2006 Ducati Paul Smart 1000 LE

Summary:

Beautiful to look at and really fun to ride

Faults:

Probably the worst issue is its distaste for petrol that contains ethanol. The first symptom didn't happen until several years into ownership, when the bike stopped running and left me stranded on a mountain pass. Turns out the fuel line inside the tank had disconnected. The dealer didn't even hint that this might be the ethanol issue (which I wasn't aware of at the time). Cost a few hundred to repair and probably should have been covered by Ducati. Later the tank (plastic) started to show signs of stress. I immediately shifted to non-oxygenated petrol (ethanol free). Problem solved.

General Comments:

I ride this bike nearly every day. I ride it to work, I ride it for fun on weekends, and even go the long way to work over a mountain pass sometimes. It's reliable, even in the winter when it's way below freezing outside (yes, I ride it all winter unless there's snow on the road).

It handles beautifully (Ohlins suspension and nice sticky Pirelli phantom 70's replica tires) and has a nice torquey engine.

I will never sell this bike.

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th September, 2015