The last time a Paul Smart LE appeared on Bike-urious ─ roughly six years ago ─ Abhi summed up the model as “a cult classic that’s arguably better to look at than to ride.”
I’ve never ridden one of these (and probably never will), but maybe that’s not the backhanded compliment it seems to be. Maybe it’s a “Wichita Lineman” kind of situation. In that song, Glen Campbell sings: “I need you more than want you/ And I want you for all time.”
So, maybe this bike is actually really enjoyable to ride, it’s just that its performance is still outshined by its aesthetic. And maybe that logic only works in my brain.
Either way, man, this bike is nice to look at.
Part of Ducati’s SportClassic series ─ all designed by Pierre Terblanche ─ the Paul Smart LE pays tribute to, you guessed it, English racing legend Paul Smart. He is credited with really helping to put Ducati on the map in the racing world by winning the Imola 200 in 1972.
Unlike the 750 that Smart rode, the Paul Smart LE is driven by a 992cc air/oil-cooled V-twin (or, I suppose Ducati would call it an L-twin) that produces a claimed peak power output of 92 horsepower at 8000 rpm and 67.3 lb-ft of torque at 6000 rpm.
The bike is definitely more of an “inspired by” creation than a replica of Smart’s trophy-winning machine and benefits from having been made in 2006; it’s equipped with Öhlins suspension and Brembo brakes.
Only 2,000 of these were ever made and, partially as a result, they have a tendency to come with a high asking price. Only you can decide whether this example’s $29,900 price tag is too salty for you. As a guide, I found another Paul Smart LE that sold on Iconic Motorbikes for $20,500 back in 2021. Adjust for inflation and that would be closer to $24,000 in 2025 dollars.
With 5,800 miles on the clock, this Paul Smart LE is for sale in Pompano Beach, Florida here on eBay.