Ducati Monster Forum

Time for a little rant.

Anybody that knows us (the Boss and I) probably won't be surprised to hear that occasionally we discuss 'which current model Ducati would you buy?' We don't discuss other marques and have little interest in considering bikes from other manufacturers ... and I s'pose that is part of the reason I am kinda pissed off at the moment. Perhaps the revealing thing is that we can't actually nominate a current model we would like to own.

Anyway ... on Friday night we received in our inbox an invitation for Turismo 2015. After discussing it yesterday (with regard to timing) we 'clicked the link' as the advert stated "TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT" ... well disappointment was exactly what we received.

It was no surprise that the photo you first see shows three modern Multi-stroodles travelling on the open road together (hopefully they don't get lost and wander across the Qld border in that formation) ... and I had a little chuckle to myself as I joked following the last Turismo that 'perhaps future Turismo events would be limited to that model only'. But then I read on.

It goes on with the usual blurb with words like passion, Ducatista and Ducati spirit ... and then, just as you have convinced yourself that although it is overpriced and kinda wanky it would be great to catch up with some of the characters you have met on previous Turismo events ... you get to the bottom of the conditions - after the asterisk.

Ducati Turismo 2015 is only open to Ducati models 2006 onwards ... and they casually slip that parenthesised information into a sentence that ends with an exclamation mark. Well make the beast with two backs that! ... was my first thought, with an exclamation mark! Or two!

We have four Ducatis ... none of which can be considered vintage ... and only one of them qualifies. Somewhat ironically, yesterday when we were discussing whether we can attend I'd asked the Boss which bike she would take and she was reluctant to take the only bike that qualifies because it is the least reliable.

Now I can understand that Ducati Australia may feel the need to pander to those that will continue to buy the 'latest and greatest' ... but it simply doesn't fit ... not with the intial blurb, nor with the ideal of passion they are trying to instill.

... and now I must respectfully ask that I be allowed to continue my rant later, I'm not done yet. Feel free to join in.

I bet a beer that they will change that 2006 rule - stupid and they will be made aware.

About which current model you'd buy... What if you make a challenge out of it... "which mods must be done to make a current bike into one I'd like to ride?"

 [Dolph]

I honestly can't see them changing it big fella ... I'll have to dig up my thoughts on the last Turismo to indicate how the mentality seemed to be changing. They seem determined to suck the life out the thing and stuff the gaping void full of rude, boring and cashed-up 'Stroodle owners*

* Generalisation based on real events

I've got 80k miles combined on my '02 S4 and '98 M750, and I got stranded once, with a flat tire.
Damn pre-2006 Ducatis, they break down all the time.
I'm gonna write a nasty letter to Ducati.
Unconscionable that they'd produce such unreliable junkpiles.

Seriously, make the beast with two backs 'em.

they've sold so many mts1200 i doubt it'll be an issue filling it up.

They probably only want fleeting passion









                                               Mmick

I've done the last three Turismos and thoroughly enjoyed every one of them.  I thought I'd be doing many more in the years to come but it seems this will be my last if I take part. My '06 S2R1000 is my only bike , one which I have put a lot of time and effort into. I have no desire to sell it and buy a new model so it seems my Turismo days are done. The last event didn't appear to be a sell out and there was a fair percentage of older bikes which will all be culled. Who ever made this call , I hope they reconsider.

Poor form  [thumbsdown]

Alright suckers, here's the deal.

They don't want Ducatista.  They want Ducatpurchasista. 

What make the beast with two backsing use are you if you're not in the market for a new one??

Misty eyed love affairs with things produced years ago... doesn't support the marque. 

It's marketing wank.  You're invited. 

I wont be there.

Yet again.

I agree Betty. As you know I did 2008 in SA and 2010 in Tas. Neither was perfect but I noticed the quality of the experience declining.

Those terms and conditions are really sucky. They can boot you out for speeding and not give you any kind of refund. And the 10 year rule just sucks.

I am already planning an alternative ride with the group I did both previous Turismos with. None of us will be back, even if I still had a bike.

