some observations about my great Ducati motorcycle search

[Count Lippe]

I've been searching for a used Ducati for about a month. I'm pretty open to most models provided the maintenance is up to date and everything is in excellent condition cosmetically and mechanically.
I don't know if the following applies to other areas of the country but this is what I've found in the Midwest:
1. Used yellow bikes seem to outnumber red ones.
2. 75% owners have no clue about the bike's maintenance history.
They think an oil change is all that's required.
3. At least half the bikes have been dropped. There are some awfully clumsy people out there!
4. There are a ton of people dumping 1098s for some reason
5. A good condition monster will sell within 48 hours if the price is reasonable.
6. I have been dismayed more than once by the horrible paint jobs some owners thought would improve upon the classic colors of red and yellow.
Who the hell would chrome out a 916?
7. I assumed Ducati owners would be a classier bunch than the average sportbike enthusiast. I was wrong!

[goyaohboyajr]

good post...

...just kidding

[flynbulldog]

Originally Posted by Count Lippe

I've been searching for a used Ducati for about a month. I'm pretty open to most models provided the maintenance is up to date and everything is in excellent condition cosmetically and mechanically.
I don't know if the following applies to other areas of the country but this is what I've found in the Midwest:
1. Used yellow bikes seem to outnumber red ones.
2. 75% owners have no clue about the bike's maintenance history.
They think an oil change is all that's required.
3. At least half the bikes have been dropped. There are some awfully clumsy people out there!
4. There are a ton of people dumping 1098s for some reason
5. A good condition monster will sell within 48 hours if the price is reasonable.
6. I have been dismayed more than once by the horrible paint jobs some owners thought would improve upon the classic colors of red and yellow.
Who the hell would chrome out a 916?
7. I assumed Ducati owners would be a classier bunch than the average sportbike enthusiast. I was wrong!

No, you are totally right! I helped a friend find a used 749, ...748/9's seem to be the worst;
young kids get a hold of them because they are reasonably priced and then they proceed to thrash them.

You don't know how many bikes I looked at that had no air in the tires - "the bike has something wrong with it, its hard to steer"
I'll say; yeah, it needs air in the tires, when was the last time you checked it? - never, why would I have to check the tires?

These squids were completely clueless, thumb-sucking momma's boys!

I was shocked at the number of non-bike people who own Ducati's, never mind average sportbike enthusiasts.

[Ricoyam]

Originally Posted by flynbulldog

I was shocked at the number of non-bike people who own Ducati's, never mind average sportbike enthusiasts.

That's the biggest problem with becoming a popular, desirable marque. I knew of Ducati since they were just single cylinders. Fell in love with Ducati when I saw my first 750GT on the cover of a early seventies Cycle World. Finally bought my first Ducati in 1980, a new Darmah SS which I just sold last month to make space for a Bimota DB2.

Since 1980 I've bought new a '98 ST2, '07 GT1000 and '08 Hypermotard. Used it's been a '88 F1S, '73 750GT and a 250 Scrambler passed through my hands briefly.

Currently I have the F1, Hypermotard and DB2 in my garage.
What I've learned is that the popularity of the Ducati marque has put a lot of bikes in the hands of people that I can't really call enthusiasts. They want a Ducati for it's name so they go out and buy one not understanding the history that created the mystique or the men behind it. I'm not saying you have to appreciate that stuff to enjoy a Ducati but it sure helps when you've just burned out the third regulator in a month or the plating on your 5000 mile old rockers is flaking off. If it's just the name you wanted, you're going to be disappointed.

One thing I have found is that most serious Ducati owners know more about the company then say your average Honda owner knows about Honda. Naturally what happens is the guys that just wanted the Ducati name end up pissed off at their troublesome motorcycle and it invariably ends up for sale, used and abused. It makes buying, at least a modern Ducati a very precarious thing. These, as I'm sure you realize are the bikes you are shopping. Keep looking and wait for the right one to come by. It will. It could take some time though. My F1 was a 20 year pursuit, the 750GT even longer. Both were great bikes from loving owners.

[bruce19]

There's an old Bedouin saying: "When buying a camel look more to the seller than the beast."

[Tripod]

the upside is that there are quit a few older models out there with next to no miles.

That means some great deals.

[stryder]

Originally Posted by Ricoyam

...Naturally what happens is the guys that just wanted the Ducati name end up pissed off at their troublesome motorcycle and it invariably ends up for sale, used and abused....

I totally agree with this sentimnet. One has to be "ready" for a Ducati and make a commitment to the brand for long term ownership *before* buying. I read far too many posts from "visitors" who want to "try" a Ducati like any other bike out there, and come in skeptical and "loaded for bear", *just waiting* for something to go wrong because they have heard all about Ducatis from people who have never owned one let alone turned a wrench on one and then, if they have what appears to be a manageable or common issue to committed owners, carry on about Ducati quality, reliability etc and so forth, invoking previouis trouble free rides and bla blah blah, and we hope the screen door doesn't hit them on the way out and good ridance to them.

t makes buying, at least a modern Ducati a very precarious thing. These, as I'm sure you realize are the bikes you are shopping. Keep looking and wait for the right one to come by. It will. It could take some time though. My F1 was a 20 year pursuit, the 750GT even longer. Both were great bikes from loving owners.

I agree with this too. Generally, the older a regularly used Ducati is, the more lovingly it has been cared for. The above post from bruce19 says it best:

There's an old Bedouin saying: "When buying a camel look more to the seller than the beast."

[spitfire1776]

Know what drew me to Ducati's - the Mercedes W196. From a kid, I always thought a full-cycle positive valve actuation was the ideal. The W196 GP car. My dad being road racing guy (he volunteers at Sebring) influenced me that way. The Ducati engine drew me to them. Then the feel of the engine when i finally got on one. And still do. So its odd, when i run across these guys that have star-struck, Hollywood eyes buying a Ducati. When i talk to them about the history or the science or the engineering, the fog just moves in behind their eyes. Like the guys you speak of, with all their pre-conceptions and eventual abuse. Funny an aquaintance I have owns a euro-exotic auto repair shop, road races Alfas. And he says the same thing about BMW M3's. He has all these kids bringing in their M3's completely knackered, due to the same misunderstanding.

[GrandpaDuck]

I think I've met a couple of these people you're talking about...working at dealerships, even. OK, maybe not at most dealerships, but at least at one shop that I'm thinking about.

[philoldsmobile]

Originally Posted by bruce19

There's an old Bedouin saying: "When buying a camel look more to the seller than the beast."

nice quote, and very true!