As lovely as that resto is I've always found the 860's styling a little err... odd. Different strokes & each to their own mind.
I couldn't remember which one you had, I thought - surely it's not the V raptor?! I might as well give you a spade!
I don't think all 860s looked a bit odd. This was my 1976 860GTS fitted with Conti silencers and Laverda bars.
Just seen this again as I got a like for it. Just want to be absolutely clear that, despite the picture being taken in Kent, that is not a cross of St George on my screen.
I love a matte black bike. Ducati definitely nailed it with the aesthetics of the OG Panigale, which IMO, is the best looking bike they've ever made.
It has to be said that I also though the rear end stylistic shenanigans were awful which is why I shed no tears when selling that bit of 'fairing' on. And it does look a darn sight better without it.
Yeah, as you say that looks so much better with Contis along with it's lower bars, colour scheme, steel mudguards and oem seat. It was a style they did still drop for the subsequent Darmah mind. Although that did have a small nod to pretension what with it's tiger logo... grrr
It was an 860 GT I found in California and seems like in order to shift stock the original supplying dealer added stainless front and rear mudguards and the GTS style tank to a number of their original unsold bikes. It was a great thing to ride, kind of like a Harley without the stigma I suppose, but weighed as much as a small moon. The weight was a factor in getting out of the bevel twins. Delighted to have had the opportunity to enjoy them but when that time was done I was at peace with letting them find new homes.
Ain't that the case... marvellous things when booming along a suitably fast and sinuous road but they're one dead lump of heavy metal when pushing 'em around the garage. And hernia inducing if you ever have the misfortune of it toppling off the side stand.
