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

[MotoCreations]

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!)

[JEFF_H]

Did you send them a resume?





(i keed, i keed  )

[OverCaffeinated]

Ducati and OCC teaming up is like when Stevie Wonder had to sing with the Jonas Brothers at the Grammy's. I can't see anything good that might come of it.

[Rob Hilding]

Ducati and OCC teaming up is like when Stevie Wonder had to sing with the Jonas Brothers at the Grammy's. I can't see anything good that might come of it.

Neither could Stevie

(I keed, I keed)

[OverCaffeinated]

Neither could Stevie

(I keed, I keed)

That's wrong, but a good one. 

[DucHead]

Mark - the only thing I care about right now is that you don't raise the price of BoomTubes before I place my order for a set for my S4R.   

On topic...I think its rather simple:  if Ducati sells more Monsters/bikes, then the aftermarket will expand.  However, I'm just a chemist, not an economist. 

[RBX QB]

Say what you will about OCC, but occassionally they come up with some interesting mod ideas. It's just hard to look past the gaudy overall bikes. I look at choppers, HDs, SBKs, and even squids for ideas that I like, but that doesn't mean I want to buy any of them.

That's the beauty of what WE do with our bikes, and discuss here on the board. It's not that any of us have the perfect mod, but we have enough ideas  and creativity to make the perfect mods for ourselves, and we share them with eachother to make the ideas better.

The OCC Ducatis, should they actually create their own custom line (which I doubt), will find an audience. In the mean time, maybe the "free" publicity will spark enough of an interest to increase sales, and thereby create more aftermarket options for us.

I look forward to seeing OCC impact the Ducati aftermarket, as long as it gives me more ideas and more options.

[NAKID]

One thing they do that I like is hiding the wiring inside the tube frame...

[Grampa]

Paul Sr is a drama magnet.

I see a future American Chopper episode where they sub out a custom swingarm from Norm    



I keed I keed too   

[AfroStar]

OCC will make better bikes now with Ducati's knowledge.  Their choppers will have Ohlins like RSD.   OCC needs Ducati to be move up to the next level.  I'm sure under a partners agreement, OCC will not make Ducati look bad.  besides their loaded! they can import a mechanic from Bologna to do the service.

Afrocentric

[gearhead]

 Mountains out of mole hills.

[Rob Hilding]

Paul Sr is a drama magnet.

I see a future American Chopper episode where they sub out a custom swingarm from Norm    



I keed I keed Three   

Fixed

[Grrrly]

One positive is that the dealership should bring more business to European Cycle Services in Middletown, NY.!!!   
Great bunch of guys there!!!!!!!!!!!!  They know their shit!

[ScottRNelson]

Check out what they've done to this Monster:




Poor thing

Article here: http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2009/04/orange-county-choppers-becomes.html

[Speedbag]

Check out what they've done to this Monster:




Poor thing

Article here: http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2009/04/orange-county-choppers-becomes.html

Wow, is that gay. 

DNA, give me a new 1100 Monster, and I'll do it proud.

From the link: "....better known for its unique brand of father/son homoeroticism...."