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

[KeefyB]

Lets face it,Ducati's have always been expensive,...to buy and to keep running.Blimey an 851 Strada cost £10,500 in 1992!My 916 was six months old and cost me £11,750 in '94.Compare that to the latest Japanese Superbikes,..you can buy the latest CBR,ZX,GSXR,etc for around £9000.What Ducati Superbike can you buy new for around the same price?
The base model 749,.....go figure.
I think one of Ducati's problem is they are making too many bikes and the quality is suffering because of it.Imagine how a new Ducati owner feels when all the paint falls off his 1000DS motor or the owner of the 999 that wont start because the neutral light connection has fallen off.
I recently borrowed a Sport Classic and the joins around the engine casing were appaling.Silicone gasket goo had squeezed out of the joint and then wiped off badly with a finger.The goo was also smeared around the crankcase.That to me is just not good enough.You can buy a brand new Chinese 125 off Ebay for under a grand with a better finish than that.
To justify the prices,I think Ducati ought to make fewer bikes of a better quality.Make them more special and exclusive if you like.
AK is also spot on about the seat height.My wife could easily reach the floor while sat on the 888 framed Monster or the carbed SS.She has got no chance on the latest bikes.I think that Ducati need to keep the SS range alive.At the moment,only the 1000DS is available in the UK.A lower and lighter bike with the 1000DS motor along the lines of the NCR bike would be good.620(695?) and 800cc versions could also be made.
I kinda hope the new 1200cc (rumoured to be nearer 1100) bike is styled like that MCN mock up.Imagine all the 749/999 owners saying,'ooh its not as pretty as the old bike' or 'Please Mr.Ducati make a new version of the 999!'

[Edited on 16-5-2006 by KeefyB]