Latest figures
 

This may be of interest - in the latest Ducati figures released yesterday it was noted that 4762 Multistradas have been sold worldwide this year so far up to Sept 30th. Also Ducati registrations in general were down 5% in the UK. What does it all mean ?

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031105/lnw022_1.html

Nick

What it means is:

a) In difficult economic times, especially for very expensive luxury commodoties, Ducati have had a storming third quarter.

b) The world outside the UK doesn't wear sportsbike blinkers and has recognised what a blinding real world bike the Multistrada is so it's selling like hot cakes.

c) Ducati are reacting to market pressures which say if you stick to making sportsbikes alone, you're going to go down the pan. They've known this for sometime I'm sure because it's Monsters that've kept the company solvent enough to go racing and develop sportsbikes.

d) The sportsbike goggles that the UK market seems to wear, are more than likely 916 derivative goggles hence the lower number of registrations now that they're not in full-on production.

d) Monsters are great bikes, but just like the 916 you can't update a ten year old design for ever, so now the Multistrada looks set to take over as the cash cow.

e) Thank Ducati for the Multistrada, it's not only a great bike in it's own right, but it will go a long way to fund racing developments and sportsbike spin-offs.

:rodent::"Jools, are you always so pompous and self-opinionated"

Jools: "Yep"

:rodent::"Oh well...."

[Edited on 7-11-2003 by Jools]

Jools,

A perceptive market analysis of ducatistic accuracy.

Ray

Sorry to give a stating the obvious opinion but...
The multistrada is such a cool bike...I dislike the look of it only because its a bike before it's time...but so was the 916.. few years down the line there will be bikes looking like that in the championships and then Ill be saying along with every one else and Jo public...Oooh I have always liked that bike...What was it oh yeah "the multistrada"...:)

Yep, I see where you're coming from, kwik.
I'm not too impressed with the multistrada in the "looks" department, but I'm sure it'll grow on me... time will tell.

As for the 916......... well, when It came out all them years ago, it was love at first sight and set meself a goal - to actually OWN one! Now I'm the happiest geezer alive cos I've just got a 996! yeah!!!!!:roll:

996
 

Yep me to NBs996 Ihave one as well !!:sing::sing:

'fraid i can only aspire do those dizzy heights...thats why I bought a Mito!
Who's to say though that when Ive "learnt" to ride my 750 my nxt purchase might be a multistrada!:cool:

CMW lent me one for a couple of days. Looks a pig and seems to gobble gas - but its a real laugh and a great boney to ride. Could do with revised sprocket gearing and perhaps a few more ponies, but for everyday use, probably a winner - in time.

Well the Multistrada is my local Duke dealers top seller for this year.In fact he has bought some more in to sell before the price rises.Just like the 999,people are moaning about the looks of the bike,well you cant see it when your riding it.Both bikes are superb to ride and are taking Ducati up another level in tems of user friendlyness and quality of equipment.
As for more umph,see my thread about airbox restrictors.
One other reason for Ducati's drop in sales is the glut of new spangly wizz bang models from other manufacturers.Some folks simply must have the latest,most powerfull,fastest,new paint,radial braked,better suspended bike.(According to MCN!;))

Crock of c**P! MCn talk for people who cant think for themselves...I wish those types would just DO A TEST DRIVE!!!! DER!

Not much to say after Jools analysis. I didn't realise it when I wrote the original post but the MS is the top selling Ducati model of all (year to Sept 30th) according to page 24 of the DMH Group quarterly report September 30 2003 at

http://www.ducati.com/company/investor_relation.jhtml

Clearly the MS family is going to play a big part in the future plans of Ducati - I'm personally just glad that the company had the balls to back such an innovative design as the MS. If only they could make it salt resistant !

Nick

PS It also explains why there are 800 huggers on back order (so I heard)

[Edited on 8-11-2003 by nicksp]

tee,Hee,Hee!
bless the british!:lol:

I rode my dealers multistrada demo just after buying my Kawasaki ZRX 1200. That was in February. Reasult on 01 Dec the ZRX went and a new Multistrada appeared in my garage. My dealer also says it is his top seller

Another convert joins the ranks! Well done Rocker.

Don't know why everyone complains about looks of MS. As Keefyboy says you can't see it when you're riding it but that aside it's quirky and distinctive enough not to be confused with the clones that are just about every other bike on the road (except Ducati's of course!).

