emmisions and noise regs are not exactly a problem though are they ? they use the same motor pretty well, and the 998 with standard pipes is no louder than a 999.
I agree things move onwards and upwards, but sales figures cant be wrong. people are voting with thier walllets. Granted there are a some ducati purists who will buy anything the factory put out at whatever price and thats cool, but the other 95% want a bike that suits thier lifestyles and wallets. Personally i dont feel the need to have the latest biggest bhp bike on the planet, if i did i wouldnt be here. Mine may be an old clapped early 916 but it suits my needs, is plenty quick enough, has the looks and heritage and is a joy to ride even if it does show its reluctance to be reliable when you need it most. But i accept the bike for what it is - tommorow true classic.
Ok the 749/999 is a very good bike but secondhand prices say it all for me. look at the 749R what a bike, loaded with some tasty bits and how do we say - prepped for the circuit and very track friendly with its allowances for sensors etc etc, but as a road bike its a bit of overkill IMO
999 bp is a superb road bike and seems reliable over its older brother which is a good thing so why are sales slow ? perhaps the change in market climate and fashions? or so many new good jap bikes on the market ? have things moved on so quickly? people are fed up with paying stupid OTR prices and high maintenance costs for a bike that loses money to quickly and ducati's marketing with next years S becomes the base the following year resulting in a huge loss of value.
Park a 998S next to a 999S and while pretty close at the moment i bet in 5 years time the old one will be more desirable and worth more secondhand.
Dont get me wrong, i hope a slight revamp of the 999 makes a massive difference to sales figures, but why not ditch production of the real slow sellers and make say 3000 units of the old 998 per year to sell ? i bet they would fly out each year to your average joe like me who wishes he bought one when they were around.
Saying that i bought my first brand new bike yesterday - a new 06 CBR600RR. granted its hardly exclusive, but it will keep miles off my 916 and RC30, be dirt cheap to run, and wont lose £3000 per year in value if i dare take it out and heaven forbid - use it, plus i am pretty confident i know i can insert the key and it will go. If i fancy being daring then i can wheel out the RC or the old duke to relive old times.
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