Said to be one of 373 made in this model year and one of 250 exported to the U.S. market, this 1977 Ducati 500 GTL is rare to see today. Known for their V-twin engines, this one is a new vertical-twin and there was a bit of a design flaw that could be one of the reasons you don’t see them anymore. That being said, this nice-looking example is posted here on craigslist in Longmont, Colorado and the seller is asking $3,500. Here is the original listing.
The stripe on the gas tank is mostly gone on the right side, but otherwise, this appears to be a nicely preserved example of a very rare motorcycle. I have never seen one in person after three decades of attending a ton of vintage motorcycle shows and events. They were made for the 1976 and 1977 model years and I’ve seen them with and without black cylinder fins. Either way, I like it, a lot, but I prefer this look as I have two or three bikes with black engines and I like that look on vintage motorcycles for some odd reason.
The seller says this bike was bought in Boulder, Colorado in 1977, ridden for a while, and then parked in a shed for the next 23 years. They bought it from the original owner, their friend, and got everything working as it should. Sadly, these bikes are known for being incredibly unreliable. I know, I should have warned you before saying that about an Italian vehicle! It would be fun to buy this one and prove everyone wrong… maybe. As expected for a U.S. model, the rear brake lever is on the right and the shifter is on the left, and twin front disc brakes are nice to see. Those binders give this 430-pound bike a short stopping distance.
With 10,784 miles showing on the odometer, this one has put some miles behind it and the seller says it runs like a champ so maybe this one is ok. British gauges by Smiths are used, which is a bit surprising. The frame setup is also a bit different in that the single front downtube bolts to the front of the engine and the two rear downtubes have flanges that bolt to the rear of the engine. So, the engine is literally part of the frame. That being said, they were reportedly incredible motorcycles in the handling department. Speaking of that, there’s a steering head dampener and also a throttle dampener or tension adjustment.
The aforementioned sometimes contentious engine is Ducati’s 497-cu.in. SOHC four-stroke parallel-twin with around 35 horsepower and a 180-degree crank. The original idea was to have a different crank with bigger balancers, hence the giant engine cases that were kept even though the smaller 180-degree crank didn’t need them. Power goes through a five-speed manual sending power to the rear wheel, of course. One main issue with the engines is said to be the poor oil-feed to the camshaft so if that seems to be working here, this would be an incredible motorcycle for riding and vintage motorcycle shows and events. Have any of you heard of this model?
Borrani rims, Brembo brakes, I think Ceriani front forks. Ducati may have been struggling to stay on the market but they were doing it with all the class they had and doing their best to be the finest of Italian motoring on 2 wheels. Laverda and Benelli were amazing but expensive (especially when DeTomaso took charge of Benelli. But Aermacchi was nothing more than a subsidiary of HARLEY by now for crying out loud.
Italian bikes have their issues but most have a sound like none other, particularly the triples.
This would be right at home with you, Scotty-you undoubtedly know how to make it sing full aria.
Let’s see, Longmont, Longmont, ah, there it is, I’m on my way,,,,is what I would be saying had I not planned a bit better. So many neat bikes, and I thought the “Duke” was pretty reliable,although some say Ducatis are not Dukes or Ducs. Ex-BIL had a Ducati, a 750 GT, I think, rode it 40 miles to work, never missed a beat. Like most of these ,,not so common,bikes,to be seen on one in Beer City took chutzpah, and I don’t even recall a Ducati dealer. All I remember about them was their racy ads featuring scantily clad Italian super models sprawled suggestively over the tank and seat,,,that’s right, there it is.
I remember Ducati in the 60s. A couple of guys had 250 scramblers. Another guy had a 350 Sebring (?). They rode the wheels off them. It seems to me that the cylinders left something to be desired. One guy had to rebore his at 5K miles. The taper was something like .011,” enough to break rings.
Saw lots of Ducatis racing on the Grand Prix circuits; they were a formidable competitor there.
I actually enjoyed watching the Grand Prix races when there was something other than the Big Four, who arbitrarily bought all the best riders. Watch them go through the gears now: “booorrrRR—rriiinnNNGG!” zzzZZZ—zzzZZZ…
I like this bike. I don’t know what I would do with it other than ride it but it’s worth a space in someone’s collection…
I’ve mentioned this before, but about 20 years ago, I got a nice bonus from my employer after a lucrative year. With money burning a hole in my pocket and a bout of temporary insanity/midlife crisis, I showed up at the local Ducati dealer. I had always thought that they looked awesome (although I had never owned a motorcycle). While drooling over a red one (750?) on display, with fairings and yellow alloy wheels (it looked like a two-wheeled Ferrari), the salesman asked me what I was currently riding. When I said “nothing- never have”, he walked over to the counter and gave me a brochure on a beginners’ motorcycle course and said, “come back and see me in a year.” I never pursued it. I probably should have bought him a beer for likely saving my life. At least, the experience got me to fill out my organ donor card…
It’s stylistically quite like the 860 v-twin. I’ll pass; got a 900 S2…
This is another one of those moments when I’m quite glad the bike is 2500 miles away, because I’d be seriously tempted at the asking price if this was one within driving distance. Nice lines, rather rare, and a good spec. Not a bike to cross the country on, but for local rides it would be perfect.
Oh, man. I’m in trouble. I’m a Ducati fan, and I live in Longmont!
Buy it Frank and tell us how you like it.
Probably the worst bike Ducati ever made.
How so?
How so?
I owned a brand new one in 1976 working for a Ducati delearship. The problem was with the crankshaft and every time I received a crank for my bike I ended up putting it in a customers bike.Finally after 3 times I finally got my bike back together.I sold it and bought a 1978 900 super sport, wish I had it now! PS The 500 was fun and I would have another just because they are different, I ride a 07 Multistrada now.