The market decides what someone will pay...
What something is worth and what someone will pay are 2 entirely different Numbers on any given day...

 

Such is the weird logic of the bike market. I've got one of each, and after being unable to sell my GT for anything close to a decent price (several very low offers,though), I'm listing my SC for 2x what I could probably get for the GT. The GT has more miles, but IMHO the GT has always actually been more of a bike to actually ride, which should increase its appeal. It's got the classic look but ergoes that allow a ride longer that 30 mins for most people, and performance. I suspect there are a few more GTs out there, but both are still rare bikes. No way to logically explain it, I guess.

 

Motorcycle purchases are things of the heart. Selling prices follow supply and demand. Neither are things we can control.

I expect that in a year or two a clean GT will sell for the $11,000 or $12,000 some are getting now for the Sports. If you have no need for the cash and a good place to keep the bike you could just wait. Of course things could go the opposite way. -If the economy crashes hard (as some foresee occurring) the prices could go down instead of up.

I thought about all of this, my own needs, and in the end thought it best to find a buyer now for a fair but firm price.

As Georges Simenon wrote "Life has many qualities. Fairness isn't one of them."

I didn't buy my GT1000 as an investment -- except as an investment in life's pleasures. In that sense I got more than my money's worth from my "investment" and I am pleased to think that the purchaser of my GT1000 will be able to say the same thing in the years to come.

-don

 

I believe most folks who are interested in Ducatis are not looking for a "standard" motorcycle w/upright seating position. These days, the brand name equates to a racer look w/clip-ons, etc. The GT does not really fit into the current Ducati paradigm, even though it evokes a strong theme from Ducati's past (see pic below). I was absolutely looking for a standard-styled bike when I bought my GT. It's a wonderful sport tourer. But for that purpose, Ducati would really rather sell you an ST or Multistrada. What else? At the time of its initial release, the GT was just about the least expensive Ducati available. They took shortcuts on the suspension and wheels to achieve that. Bottom feeders in any model line usually do not become collectors items. I was not specifically looking for a Ducati when I bought my GT. I wanted a sporty standard bike, preferably European, that I could take some trips on. I also considered Moto Guzzi (too weird), Triumph twins (not sporty enough), oh, and HD Sportster, too (until I actually rode one). I saw a pic of the GT before they were even available and knew immediately it would be right. And I was right. It's perfect for my needs. But when I visit the dealer, It's always immediately apparent that I don't fit the demographic, and my bike looks like a red-headed stepchild in the parking lot.

 

While the GT is a great all around bike, it just doesn't have the sex appeal that a Sport Classic does. IMHO

 

I can see your point and even concur. But here's an interesting thing... The first time I took my GT on a longish ride -- to do "The Kank", Northern N.H.'s most famous biking road -- I, a rider of a gorgeous tricked out mono-posto Sport and a another friend on a first year, white-framed, 900SS, stopped in at an eatery popular with motorcyclists.

No sooner than had we ordered a lunch some fellow riders came in asking "who owns that great Ducati out front?" I looked at my two companions wondering which of their bikes was being spoken of and one of my friends asked "which Ducati are you referring to?" "The grayish one! I had no idea Ducati even made a bike like that!" So out we went and yes indeed, of the three, it was the GT1000 that had so caught their attention.

Indeed that was not uncommon. Ducati riders may go for the Sportier SCs, but to the general riding public it is the GT1000 that gets the most comments.

-don

 

Just so we're all on the same page here.. GT's ARE sport classics.. When comparing amongst the models it should be "GT to Sport1000"

Sport classic range - GT1000, Sport1000, Sport1000S, PS1000LE

Its really hit or miss when trying to sell your GT. i sold mine a couple months ago for well over 13. It can be done. People do want em. You need to factor in times of the year. Some months are better than others defenitely. Is the bike stock? High mileage? Up to date service? Its tough to sell at GT in stock position and expect to it to fetch over 10. If you seriously want it to go for 11-12 you need to address some issues- wheels, suspension, and you need to make it stand out from other GT's. if your willing to invest a little money you'd probably get it back in the long run. While the sport1000's aren't leaps and bounds better wheel & suspension wise, they are a tad better.

Maybe if the guy in TRON rode a GT things might be different..

 

If you look at the bikes of yesteryear that are now worth astronomical amounts, it is the super sport models that almost always command the heights. BSA Gold Stars, Velocette Thruxtons, Triumph Bonnevilles and Ducati 900 SS's; nobody wants the touring 860 GT or GTS. The Ducati 750 GT and 750 Sport are practically the same biike, just a different seat and tank basically, but the Sport is worth double.

 

We can debate which model is better till the cows come home... but the market speaks when it sets the price, and the Sport1000 is the sought-after model of the moment. This make the GT a bargain, so go buy one!

My favourite sport classics are usually hybrids: GT tank, Bipsto clips, mono seat, Alu wheels, uprated suspension...

 

I think the three main reasons Sports fetch more than GTs are:

1) When new, Sports sold for a bit more than GTs in the first place.

2) GTs were available for two model years after Ducati dropped the Sports.

And finally, (drumroll here),

3) The cafe racer craze.

Bottom line though, GT prices and demand are on the rise. I regularly check what people are getting for them, and even older, higher mileage ones in good shape but stock or close to stock condition generally go for $7,500-8,000. Just two years ago, those same bikes probably would have only fetched $5-6,000, even with fewer miles on them.

 

Cuz sex sells. Sexy your GT to look s1k and they go near the same price. Easy to do

 

As others have mentioned, the closer you get your GT to look like an S1K, the more $ you will get. "Unrideable" bars and bar end mirrors will really help with this transformation!

 

No shit...

 

I was trying to use the power of suggestion for OP, and other GT owners, to puruse the classifieds for my clip-ons and bar end mirrors listing!

 

Or sell it close to stock in superb condition.

You will not attract a boy racer, but will likely attract a serious past-boyhood motorcyclist. That was who the bike was designed to appeal to.

-don

 

While I was initially seeking the GT as a bike more comfortable to ride, the Sport stirred my soul, and matched the appearance of my mid 70's race bike. Appearance and set up and the limited edition '06 single shock Sport make it worth holding and glad to hear many feel it's worth more (KBB currently has it at 6-7k though)

Mine still close to stock but some parts refinement and expect will retain the highest value down the road. After modding the hell out of two bikes long ago the best return would have been keeping stock and pristine. One is always blinded by the bling and all that's new but only some of those end up being worth more. Low miles and immaculate with sensible updates is my route. Spokes to be replaced with Buchanan down the road and a fork rebuild in time. All else good for the long haul.

John

 

Funny, we were just having this discussion about Papa's SE. It's wonderful to keep the stock parts on hand for a collector that deems them to have worth, but the parts on these bikes are near bottom of the barrel and tasteful mods should improve the bike's value because they improve the bike's abilities. But, should you find someone that wants to put it in their living room, putting it back the way it came and selling the mods separately is actually a little more in your pocket.

The plan for my SE is:

ETI Tank
Clay Carrier fenders and fork guards
Lowered gauges
Custom belt covers
STM clutch cover and pressure plate
WASP tailchop, TMSD and PUK
Ohlins custom spring rear shock and front forks from a Monster 1100S (radial brakes and superbike internals)
Termi pipes with better coating
LED signals (maybe headlight)
Marchesini 10-spoke wheels
Various other bits (I have a belly pan and center stand, I'll probably take them on and off depending)
Comfort seat
Probably some Rizoma bits to clean things up + radial masters.
MOSFET R&R

But, that's as far as the list goes. No crazy mods, just enough to clean up the lines and take care of potential problems.

Geoff