A thought: Japanese vs. Ducati - Ducati.ms

Desmo Soundtrack · Mar 14th, 2008, 9:55 pm

I was out working on the Duc. tonight cleaning up the pipes because it looks like I'm going to have them for a while and I had a thought:

The Japanese manufacturers go racing to sell motorcycles. Ducati sells motorcycles so they can go racing.

You guys think there is any truth to that?

oalvarez · Mar 14th, 2008, 10:10 pm

there will always be one Ducati (i hope).

Desmo Soundtrack · Mar 14th, 2008, 10:55 pm

I should elaborate maybe. This is maybe a criticism of Ducati. It seems like the bikes we buy (excluding the Corse versions) are designed and assembled as an afterthought!

**Da_Bull** · Mar 15th, 2008, 12:52 am

I disagree with your assertion that our bikes are afterthoughts. I believe what you percieve to be "afterthought" is just a result of the bikes being "hand built". Think about it...

BTW, I've said the same thing about Porsches and Ferrari for years. Porsche goes racing to sell cars; Ferrari sells cars to go racing.

synfinatic · Mar 15th, 2008, 1:35 am

Not sure I really follow, but I think this story from SOUP gives good insight in how Ducati sees racing:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/09865310a.htm.htm

Honestly, I read that article every now and then and it always brings a smile to my face.

1fast750ss · Mar 15th, 2008, 9:14 am

I think your first analogy was more to true. Ducati is a small firm with one thing, no, passion in mind; RACE! There blood is a combo of Shell and VP, as there is only one thing in life and that is to race.

I think the afterthought isn't building the bikes, it's selling them.

ducwho · Mar 15th, 2008, 11:58 am

If this were true, then they wouldn't have done what they did with their Superbike line to appeal to a larger audience.

synfinatic · Mar 15th, 2008, 12:53 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajwho

If this were true, then they wouldn't have done what they did with their Superbike line to appeal to a larger audience.

Or they did what they did to their Superbike line to dominate WSBK like they have been.

tye1138 · Mar 15th, 2008, 1:24 pm

I agree with Brian.

To me, the Japanese manufacturers tend to build a street bike first and force it to race, especially in AMA/WSB. Obviously Ducati builds there bikes with racing in mind because they know, every superbike they make, will race at some point. Its changing though, the 1098/848 are nowhere near the corse bikes. Everything from frame and swing arm to gear ratio's and compression ratio's are different on the modern corse bikes. In the past, you could get a hold of an R bike, and it would be pretty darn close to the RS version, especially with the 748R, which is very close to the RS model. They've had to dumb the 1098R down a lot and thats just frustrating.

If Ducati were smart, they'd produce a limited edition RACE-ONLY version of the 1098R with no emission crap, track fairings, race gear ratio's, adjustable rear sets, ya know.. stuff that makes a track bike, a track bike. Charge whatever they want, $50k? I mean, who cares what they charge. This way, you don't have to buy an RS, which needs to be re-built every day and you can get out of the box performance direct from Ducati, instead of your local tuner.

rz33v4 · Mar 15th, 2008, 3:13 pm

Uh-h-h. wouldn't the bike with those features be an RS? Talk about a niche market.