Motorcycle.com

BMW4VWW · 07-02-2004, 04:24 PM

Having owned an old Bevel drive cam Duck I have a soft spot in my heart for this marque, and I like the chutzpa Ducati has shown with the introduction with the oddly styled Multistrada. This is however the 21st century. Desmodromic valve actuation no longer represents the cutting edge of technology. The advance in metallurgy has made the desmo cam layout an obsolete, and ridiculously expensive vestige that should be put to rest. Hopfully Ducati will continue to sell enough motorcycles to stay in business. I for one feel that their task would be easier without the high mantainence cost of their products. VWW

SeanAlexander · 07-02-2004, 04:49 PM

Losing the Desmo valve actuation would be a big risk for Ducati.

I think they are afraid that if they loose the air-cooled pushrod 45 V-Twin, oops that's Harley. What I meant to say is: If Ducati tosses the Desmo valvetrain, they are at risk of being seen as a direct competitor to the Japanese. They'll loose a piece of thier "cool" and most likely be judged less as an icon and more on a KPaulKook price/performance basis.

BMW4VWW · 07-02-2004, 05:30 PM

The beauty of Ducati motorcycles will always set them apart from their Japanese competitors, despite what the myopic naysayers think of the 999. VWW

kowalke67 · 07-02-2004, 07:32 PM

This is a fairly long article but I found it informative in regards to the Ducati strategy for selling motorcycles. For those who wonder why Ducati makes the bikes they make and what their strategy is for selling bikes, present and future, this interview with Minoli explains it pretty well.

Minoli Interview

If you wonder if it's working (sorry, I've posted this link before- and I'll quit. I'm just about over my irk that an '03 Ducati loss got head billing in an MO forum but the profit in '04's Q1 went unmentioned)

Ducati Profits Q1 2004

sarnali · 07-03-2004, 05:28 AM

They'd take a hit from a few purists who'd accuse them of selling out, but overall I think they're market share would increase. Their percieved though perhaps not real maintainance costs keeps alot of people off them.

As long as they keep the L twin or bring out the Desmoseddici engine and keep their avante garde styling they'll keep their identity intact

I guess they'd have to call it a Quatroseddici but that still sounds cool

Wambo · 07-03-2004, 08:43 PM

Hey Kpaul,

Are you going to be there? Being a weekday event will make it hard for most people with "real jobs" but I will try to schedule it off (wonder what that says about me?). Will any of the MO staff make it?

Wambo (Bob)

seruzawa · 07-04-2004, 01:51 PM

Well, at least they aren't celebrating their charter.

07-02-2004, 04:24 PM	#1
BMW4VWW Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,833	Re: Ducati Northwest Rally 2004 Having owned an old Bevel drive cam Duck I have a soft spot in my heart for this marque, and I like the chutzpa Ducati has shown with the introduction with the oddly styled Multistrada. This is however the 21st century. Desmodromic valve actuation no longer represents the cutting edge of technology. The advance in metallurgy has made the desmo cam layout an obsolete, and ridiculously expensive vestige that should be put to rest. Hopfully Ducati will continue to sell enough motorcycles to stay in business. I for one feel that their task would be easier without the high mantainence cost of their products. VWW

07-02-2004, 04:49 PM	#2
SeanAlexander Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Newport Coast, CA Posts: 1,538	Re: Ducati Northwest Rally 2004 Losing the Desmo valve actuation would be a big risk for Ducati. I think they are afraid that if they loose the air-cooled pushrod 45 V-Twin, oops that's Harley. What I meant to say is: If Ducati tosses the Desmo valvetrain, they are at risk of being seen as a direct competitor to the Japanese. They'll loose a piece of thier "cool" and most likely be judged less as an icon and more on a KPaulKook price/performance basis. __________________ I thought I'd found true happiness in my personal bath body bar.... Then I tried DOVE! with 1/4 moisturizing cream!!!

07-02-2004, 05:30 PM	#3
BMW4VWW Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,833	Re: Ducati Northwest Rally 2004 The beauty of Ducati motorcycles will always set them apart from their Japanese competitors, despite what the myopic naysayers think of the 999. VWW

07-02-2004, 07:32 PM	#4
kowalke67 Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 291	Re: Ducati Northwest Rally 2004 This is a fairly long article but I found it informative in regards to the Ducati strategy for selling motorcycles. For those who wonder why Ducati makes the bikes they make and what their strategy is for selling bikes, present and future, this interview with Minoli explains it pretty well. Minoli Interview If you wonder if it's working (sorry, I've posted this link before- and I'll quit. I'm just about over my irk that an '03 Ducati loss got head billing in an MO forum but the profit in '04's Q1 went unmentioned) Ducati Profits Q1 2004 __________________ \"Wait, I think I just -- Yea, I just had an idea.\"

07-03-2004, 05:28 AM	#5
sarnali Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,416	Re: No Desmo They'd take a hit from a few purists who'd accuse them of selling out, but overall I think they're market share would increase. Their percieved though perhaps not real maintainance costs keeps alot of people off them. As long as they keep the L twin or bring out the Desmoseddici engine and keep their avante garde styling they'll keep their identity intact I guess they'd have to call it a Quatroseddici but that still sounds cool

Sponsored Links	Remove Advertisements
Motorcycle Forum Advertisement

07-03-2004, 08:43 PM	#9
Wambo Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 46	Re: Ducati Northwest Rally 2004 Hey Kpaul, Are you going to be there? Being a weekday event will make it hard for most people with "real jobs" but I will try to schedule it off (wonder what that says about me?). Will any of the MO staff make it? Wambo (Bob)

07-04-2004, 01:51 PM	#10
seruzawa Robby Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: 8501 ft. Posts: 16,803	Re: Ducati Northwest Rally 2004 Well, at least they aren't celebrating their charter. __________________ I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tanhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in the rain.