Ducati cuts production

[Drjones]

Every business around the world are reducing their inventories right now since smaller inventories means a smaller tax bill at the end of the year.

[ICON]

The SF makes the S4Rs look like a bargain

[NorDog]

CANNOT compare a Buell Blast to a Ducati Monster.

wow.

are you serious?

I didn't.

No.

Relax already.

[Raux]

sorry. my MSF instructor rode one of those vibrators on wheels to show us what manuevers he wanted us to copy.

I truly felt sorry for Buell as a company for that thing.

As far as underpowered... IMO bikes have become overpowered.
I like Colin Chapman's theory.. light is right or something to to that effect.

And Ducati has followed that with the newer bikes. the 696 dry being 355 lbs was a coup.
An SS coming in around 300-350 lbs... wow, could you imagine! even with only 100hp.
but I know, HP numbers sell. not that most people will ever use that.. that's why there are 500+ HP Mustangs on the street from the factory.

[BumbleB]

You guys also have to consider the US to Euro exchange rate. The dollar sucks right now. You can't expect Ducati not to raise our prices accordingly.

+1, great point to consider...plus inflated prices over time make S4Rs v. SF comparisons tough from a pure cost perspective, although I like the rawness of the S4R better. Interesting thread...

[Michael]

I suppose the low priced Boxster has been a deathknell for Porsche... come on. a great company can make a low priced GREAT vehicle without it being a Buell Blast.

I think you just proved yourself wrong.

Porsche failed in its recent attempts to expand, and Volkswagen bought them out.

I mean, I don't think VW owns Porsche now because of the Boxster, but I wouldn't use Porsche as an example.

[vwboomer]

Ducati has some pricing issues I think. But they're a small manufacturer. Things are going to cost more. But you're also paying for the snob factor. The 'look at me'.
A lot of people are going to look at race results and go buy the Gixxer or the R1. They'll look at the dyno numbers n go for the gixxer or  R1. And they're gonna look at the price and save $4k over the 1198.

I love my S4R. I bought it used 1 year old for 3k off retail. I would never, could never, afford to buy a new one. Hell, I'm not sure I could afford to buy a recent model used one anymore.

[herm]

i also think that ducati has priced itself out of a big segment of its market.
and i think a lower displacement hyper would be all kinds of fun.

[Randimus Maximus]

+1 on a 696 HM.

As far as production cuts, they probably waited too long.

Just like the car market, consumers aren't buying.

It will hopefully help used bike pricing as the supply tightens up.

[Goat_Herder]

i also think that ducati has priced itself out of a big segment of its market.
and i think a lower displacement hyper would be all kinds of fun.

I think, as a "premium" brand, Ducati is out of reach for a big part of the market.  Just as BMW, MB, and other premium brands.  They don't make their money by volume.  They never will.  What they do is creating a premium and somewhat exclusive products that demand higher price.  They can create entry-level, "gateway", products that people with less means can afford - Boxster, MB B Class, etc.  But ultimately, they want the consumers to fork over big money for the big ticket items.

The problem for Ducati and Porsche is not that they are over priced.  Supply and demand will correct the pricing problem.  The problem is that the overall market is just not spending.  Toyota and Honda have the same problem, too.  The rest of the world is in the same boat.

[m1moto]

Porsche is in the pooh because of a botched attempt to take over VW and a high-flying CEO

This is from LeftLane News

Following a failed takeover of Volkswagen, Porsche has fired CEO Wendelin Wiedeking and CFO Holger Härter.
Wiedeking orchestrated the failed takeover of VW, leaving Porsche with a debt of $12 billion and a cash shortfall somewhere
in the neighborhood of $3.5 billion.
Wiedeking, already Germany's highest paid executive at â,¬77.4 million, (that is $9.15mil per month)  will receive a â,¬50 severance package from Porsche

As for Ducati they definitely need 1 or 2 more models in the sub $10k price range

[Goat_Herder]

As for Ducati they definitely need 1 or 2 more models in the sub $10k price range

I do agree that Ducati need a few more "gateway" products to get people hooked to the brand.  Ducati has built a very loyal and devoted followers.  A few more bikes under 10K would create a bigger pipeline for future Ducatisti's. 

[5lv]

It would also help if they could shed their image of unreliable maintenance hogs, with over priced, unobtainable parts.

[AfroStar]

It would also help if they could shed their image of unreliable maintenance hogs, with over priced, unobtainable parts.

That is hard to do, since this is an Italian brand, it goes together.  Thanks to Ferrari and Lambo's the stereotype will stick, but to the people who do made the switch, 98% are 100% satisfied... I hope that's correct...

[redxblack]

Ducati is offering prices I'd expect to see on Bimotas. I'm afraid to even look at what Bimota is charging.


but in all seriousness, I'm going to keep on buying older bikes. I REALLY want a SC, but with the tank issues I'm not about to put dime one into an investment with such a known problem. I'll just wait for the right deal on a used 70s GT.