Like others, I lusted after a 996 for many years but I have to say that I feel nothing like as attached to it as I now do to my MS. :D:D

I am afraid that at my age my body doesn't fit the likes of a 996 anymore. :(
However I am really looking forward to riding my MS up to your part of the world in August;)

Wher you been, Rocker?

It's only taken you just over two months to respond to that last post!:D

You've obviously been spending too much time on that 'Multistrada.net' web-site!:lol:

I gave this site a miss for a while as it seemed my error with my avatar when I first joined seemed to upset one of the regulars so much that he felt it neccessary to become aggressive and start swearing at me. in my job I get this sort of thing every day from the travelling public so I certainly don't want it in my leisure pursuits. However as some one said on the multistrada net why let one persons attitude put you off a whole club so I thought I would give it another go

Rocker,
Hi mate hows it going,hope the Shell stickers were ok.
Welcome back to the DSC,stick with it,you will find that we are not a bad bunch of peeps most of the time.:saint:

The stickers were great. thanks again.
As I said I intend to stick around. I am sure the vast majority of you are great guys/girls

Welcome back Rocker. We need more MS owners here, - you are the future in my opinion.

Unfortunately Jools has stolen all my thunder so there is nothing more to add, perhaps except that Ducati have realised early on that possibly the bottom has dropped out of the race replica market. I do think we want more all purpose bikes, - well bikes that handle well yet don't give you back, neck and wrist ache. My only concern from a MS point of view is that some of what would have been Jap buyers have come to the Ducati brand without realising the quirks of the beast. - Some of the stuff on multistrada.net is soooooo negative and moan-y; they moan when their bike shows signs of corrosion after riding through salt and not cleaning it off properly, - somehow that is the fault of Ducati.

I must admit that I fell for the MS at the NEC 2002 but was dubious about buying Ducati due to all the scare stories that I had read/heard. I had been contemplating a Caponord but was put off by my experiances trying to get parts from Aprilia for my Pegaso. I am lucky in the fact that that the owner of the local Ducati shop is a friend so I was able to investigate the true cost of Ducati ownership which based on 12000 miles a year is not that much more than the ZRX1200R which I traded in for it. One lengthy test ride on the MS convinced me.I was not interested in the sports models as my body no longer fits this sort of bike. I liked the look the monsters but couldn't imagine taking one on a tour ( I am sure I will be receive plenty of posts telling me other wise;)) plus the fact that my credit card wilted at the sight of the accessory catalogue knowing that I can resist anything except temptation. I really liked the ST range (especially in yellow) but prefered the more upright riding position of the MS.I must admit that the accesory catalogue for this ha already made my flexible friend go weak at the knees:sing:
I must apologise if I have rambled on too long but I am really enthusiastic about my new purchase. Let's just hope I am still as keen this time next year

Welcome to the affliction Rocker-you do realise that now the Darkness has you there is no escape??
I love the Multistrada but own an ST4S-in Yellow of course-Multistrada was not out when I got my bike in 2001. I also don't fit the 9*6 bikes any more having re-shaped my wrist's on my 996 at Brands in May 2000. There is a group meets at the Pub, I think it's the Blue Ball oposite the Hopp Farm-anyway you can find the details on the site here.

John

Welcome back Rocker!..."MS"... it's the future, I know...I've sat on one!;):P

Ian,you have said it all mate.:)

Corrosion
 

The problem evidenced on Multistrada.net with "moaning" is that there are a whole load of new people attracted to Ducati by the Multistrada.

This is good as it secures Ducati's future in the same way as the Monster did. Ducati cannot survive by selling 999s alone.

The problem is that new recruits expect Dukes to be like Jap bikes i.e. appliance -like. Any niggles and they are loking for the next consumer watchdog to lobby.

Paul

Hey Rocker,

you don't have to worry about your credit card taking a thrashing against the DP catalogue, simply because it takes so long for anything to arrive!

Hope that wasn't too much of a Multistrada.net-like moan:roll:

[Edited on 23-2-2004 by luckywhiteheather]

Being in the throes of trying to decide between an MS and an ST4S, seeing the link to multistrada.net on this thread was very handy.
I see a few of you from here post over there too :lol:

Anyway, this comment about the corrosion. Having seen a few monsters with half the lacquer missing it did concern me too, and to be honest is my main niggle about buying an MS for touring (very exposed, likely to get lots of stone chips, and unlikely to get washed every evening while on tour).
My plan was to get a fender extender and maybe a belly pan.

