Ducati in 2006
 

Whats Ducati gonna do in 2006 ith the 999 Range ?

1 Cosmetic changes ?
2 Peformance changes to keep up with the japs ?

None of the above !!!!!:D

Had Ducati not have messed with the styling so much (made it worse imo) i would had bought a 999 a long time ago ,but now i am stuck in limbo , want to change but even a 998R would be a 2002 model ,& i dont like the new 999 shape

bin it and release an IL4 ...

i'd get an MV before any of the current 999 range.

[Edited on 23-5-2005 by DIBBLE]

The V4 won't be out for a while and the development costs would probably mean that there won't be too many changes to the current range. Just my guess.

The cooking model V4 would be a few years away at least ....

Lets make a wish list and send it to ducati ;)

Complete redesign, I like certain parts of the new design, but that front cowl has to go. Its too much of an aquired taste, and whichever way you look at it, the 916 series didnt need any form of aquiring, everybody loved it and had posters of it on their wall.

Bring back the single sided swingarm.

... and I reckon its about time they defected to an IL4. Reliability, power, maintenance. Surely thats the future for the supersports range. Woudnt say dump the Vtwins, they just need their supersports machines to be more on par with the latest UJM stuff to be anywhere near competitive both on and off the track.
Yes it has less character, but Ill swap ya for another 30-40 bhp, lower maintenance costs and reliability.

Imagine... ducati looks and handling on a reliable, affordable engine.... cor blimey gov'ner :smug:

You don't need an IL4 - a V4 has more character and you can produce stupid power out of them.

But I think they've already thought of the V4. There was a survey a little while ago on their website, may even be still there, where they were asking a lot of questions to try and determine what their customers believed the quintessential features of a Ducati to be.

On the list there were things like a dry clutch, L twin. I think this points to the fact that they are considering ditching these features in favour of others. I like the way they are taking into consideration what we want so they don't alienate their existing customer base in the chase to convert more UJM riders.

It will be interesting to see which way they decide to go. I think that they need to retain the L-twin and the dry clutch in some space in the model range. I also think that they need to bring the V4 into the superbike range in the future, and not just in the form of the Desmosedici RR - add a Desmosedici S for example. I would have thought that the Ducati superbike market wasn't big enough to support L-twin and V4 offerings but I'd like to see both.

Who knows, Ducati is heading into a bit of a crossroads with their model range. The 999 hasn't had the sales success of the previous range and they need to address it without alienating the customers that love the big twins and dry clutch rattle. A difficult ask when you throw into the mix that they also need to address the performance gains of the UJM masses.

Exciting times ahead maybe?

I would like to see a V4 1000 cc superbike. I do still like the L twin engine and think that I always will but, imagin a V4 in a decent trellis chassis with perhaps a single sided swing arm and decent styling etc. In blood red. :devil:

All in for about 12 to 14 grand. Now I would buy that. Just think of the howl from the race canned exhausts.

Ohhh err missus.:cool:

I do not fancy the road going version of the moto GP bike because I could never afford its price and I really wouldnt want to pay that much for a bike and ride it on the road.

I also would dread to think of the running costs, even with a detuned engine.

DC.:burn:

[Edited on 23-5-2005 by DC]

I have a 1000rr fireblade and a Ducati 749.

They are completely different riding experiences - you need to choose if you want to ride an Italian V twin or something else.

It is only my personal opinion BUT Ducati's are V twin race bikes fitted with road equipment..........there is nothing quite like riding a Ducati.

The Honda provides a different riding experience.........I use it for long journeys , holidays etc.
The Duc is just for fun as it really does distill biking into an something special.
If you want a Duc sportsbike then the choice is simple...pre or post 999 design.
Whatever you have - you will enjoy it

I think your right TP, without a doubt I think there will be a V4 road bike. Look at the SS range now, I reckon the 749/999 will drop into that sector.

100% with you on this Dibble. No matter how lonf I stand and look at 749/999 I just can't convince myself I really like them enough to buy one. The back ends look like something from china. the '05 front looks better than the previous, but they made it bigger, which in turn makes it look rather odd.

I'm still pondering about the S4R, I took out a Hornet 900 for a compare, and monster is ahead. I'm taking out a KTM Supa Doka next week. The MV is still a bit pricey IMO, and I don't like the Prilla.

IL4 - no thanks. I love the punchy, grip finding, long legged power delivery of a (desmo) V twin.:bouncy:

I didn't like the 999 range when they came out, but now i really love it, especially 04 R or the 05 models.

And i'mwith UKRR when he says "you need to choose if you want to ride an Italian V twin or something else"
If what you want is an Italian twin, the 999 is the way to go.

Get a 999, put on a 916 top fairing, a single sided swing arm, a wet clutch & sort out a decent exhaust and along with some sort of alternative to the existing cam belts and your done!

As for an IL 4, not for me and if I did go down that route I would go with a jap bike coz they have lots of years of development and refinement.

I like a V engine and have often wonderd if Ducati have ever thought of a V3 as a compromise for a road bike, less development costs etc.

Ducati never had success with inline bikes. Vees are the way to go for them. V4 would be the most logical next step for the consumer side, but that lovely torque down low with a V twin is hard to overlook. The new monsters are a real blast with a variety of engines and styles, probably the best styles of the '05 line up. Hopefully, a new V4 would come out with the kind of jaw dropping styling that we loved with the 916/748......not an Italian version of the kind of bland VFR.
Drink some more Vino itais and bring us something nice! Can't wait

The best thing they could od to the 749/999 range is to make them LIGHTER! every time i look at comparison tests the jap bikes are not putting out too much more power than a good 999 '05 but weigh at least 20kg lighter - leight weight has so much more benefits than increasing power (need that Shazaam fella now) as Colin chapman did with Lotus cars. So the big bore 999 neednt't happen - just make it weigh alot less.