Nicky - the reason for US #1 market for Ducati?

[CopperHeadMonster]

this article states Nicky Hayden riding a ducati and product placement as reasons why US is #1 market for Ducati. Why do you think it is?

USA no.1 market for Ducati - Motorcycle news : General news - Visordown


I can think of many reasons
1. Price gap between japbikes and Ducati is historical low (yes quality has improved as well)
2. Wider product range especially multistrada, diavel & streetfigher
3. Brand cache is growing - but mainly wsbk and racing versus product placement

[sburns2421]

Just my opinion, but...

Ducati's size in the US (both dealer network and number of bikes on the road) has reached a level where many riders finally feel comfortable enough to actually own one without that much more hassle than a typical Japanese bike. Couple that with prices that today are a smaller premium over the competition than they were in the past and most people that can afford a $13,000 CBR1000 can stretch to a $16.5k 1198, or a $14k 848 EVO.

It is this chicken or the egg situation which hampers many new streetbike brands. Take MV for example, similarly priced but with a much smaller dealer network. Many riders would like one...but the hassle of owning one gives them second thoughts. So they end up maybe settling for something else that is easier to own. As a result their numbers remain low. When H-D purchased them I thought it could be a great thing to sell them in H-D dealerships as an alternative to H-D, expecially after they killed off Buell. Obviously it didn't work out that way.

As for Hayden selling bikes. I highly, highly doubt his riding for their MotoGP team really impacts sales at all. People would probably be shocked at the percentage of new Ducati buyers that couldn't tell you basic information about him (year he won the championship, racing number, nickname, etc).

[GrandpaDuck]

I don't think Nicky Hayden's spot on the MotoGP team contributes much to Ducati's general popularity in America. The average Ducati owner probably has no idea who Nicky even is, let alone have that as a reason influencing their purchase of a Ducati motorcycle. Certainly the people walking around town with Ducati gear (but no Ducati) probably aren't buying those t-shirts because of Nicky. Ducati's rise in popularity in America has been going on since the early 1990s (seemingly with the introductions of the Monster and 916). That's pre-Nicky.

That the US is the largest country in the western world is also probably why Ducati's #1 market is the US. Just ask Porsche, Mercedes, Ferrari, etc.

[Chuckracer]

Exactly. It's sheer number of people with disposable income that makes the US the #1 market for these companies. They probably sell as many Ducatis in California as in all of Great Britain.

[whippersnapper]

The US was #1 market for Ducati when Nicky was racing a Honda

[Wonway]

I think Nicky has a great face an personality for a Ducati front man, but is probably only 1% of the reasons why people buy them. As said, it (unfortunately) is mostly due to the uniqueness of the brand. It is not all bad IMO if you want to differ yourself from the masses. However, when it simply becomes a status symbol is where I start to dislike it.

I have been a Ducati fan/owner for a long time and Ducati's tactics/ideas are now starting to sway me otherwise.

Call me old fashioned, but I don't want a wet clutch, I want a trellis frame and I want my fuel tank to stay in the same condition as when I bought it.

I could personally care less if Nicky Hayden, Valentino Rossi or Mahatma Gandhi is repping the brand. I buy my bikes because they make my pink parts moist when I ride them, not because they are winning a race or have Tom Selleck's face on the weekly ad.

But I do like Nicky and would love to hang with him and buy him a beer at the local pub.

[Fnfast749]

End of story ... NEXT ?

Originally Posted by whippersnapper

The US was #1 market for Ducati when Nicky was racing a Honda

[rwortman]

Ducati's are popular right now for the same reason Harley's are. They are a two wheeled status symbol for well to do middle aged guys who want to appear cool and look down on lesser humans who have to ride "Jap crap" (Not my term, I love my Honda) That doesn't describe everyone here for sure but if you are one of those guys and you would like to ride(or just own) something a bit more sporting than an HD lead sled for the last 5 years or so you bought a Ducati. I have been in the local dealers and seen the upscale decor and the penny-loafered twits test driving the bikes. Made me want to bring a leaking old Triumph into the showroom and park it. Dealers are dropping like flies so I think the fad may be slowing down a bit. The nearest dealer to me now is 50 miles away in NY. Parts availability from the on line dealers has been pretty good so I hope they have continued success. OTOH if I have to take it in for some dealer only ECU ministrations it's going to be a PIA.

[DaC]

Originally Posted by rwortman

Ducati's are popular right now for the same reason Harley's are. They are a two wheeled status symbol for well to do middle aged guys who want to appear cool and look down on lesser humans who have to ride "Jap crap" (Not my term, I love my Honda) That doesn't describe everyone here for sure but if you are one of those guys and you would like to ride(or just own) something a bit more sporting than an HD lead sled for the last 5 years or so you bought a Ducati. I have been in the local dealers and seen the upscale decor and the penny-loafered twits test driving the bikes. Made me want to bring a leaking old Triumph into the showroom and park it. Dealers are dropping like flies so I think the fad may be slowing down a bit. The nearest dealer to me now is 50 miles away in NY. Parts availability from the on line dealers has been pretty good so I hope they have continued success. OTOH if I have to take it in for some dealer only ECU ministrations it's going to be a PIA.

Penny Loafers? What!!

Everybody knows you wear your boat shoes to the dealer, not loafers.





Tisk-tisk.

[stryder]

Originally Posted by DaC

...Tisk-tisk.

Shouldn't that be a tut-tut?