Ducati NA Announces New Financing Program

[travisyoung]

I think you're right about the gouging by certain dealers. The valves don't always need adjusting at the recommended intervals...in fact they usually don't need adjusting. An honest dealer will tell you this.

Even when they do, you should be looking at $150 to 200 for the two valve versions.

[travisyoung]

That was a smart article.

I wish someone would revive Indian again.

[longride]

I had a 1980 Sporty that went 50 thou and never left me stranded. Course I had to rebuld the top end every 15 thou, but that's part of the fun!

[pdad13]

Agreed...if they would only do it right.

[SRMark]

Thanks for the data. Looks like their "Harley" approach to merchandizing is doing well. The incentives are probably just a normal inventory reduction strategy. I don't want to see this company go bad. I may want to buy one of their retro bikes. I hope the ugly bikes don't bring them down too far. Gary Egan's exploits on the Multi-Spasm should help move a few.

[SRMark]

Well put. See if you can find a common thread among Coke, John Deere, Wrangler and Zeiss. You can find low price, high price, medium price but you always have delivery of the goods expected. ***** on exceeding customer expectations, just have the product to what it is supposed to do. The good mouse trap will often do. It's hard to build a better one and even harder to prove that it is better, cheaper, etc.

[SRMark]

Amen. I can understand the desmo system popping up when valve spring materials wouldn't keep the valves from floating at high rpms. But that ain't the situation now. I can understand Ducati wanting to keep its differentiation but not at such a cost to the consumer. At racing speeds, sure: put the desmo in the 999. If you can afford that ugly mess you can afford the valve adjustments. But for the non-racing lines lets have something a bit easier to live with. Hell, Harley took the shake out of the Sportster.

[captainwhoopass]

Then again, Harley has been advertising just as much, if not more than Honda and Yamaha, so maybe they're in the same boat if your explanation holds true.