the GT1000 to find out just how good it may be.  Time to unleash the 2 Ducatis.  Unfortunately, we got in behind a pack of Harley’s that was going at a bicycling pace toward Story.  Oh well, I just put it on cruise control and knitted a sweater while taking in the scenery.  I did get a chance to survey the pavement and such and I was very impressed and happy to have such a stretch of road to play with.

 Right after Story there is about a 3/8 mile straight that provided just enough room to dust all 8 of the Harley’s that were holding us up.  I shot passed through the gears in the lead with Eric and Mike hot on my tail.  They should of just waived us past at this point like polite folk, but it was more fun to blast them as we peeled into the tight right hander at the end of the straight.  I’m sure the Hog rider in the front of their pack expected there to be a three bike pile-up on the outside of that turn when he finally made it there.  And I am sure by the time he got there all he saw were three black lines with no trace whatsoever of what left them.   Bye. 

The pace quickened to near lightspeed.  I let loose the GT in a fit of unrestrained glory.  The forks and twin shocks were firmly planted into the road as I stuffed it into the corners.  Some of them were marked 20mph, some of them 25, 30, or 35.  Who were they kidding?   How am I going to drag my knee if I can’t hit them at least three times that fast?  I knew I shouldn’t, but I accelerated towards every corner and didn’t let off until I absolutely had to.  The front tire was howling, the rear end was dug in and traction was readily available.  I was very impressed with the front forks as I rushed a few corners and trailed it into the entrance of some tight turns.  They were damped well and had adequate spring rate to support the forward weight transfer of hard braking yet they still absorbed the bumps and didn’t feel harsh.

135 just kept snaking along and providing countless challenges and large rolling hills to loft 70+mph power wheelies down into the valleys.  I never needed to foolishly cross the double yellow to enter or exit a turn, no matter how tight it got.  When my kneepuck hit the deck in a right hander I smiled inside my helmet and laughed. In the back of my mind I knew that not enough people have come to realize the capabilities of the Sport Classics.  This bike is twice the bike my stock 900ss racebike was.  The dual spark 1000 motor has so much torque and so much feel to connect you to the road.  All I had done to it was adjust the tire pressures as I didn’t have time to tweak the suspension or adjust any geometry.  Looking back, why would I?  The bike worked.

I don’t think I will ever hit that stretch of road like I did this day.  Something magical happened, something clicked and I nailed it.  Although I must give credit where credit is due, the GT1000 took everything I dished at it and I don’t believe that any bike could have done any better on that road.  135 is not a power road, it rewards control and precise placement of the bike.   I was and I am still surprised at what the bike was able to deliver.  I will be examining the suspension in great detail back at the shop in the near future but I can say already that this a comfortable suspension that can also be pushed to edge.  I’ll be totally honest, when I think about what the competition is selling in this class of bike, I kind of laugh a little.  I want to get a closer look at how Ducati put this package together.  Expect a full write up in the tech section that is coming soon to our website.