Assuming I was to order my bike today, realistically when would I most likely get the DP goodies to go with it ?
Or put another way, are all the DP bits on short supply, or only certain ones ?

Btw, for a bike that has supposedly sold so many, you don't see many for sale second hand just yet
Cheers,
John.:D

John Some of the DP items arrive quite quickly but others seem to take for ever. This seems to apply especialy to Carbon fibre items. I can recommend the QB Carbon which I have fitted and pyramid are bringing out a fender extender very soon. Spareshack also sell huggers & belly pans but I have no personall knowledge of their quality. I have purchased other items from them and found the service very good.
As to the lack of S/Hand Multistradas I can only say why would anyone want to part with one?
Get yourself one You know it makes sense:cool:

[Edited on 23-2-2004 by Rocker]

Hi John, Rocker is absolutely right! Delivery timescales can be a bit erratic to say the least.

I ordered a whole host of DP stuff at time I ordered MS last March/April. Bike arrived May but first 'stuff' to arrive was Comfort Screen and Panniers at end of August. Therafter it's probably averaged 1 part every six-eight weeks or so. Of parts originally ordered I'm still waiting on Carbon Belly Pan.:yawn:

I've held off ordering any other carbon goodies to see who of after-market suppliers can beat Ducati to it.:(

I purchased my MS at the start of last December and already have the parts listed.
Mind you I suppose Kent is nearer to Italy than Scotlans is and I do live only a few miles from the Channel tunnel + Dover & Folkestone;)

Thanks guys.

Problem is I have a couple of trips booked in May & June, and would like all the goodies for then (and definitely need some - like the luggage, hugger, fender extender, tank cover/bag).

May is not quite so critical as I could use my current VFR, but know its new owner would probably like it by June.

accessories
 

If you are in a hurry, the following alternatives are available:

luggage: A Givi universal rack bolts onto the Ducati rack (which is available now). Just enlarge two of the exisiting holes slightly. You can then fit any Givi topbox

hugger: QB, Spareshack & Casoli have exisiting offerings

fender extender: buy a Monster unpainted front fender for £20 and cut/file it to the desired covergage. Then spray it black and screw it on. Ducati don't offer a front extender anyway.

tank cover/bag: Famsa have one available now

Paul

Nope, decided I'm going to wait until the puka DP ones are available to me.


Having looked around now I think I'll go with an QB one. How does the QB carbon weave and colour compare to the DP stuff ?
What I mean is, some carbon is black, other stuff has a gold thread to it.


Is this a standard unpainted Ducati front guard, or someone else make ?
I like the look of your in the pics I've seen.


Decided on a bagster job.

Well, all the decisions are assuming I buy a Multistrada anyway, but given that my vfr is now sold.... :devil::roll:

Currently in discussions with dealers trying to get the bes deal, but also kep wondering if the ST4S would be the more logical choice...

I considered a ST but decided that it looked too simular to Japanese offerings (NB I put on my flame proof suit before typing this) after riding a ST2 ST4 & Multistrada I decided that there could only be one choice for me. There again as they say each to their own

Thanks Rocker.

Tbh I am still drawn by the practicality of the ST, and the power of the ST4S. It is after all the closest to the VFR it replaces.

Reading all the various problems people are having with the MS hasn't helped my decision making process too much either :(

So, flakey chrome on 996 rockers, or flakey paint, wobbly brakes, and engine corrosion on the MTS. Hmm. difficult choice :devil:

Yeah I know I've painted a bleak picture ;)

I won't bother to bore you all with my reasoning again. Might ask a few more questions though :D

fender extender
 

quote:
--------------------------
Is this a standard unpainted Ducati front guard, or someone else make ?
I like the look of your in the pics I've seen.
------------------------------

It's the standard off-the-shelf Ducati Monster mudguard. Just decide how much engine coverage you want and cut and file to suit. Reverse it if you want a lot of guard, so you can use the extensions that normally bolt on the front to stiffen it at the rear.

Can't have flapping mudguards on a Ducati, now can we !

Paul