2006 · Naked Bike · Buyer's Guide
Imola Heritage, Clip-On Committed
Ducati built this one as a tribute to Paul Smart's 1972 Imola win, and it commits to the idea completely: silver and green bodywork over a green trellis frame, wire-spoke wheels, clip-ons set low. Under the retro shell sits a 992 cc air-cooled L-twin with desmodromic valves, good for 92 hp at 8,000 rpm and 67 lb-ft at 6,000 rpm through a six-speed box and a chain. Öhlins suspension front and rear, both adjustable, with a 320 mm Brembo front brake. In its class it is a limited-run collector's piece that still rides like a real motorcycle.
The riding position is the price of admission. The clip-ons sit low and far forward, the 32.5 in seat is on the tall side, and at 430 lb wet you feel every pound at walking pace. On a Sunday morning back road none of that matters. This is for the rider who wants a machine with a face and a story, not a commuter and not a mile-eater. Be honest about the ownership side too. There is no ABS and no traction control, nothing electronic between your right hand and the rear tire, and ethanol in US pump gas can swell the tank over time.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 92 hp (68 kW) @ 8,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 67 lb-ft (91 Nm) @ 6,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 992 cc |
| Engine | L-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 56.1 in (1425 mm) |
| Seat height | 32.5 in (825 mm) |
| Wet weight | 430 lb (195 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.0 gal (15 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
This part is not my test ride. It's what I've picked up over the years in paddocks, at club nights and gas stops, and in the messages riders send me directly. On the Paul Smart the chatter is unusually consistent: owners talk about how it looks and how it's built long before they talk about how it goes, and nobody sounds surprised by that.
Looks and detailing come up first, every time, and owners describe being stopped and asked about the bike wherever they park it. Right behind that is the hardware. Riders rate the adjustable suspension and the brakes as genuine sporting equipment rather than period decoration. The rarity matters to this crowd as well: with a run of 2,000 worldwide, owners follow values closely, hold on to them, and report steady collector interest.
Two complaints repeat. Comfort is the loud one, and most riders say the forward lean rules out long days and everyday use. The other is pace. Owners are direct about it: the acceleration feels leisurely next to modern machinery at similar money, and some come away wanting more power than the stance promises.
Fuel pump hose detachment recall
The fuel pump hose inside the tank can detach at the fuel filter end, causing the engine to stall and increasing crash risk. Ducati recalled affected 2006-2007 SportClassic models to replace fasteners (NHTSA 07V-017).
Voltage regulator failure
The voltage regulator wiring can overheat and fail, potentially taking out the ECU. Early warning sign is brown discoloration on the regulator wires.
Clutch slave cylinder seal leak
The stock clutch slave cylinder is a known weak point, prone to leaking fluid down the engine case.
Rear Öhlins shock failure
Some owners have reported premature failure of the rear Öhlins shock.
Wire-spoke wheels may require frequent truing
Some owners note that the wire-spoke wheels need periodic adjustment to maintain true, similar to vintage bikes, adding to maintenance demands.
Fuel tank swelling from ethanol
Exposure to ethanol-blended gasoline can cause the fuel tank to swell and spread, making tank-to-frame mounting difficult.
Where this Ducati Paul Smart 1000 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Paul Smart 1000 is actually built for.
Hill Country pace fits it, and it will be the most photographed bike at any stop you make. Plan shorter legs than your friends and expect frequent fuel stops from the 4.0 gal tank.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
Angeles Crest suits it. The chassis is happy on long clean canyon sweepers and there is lean angle left over. Just know the crouch feels a lot longer in the LA traffic on the way there.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
For Cherohala and the Dragon this works: steady, communicative, easy to place mid-corner. The riding position that flatters those roads gets old on the slab run in from Atlanta or Knoxville.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
