MultiStrada... going, going, gone?

[MikeM]

The Ducati Roadshow predicts only four "families" will remain in the lineup starting in 2008. There are six families now, Superbike, SuperSport, Sport Touring, Monster, Sport Classic and Multistrada. So, two go away, right? But.... Ducati adds another line next year - HyperMotard. So three get the axe.

Most likely candidates? Certainly the SuperSport - which only sells about 1,000 units and probably less this year now that the Classics are here. No point in keeping a family which nets such poor sales while racking up manufacturing, sales, marketing and support costs. Next poorest-selling family is Sport Tourers with only about 1,500 units sold per year, so they're likely gone in this scenario. And with the announcement of only one "entry door" to remain in the lineup - the Monster - the little MultiStrada will drop and with it, overall sales for that family. Undoubtedly the HyperMotard will steal MS sales as well. Looks like the MultiStrada gets the hook, too.

[Reducs]

Who's to say that the Hyper won't be badged as the Multistrada Hypermotard? They can sell the current Multi with hard bags and the tall windscreen, call it an 'Adventure Tourer' and position the Hyper as the 'pure' vision of the Multistrada line.

That said, the Multi 620 all but has an expiration date stamped on it.

[rob]

Originally Posted by Reducs

Who's to say that the Hyper won't be badged as the Multistrada Hypermotard? They can sell the current Multi with hard bags and the tall windscreen, call it an 'Adventure Tourer' and position the Hyper as the 'pure' vision of the Multistrada line.

That said, the Multi 620 all but has an expiration date stamped on it.

I'm disappointed that they're axing so many products and not doing year after year of "Final Editions" first. Or...think we'll see an SS1000DS/FE? 999/FE? ST4s/FE?

[migz123]

I recall having read on the recent plan that they want to reduce the entire line-up down to 17 bikes total (please correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't verify anymore since the link to the report is gone).

There was no mention on the report of the complete removal of whole families that I can recall.

Right now the number of bikes per family are:

Monster: 8

MultiStrada: 4

Sport Touring: 2

SuperBike: 8

SuperSport: 2

Classic: 3

TOTAL: 24

Since two new bikes will be added: HyperMotard and D16RR, then that means 9 bikes need to be removed from the current lineup to reduce down to 17 bikes.

By process of elimination, we should first remove all non-monster entry-level bikes, since this move was expressly clear:

749 Dark

MultiStrada 620

MultiStrada 620 Dark

800 SS

We now need to remove 5 more bikes from the current line-ups... which ones will this be?

Since there are 6 families, then all Ducati has to do is remove an average of ONE bike from only 5 familes.

That way, they get to 17 bikes as stated in the report, without eliminating any families.

Because of this, I think that prediction to reduce down to 4 familes is not likely to happen since that would be too narrow.

It then looks like Ducati will reduce to 5 familes (if at all), instead of 4, in 2008, and still maintain a diversified line-up with 17 bikes across a broader range.



.

[pazzoduc]

Agreed, but I have heard that one or two bikes in addition to your count above will be added prior to 08. Not sure if 07 or not, but 08 anyhows (can't say source, he asked me not to). This would make some sense to phase out older designs in exchange for new ones. Thereby, some of the other bikes could get the axe in exchange for better sellers?

Crystal ball is murky to say the least!

[MikeM]

Originally Posted by migz123

There was no mention on the report of the complete removal of whole families that I can recall.


.

Your memory is faulty. that's exactly what the document says.

[migz123]

Originally Posted by pazzoduc

Agreed, but I have heard that one or two bikes in addition to your count above will be added prior to 08. Not sure if 07 or not, but 08 anyhows (can't say source, he asked me not to). This would make some sense to phase out older designs in exchange for new ones. Thereby, some of the other bikes could get the axe in exchange for better sellers?

No doubt at least 9 bikes need to be axed...

Your friend says there will be more new bikes added in '08 in addition to the HyperMotard and D16RR? (Talking about all-new, I mean)

Originally Posted by MikeM

Your memory is faulty. that's exactly what the document says.

Well then 5 families is my prediction. I will bet $100 on it.

[Emerson]

Specifically down to 12 models in 4 families with only one entry level model.

[migz123]

Originally Posted by Emerson

Specifically down to 12 models in 4 families with only one entry level model.

I recall the report saying 17 models... (please correct me if I'm wrong)

[Emerson]

Which means what? I'm guessing, but Superbike, Monster, Sport Classics, and either Sport Touring or the Multistrada / Hypermotard family.

I love the ST3s, but they really have cut that line back, sales aren't high, and it's not racy enough. The Multi OTOH, is ugly, though the Hypermotard is not, and it seems to be part of the Multi family. The Multi, though ugly, gets to use the Hypermotard and its strong sales and good rankings as a sport-tourer to stay alive, IMHO. Probably a redesign.

My bet is ST is gone. Sucks, because I loooove that ST3s. Anyone know if buying a bike that could be cut from the line is a bad idea? It takes a long time to get parts now for a current model bike.

Anyway, that's my $0.02 crystal ball's wild-ass guess.