Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Ducati owners to blame for Ducati's financial woes ?

[couchcommando]

Having recently bought a 999 it has surprised me how many owners of the old shape bike will never buy the new one despite it being a better bike.
Ducati desperately need sales and have produced a better bike yet the owners of the old bikes won't buy new because in their eyes the old looks better, their sheer vanity may even seal the fate of Ducati, is this loyalty ?

Just an observation of mine from a few days ownership. Good news for Ducati is the bike is bloody brilliant and dare I say it full of character the likes none of my Japanese bikes have

[moto748]

I'm glad you're enjoying your new bike, but what experience are you basing that bald judgement on?

How many miles on both types of bike? How much maintenance on both?




I know you didn't mean it seriously... at least, I assume so...

[razz]

It doesn't matter how good a bike is. I've got to like the look of it before I'll consider owning it. I personally don't like the xx9 at all.

[twpd]

Personally I like the harder less user-friendly edge of the older 4-valve bikes. The 749/999 are a bit too soft for me....and I'm not even gonna mention the looks!

[twpd]

Something else that cropped up at the weekend when chatting to Gizmo and Scotty up at Hartside was that the later bikes are way overpriced when you compare them against residuals - it's financial suicide to buy a new one now unless you keep it umpteen years cos the depreciation is horrific. You can possibly take a 50% depreciation on a £6-7k bike over 3 years but, on something costing over £11k??? No thanks!

[iraqman]

I believe it would be NON - Ducati owners that are to blame for Ducatis financial woes !

[skidlids]

Doesn't loyalty work both ways, no sooner do they bring out the 998 with the Testastretta engine then they remove it from sale.
When was the last time Ducati marketed a bike for only a year, was this in fact a ploy to force those looking to buy a new Ducati on to the 999.

And where has the low seat hight model gone, the early Monsters offered shorter riders a chance to own a Ducati, these were replaced with heavier higher machines.

maybe Ducati should look at their own market research department and ask a few questions.

[david.hicks]

Originally posted by couchcommando
is this loyalty ?

Who said anything about loyalty?

I like a bike, I buy it.

[david.hicks]

Originally posted by twpd
Personally I like the harder less user-friendly edge of the older 4-valve bikes. The 749/999 are a bit too soft for me

Gotta agree with you there, and not just the ergonomics either - I've ridden 996 and 998 back-to-back and the testastretta engine is too refined for me.

[pedro]

love mine.