 

Let me quote them on their website........

" Open only to Ducati owners and a pillion passenger; join us to experience and share in the prestige, passion and excellence of Ducati! This exclusive event aims to give Ducati owners and their select guests the ultimate four day riding experience. No matter your preferred form of taking in the adventure, Turismo 2015 is organised to accommodate every Ducati rider. Whether you’re a first time novice or experienced Ducatista, Turismo is about sharing the Ducati spirit and forging new bonds with like-minded riders as well a riding some of the most amazing roads that our country has to offer."

It sais, " Turismo 2015 is organised to accomodate every Ducati rider. "

Then, in another paragraph they say this.......

" Attendance to the Ducati Turismo 2015 event is to be in the spirit of Ducati! The only motorcycle brand welcome in Turismo 2015 is Ducati (2006 models onwards) so pack all your RED and show off! "

Hello, am I missing something here   ?      Sounds to me like a bunch of Multi strudels are arranging this lads....  as their photo clearly shows what they really want on their little outing.....someone in there needs a rocket up their posterior   !

(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/braando54/301063_634x357_zps1d33f07e.jpg)

Sounds like Dads army are arranging the event Mark, heard that a few lads are tempted to organise their own ride.....

Seems like they have had some negative feedback and have now opened it to 2005 and older models provided you can show them your service records for the past two years. Revised terms and conditions.

No beer for Betty  [drink]

Ooh!

So it's open only to 2005 and older, they've told all the MultiStroodle wanks (present company excepted) to take a hike?

Checked the site.... not exactly.

Here's their edit:

Ducati Turismo is a multi-day social touring event covering daily distances of between 300 to 500kms.
In the interests of participant enjoyment and safety and for us to provide on-event technical support and
roadside assistance should it become necessary, it is ideally suited to Ducati motorcycles 10 years older or less (i.e. 2006 or newer).
Owners of 2005 models and older are also welcome to participate in Turismo and will be accepted
by providing their service history by an Authorised Ducati Dealer for the previous 2 years.
Purely for safety, riders of the 2005 and older Ducatis must affix a red "DD" (Decrepit Ducati) emblem to the front and rear of their jackets.

If one was skeptical" Fraser's motorcycles authorised Ducati dealer " serviced only .................. you had it serviced where ?
no that wont do at all  [bang]
sorry computer sais no.

What a f*#king disgrace!
It's bad enough they wank on with all their elitist bullshit about experiencing the passion, prestige blah blah of ducati, but only if you have a new one. oh wait, no, we'll let all the paupers tag along and pity them but they have to have been serviced by a shop that's part of the stea.... err dealer network. well NO WONDER we're paupers then!

I for one want my bike to run properly and come back from a service with no scratches and chips and the work i paid for performed..... i also flat out refuse to sit around and verbally masturbate with almost OAP's who insist about prattling on about how they also have three harleys and a porsche in the garage while claiming how their streamlined panniers on their multi is saving them fuel and tyre wear and "who's the road captain?"

F#*K you NFI, stick your tourismo bullshit wank fest, i'll ride with mates on whatever they have, however old it is and maintained by whoever they F*#KING please! they're not going to throw me out for speeding or ordering caramel in my latte' or whatever other pathetic infringement you deem not in the spirit of your poncy get together.

I wonder what foreskin, hang on, fore sighted genius decided on those restrictions? i bet there's a free haemorrhoid cushion in every starter bag, i wonder how long it will take them to figure out that real "ducatista" have been loyal for years (23 here) and the "johnny come lately" tossers buying whatever is fashionable today will be spending their tax haven ill gotten booty on some other shiny trinket that gets a wrap in the press as soon as their precious warranty expires!

of course, there's a benefit to having older bikes there........ at least _those_ riders won't be whining about warranty issues not being honoured and getting the run around with pathetic excuses why that starter sprag or shift drum is not covered........

Well said

So there's no change, 'cos there are exactly zero Ducs that are out of warranty that get serviced by dealers...

