OCC and it's affect on other dealerships (publicity) and the aftermarket?

[Speedbag]

I think the whole OCC/Ducati deal is more of a commentary on the state of OCC's business than on that of Ducati. 

If the custom chopper market were as strong today as it was even 2 years ago, this Ducati deal would never have happened.

+1

A while back, when I happened to catch an episode one night (a rare occurrence), they were making plans and breaking ground for their huge "world headquarters".

I remember thinking, "World headquarters?!? Do these guys think this craze will last forever???"

If it were me, I would have stayed in the same shithole building they started the bike biz in and just made it work....

[ScottRNelson]

I remember thinking, "World headquarters?!? Do these guys think this craze will last forever???"

I caught part of an episode last night and Paul Sr. went to Finland to set up some distributors for there and Russia.  Supposedly Russian millionaires want custom choppers. 

[jerryz]

OCC =Good for Ducati publicity and profile and public awarness generally which will help other dealers.

OCC= BAD because soon there will be loads of FUGLY Ducatis polluting our vision and making us puke.

[Duck-Stew]

One of the things given the last five years of myself going to HD events / shows with my DesmoDevils that are Ducati powered -- there are a LOT (and a mean a LOT!) of HD industry / custom builders that own and ride Ducati's.  I've had some of the biggest "industry folks" who fully admit they don't ride their own creations on the weekends -- they fire up the Ducati and go ride instead.  Thus why I have strangely been welcomed into the world of HD event / shows -- most of them "get" Ducati's and think they are cool.  Some have even ridden mine (or my customers bike) as well and were blown away that something so lightweight and powerful could literally dance around their HD bikes.

Noticed that myself at the LA Calendar bike show with the Bobber.  LOTS of exposure and compliments on it.

OCC =Good for Ducati publicity and profile and public awarness generally which will help other dealers.

OCC= BAD because soon there will be loads of FUGLY Ducatis polluting our vision and making us puke.

OCC = Good for me because of the 'BAD' reason listed above.   

[PragB]

No wonder people don't like Ducati owners.................



again, who cares?


I didn't buy my ducati's because of the stigma around it, the publicity, OCC having a dealership, etc.

I bought my bikes because I like the way they look, feel, and ride.


If you bought it for another reason, then whatever. Be pissed.

But my bikes still ride the same and will ride the same after OCC.

Are you sure you ride a Ducati? You don't sound like an egocentric, self absorbed douchebag...

[onederer]

All this doom and gloom over some guys opening up a dealership?

Over react much?

OCC also makes a deadly strain of the Flu (not the pussy flu that's all over the news right now) and is going to package it with EVERY Ducati they sell.
TRUE STORY!

[banali]

Beautiful, in 6 pages we went from the OP's thoughtful posting:

Enough OCC bashing for now. What is done is done.  There are some "positive / perks" to this publicity though. 

I've had some interesting conversations in the custom builder / dealership / aftermarket vendors due to OCC the past few days.

Comments were:

a) DNA will get the Ducati Monster 1100 on an episode (confirmed)
b) If that is the best OCC can do on short notice, we have nothing to worry about
c) Given OCC's shop rates -- we should all be able to raise our shop rates by $35/65 per hour to be comparable
d) When will OCC appear on a "Ducati Island" as the featured attraction? (Trailer w/Sr gets $35K/day for "appearances")
e) Ducati will be renamed "Duke" after Paul Sr.'s english mastiff
f) "old school" customizing will replace "all black" motif's
g) "billet is dead" -- it's going to be twisted ornamental metal for the upcoming new trend
h) "Spinners" will be the new Ducati wheel fashion statement
i)  Whom is going to take the first picture of Paul Sr actually riding a Ducati!
j) Who's aftermarket parts are they going to copy first? (they have done it in the HD aftermarket)
k) Will Randy Mamola on the Ducati GP 2-seater give one of the Tuetel's a ride on it?
l) Who will get the better visibility parking space for their semi/transporter -- DNA or OCC?
m) Will dealerships sell more Ducati's and get more showroom traffic due to TLC/OCC exposure?
n) Will the aftermarket sell more parts due to potentially more "non Ducati" folks getting involved in the industry due to the publicity?
o) forums: will we see a new influx of Ducati enthusiasts on our boards from outside the Ducati World?

Main thing I see:  Although the deal makes me rather sickly feeling, I'm glad to see that maybe DNA is starting to recognize further the publicity that the "name" folks can create for them.  Be it a Ducati Challenge event; custom builders creating Ducati powered bikes or heavily modifying existing Ducati's; movie deals ala Matrix; Roland Sands projects; "Dealerships" doing the 1100 Monster Challenge;  etc.  The more visible it makes how one can modify a Ducati -- the more bikes they sell to enthusiasts (via dealerships) and more sales/work for us in the aftermarket industry as a result thereof.

It will be interesting to see how they all works out.  It might be a fabulous marketing / publicity deal to "re-energize" a rather slow industry due to the economy. 

Your thoughts? (on affects to the industry / aftermarket / etc -- not necessarily more OCC "bashing" which is too easy to do!)

To this:

<snip>OCC also makes a deadly strain of the Flu (not the pussy flu that's all over the news right now) and is going to package it with EVERY Ducati they sell. <snip>

[Drunken Monkey]

Last night as I'm leaving Zeitgiest I'm cornered by yet another inebriated, loudmouthed Harley owner who just had to go on and on about how great his Harleys are, but how he thinks Ducatis are "okay."

Let's face it, he wouldn't feel the need to "share" so much if he wasn't interested by the bike.

This happens all the time to me. Maybe it's the chrome tank and the Conti replicas. I dunno. But either way, it seems like they want to open up and tell me they like my bike, but... well they're too embarrassed.

Same as the folks who ask "Is that a Buell?" Or say "Nice Buell." They like the bike. They know it's not a Harley, per se. Ergo, In order for them to like it, "it must be a Buell."

So my theory is that Harley guys secretly lust for Ducatis, but it's a "the love that dare not speak it's name." kinda thing.

So, in the end my hope is the OCC deal will get these guys out of the closet, and finally accepting that "Yes, lusting after a Ducati is okay."

And they'll stop bugging me outside of bars. 

[teddy037.2]

idk, man... your bike's probably one of the closest things out there to a cruiser...

I'd wager the tigrebike doesn't turn the same heads