The Ducati 860 GT was a

Ducati Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. () is the motorcycle-manufacturing division of Italian company Ducati, headquartered in Bologna, Italy. The company is directly owned by Italian automotive manufacturer Lamborghini, whose German parent company is Au ...

motorcycle made in 1974 and 1975, replaced by the restyled 860 GTS for 1976–1979. In 1974–1975 the electric-start version was called the 860 GTE, while all models had electric start after 1975, and for the final two years, 1978–1979, the name was changed to 900 GTS. A USA market variant was made in all model years, in which the gearshift was "crudely moved" from the right to the left side of the engine by means an external rod. Ducati009

The 860 series used the engine and

stressed member A motorcycle frame is a motorcycle's core structure. It supports the engine, provides a location for the steering and rear suspension, and supports the rider and any passenger or luggage. Also attached to the frame are the fuel tank and battery. A ...

frame of

Fabio Taglioni Fabio Taglioni (10 September 1920 – 18 July 2001) was an Italian engineer. Born in Lugo di Romagna, he was chief designer and technical director of Ducati from 1954 until 1989. His desmodromic 90° V-twin engine design is still used in al ...

's original 750 GT 90°

V-twin A V-twin engine, also called a V2 engine, is a two-cylinder piston engine where the cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration. Although widely associated with motorcycles (installed either transversely or longit ...

, with bevel cam drive and with the enlarged capacity achieved by using two of the Ducati 450 single-cylinder engine’s sleeves and pistons. The controversial angular design of the cosmetic elements was by noted car stylist

Giorgetto Giugiaro Giorgetto Giugiaro (; born 7 August 1938) is an Italian automotive designer. He has worked on supercars and popular everyday vehicles. He was born in Garessio, Cuneo, Piedmont. Giugiaro was named Car Designer of the Century in 1999 and inducted ...

. Giugiaro dispensed with both the sinuous tank shape and engine covers, and added large steel side covers to create an overall integrated effect. Giugiaro's squared-off, 'folded paper' styling, which was successful in the automotive world, proved a shock to fans of the earlier 'round case' Ducati 750 twins, styled by

and Leopold Tartarini. The earlier Ducati 750 twins had rounded engine cases and cafe racer styling, and were considered 'instant classics'. The new 'square' styling of the 860 twins was rejected in the marketplace, and sales dropped precipitously, forcing Ducati to re-style the 860GT for the next season (1976). The 860 GT was renamed the 860GTS in 1976 and featured a less angular fuel tank than the GT; a seat without the duck-tail; lower, narrower handlebars and a decreased

final drive A drivetrain (also frequently spelled as drive train or sometimes drive-train) is the group of components that deliver mechanical power from the prime mover to the driven components. In automotive engineering, the drivetrain is the components o ...

ratio. By 1977 further cosmetic and electrical enhancements were introduced in the again renamed 900 GTS. Production ceased in 1979, with these later bikes having engines mechanically similar to the Darmah SS and SD bikes that replaced them.

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{{Ducati 860 GT Standard motorcycles Sport touring motorcycles Motorcycles introduced in 1974

See also

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