[thumbsup]

Come on guys, stop bagging the Turismo........ya bunch of girls     [roll]

Here is my suggestion, we still have time for all of us pre 06 bikes to trade them in at Frasers and pick up our Multi doodles just so that we can go on this special outing.    [thumbsup].......     I honestly don't know what the f.... anyone gets out of these organised, HIGHLY sponsored rides, full of propaganda BS. Anyway, next year it may even be sponsored by Audi     ;D   Oh dear, there goes my Ducati calendar for next year,,,,,bugga............   

Actually it isn't ... well hasn't been in the past. In fact you could argue that there hasn't been enough.

If they wanted to build the brand ... they would bring back the 'show and shine' and the test rides (neither of which they had on the last Turismo) ... and of course allow the 'vintage' bikes to come along.

As mentioned above they haven't really changed the ruling ... they have only changed the wording.

I'll have my lawyer take a look and we'll see  [thumbsup]

I wouldn't worry too much about the event excluding us faithful Ducati Riders. My mate went this year and he said it was utter crap. Poor organisation, the group ride was cancelled, The place was too far from a pub, The resort was super expensive for drinks, The weather was average and my mate wont be going back again. [thumbsdown]

Rob

Wow, I'm pretty sure I've attended more rallies and events on OTHER brands than the one that was hosting the event.

I've never been turned away with a Harley at a Guzzi rally, or a Guzzi and Duc at a BMW rally.

So these twats are acting more elitist than BMW owners, hmmm, Audi is either rubbing off or they found a soul mate.

Kev, to my eye this is not a traditional rally ... and I don't have a particular concern with the single marque ruling (I was part of a previous edition which allowed guests and I witnessed some of their behaviour).

The big issue to me is excluding dozens (maybe hundreds?) that have participated in the past and made the event what it was. The potential it has - even as a marketing exercise - is lost.

I dunno, exclusion is exclusion.

You can't honestly say that someone's behavior will be better or worse based on brand.
If it truly is a marketing tool excluding anyone is silly, but yes, excluding brand owners is ridiculous.

Having never been to a Tourismo event I can't comment to organization of the ride.
What I would say is that someone at NFI didn't really think about the largest club they are affiliated with being DOCNSW and the fact that many of the members own bikes on either side of the original 2006 rule. And to that end many of them like to ride the pre 2006 bikes as much or more than their moderns bikes.

Unless they get a great turn out this year they may have just signed it's own death certificate.
Especially if some folks from a bit of an anti-Tourismo ride.

There were only 60 bikes on the event - mostly MultiStrada 1200s with a lone 1100 and the rest were Diavels, 1199/1299s and I think one Monster and one Scrambler. Yes it was a big marketing event, however it always has been (this was my 5th) and I typically do them for the longer rides as most of my mates can't handle a ride longer than 4 hours these days  :(

The weather was crap - just like the last day of the 2012 and 2010 rides and the roads were taken from the Top 200 by the Bear, no new roads to explore, so I did a few of my own.

Last years event was a MultiStrada "Experience" not a Turismo - although there isn't much difference now.

Ducati have an interesting problem - the owners of the older bikes don't want to buy a new bike and the owners of a new bike have a new one, so they're not going to spend big again any time soon. It's actually a wasted marketing event and should be returned to a general owners ride. There was a comment from Wally that they stopped doing the final day concours because they had feedback that no one wanted it anymore.

Perhaps someone could organise an anti-Turismo run?

Geez Stephen - that has been some time between posts. Thanks for your input ... a couple of us had been wondering how it went - to my eyes, at least, not successfully.

A rather stark contrast to the first Turismo I attended where I believe there were a couple of hundred attendees ... and it was the last one to include the show and shine, demo rides and guests (of which there were few in reality).

Perhaps people are not interested in the show and shine because it would only be row after row of new Multi-stroodles. I know of one particular OzMo who was most disappointed it was canned last time around. The last one held (in Tassie) was diminished by the weather I think ... but that is no reason to can it during future events.