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

[Henners]

When I wanted my first Ducati in 2002 I decided the safest thing to do was buy a new one. I've now owned 5 and I have realised that when you know what you're looking for a Ducati doesn't have to be new, you just have to know what you're buying and how to look after it.

I don't like the 999 shape, that's my perogative however I'm not alone and the 749/999 series has seriously hurt Ducati finacially - look at the figures, these bikes are the most profitable in the range and they don't sell. Ducati sold almost 700 of the 996 in 1999 in the UK and only 145 of the 999 in 2004.

If the 999 replacement gets the collective juices going again then I know many folk who will be ordering one come this autumn. If that happens the value of 999s will drop through the floor and a lot of people will buy one because they are such good value. Everyone wins if Ducati get it right.

Follow Porche's example with the 911 Mr Minoli and reinvent the 916, with a 1200 L twin engine producing 170bhp to really challenge the GSXRs and you will create a renaissance