Top 100 selling bikes in Italy

[mitt]

Bikes 1 & 2 were my favorite rentals while living in Europe.  If Ducati was a Japanese Co. instead of Italian, I would be riding either 1 or 2.

mitt

[NorDog]

When I was in Rome last summer the bike I saw most frequently was the H-D Sportster in various "models" of trim (can I say "models of trim" here?).  This doesn't count the 11nty Billion scooters I saw, but of big road bikes it was definitely the Sportster.  I did see one fully dressed Electra Glide.  After the Sportster I most frequently saw various Japanese bikes; all models not available here in the States.

I should mention that I didn't see that many street bikes at all though, especially in comparison to the scooters.  The Roman moto scene is simply dominated by scooters.

[Betty]

NorDog I have to agree I was appalled by the number of Harleys we saw in Italy last year compared to Ducatis. We were repeatedly told that Ducatis were too expensive for Italians so I am a little surprised the numbers are as high as they are ... particularly, as you said, everyone rides scooters

But Ducatis are always too expensive, it doesn't matter what market. I am not surprised with the comparative number of 696s ... the 6 series Monster was almost exclusively what you saw on the street. I should also clarify that the cobble-stoned streets of the tourists centres are probably not the best place to be riding Ducatis.

the list looks logical to me.

Dave, do you mean this from a 'similar to US proportions' point of view? It would surprise me a little if the 696 was so highly represented over there.

Interesting number for me is the 848. I would think that would kill any chance of an 848 based streetfighter if the numbers are indicative of the global market ... but perhaps they would actually do better without the 848 and an 848 based streetfighter in its place.

[zLoki]

NorDog I have to agree I was appalled by the number of Harleys we saw in Italy last year compared to Ducatis.

Consider that a Ducati is an exotic here in the US but a Harley is an exotic in Italy.  It's the status symbol.  Seen the same thing in a dozen countries.  Some may not like a HD but you can not deny the appeal this bit of Americana has on the rest of world.  Add on the high cost of entry to an HD overseas (importing, license restrictions, etc) and often the HD is the cooler bike to own, if you have the money.

[kopfjäger]

I was appalled by the number of Harleys we saw in Italy last year compared to Ducatis.

Why were you "appalled"?

[Betty]

I didn't mean it in a Harley bashing way if that is the way it read. I was just really hoping to see more Ducatis. I was expecting a lot of scooters too but was appalled that so few of them were Italian made.

To me it just didn't feel right.

[Goat_Herder]

Anybody surprised to see any bikes NOT appearing on the top 100?  I would think MV Agusta might have pushed out a few more bikes in Italy to make the list. 

[Travman]

Here's the totals for Ducati.
             Model                  Sold      Rank       % of Ducati Sales
Ducati   Monster 696      3599   3   43.62%
Ducati   Hypermotard 1100 1273   20   15.43%
Ducati   Streetfighter       965   30   11.70%
Ducati   Monster 1100      922   32   11.17%
Ducati   848                640   45   7.76%
Ducati   1198/1198S       557   55   6.75%
Ducati   1098/1098S       295   87   3.58%

Ducati Total      8251      

Key facts:
More than half of the Ducati sold were Monsters.
The Streetfighter barely broke 10% and barely outsold the M 1100.
The SBKs combined didn't break 20%.
The HM 1100 outsold the M 1100 by more than 4% (351 bikes)

Ducati overall market share 9.59%
The Monster (696/1100 combined) had a market share of 5.26%

What about the Sport Classics?  Do they sell those in Italy?

[Raux]

What about the Sport Classics?  Do they sell those in Italy?

didn't list in the top 100 bikes.

[geoffduc]

Last year four friends went to italy to follow the moto giro and one of them needed a new back tyre on this bike so they called in at a large ducati dealer in trento, well when the guys in the work shop saw the bike they almost creamed thier under wear.
The reason? it was a paul smart and with all the whistles and bells, they had never seen one before and they are only half a days ride from the factory.
On my visits to italy I've only seen a few ducati's mostly monsters except when at WDW2007 other wise its scooters, scooters and more scooters.

 

[redxblack]

I was in Prague for a week and saw a few Ducs, a bunch of Hondas (and other Japanese bikes), but only one Harley. I was hoping to see what a Czech road pirate would look like, but the bike was parked.

[Raux]

here in kaiserslautern, germany, there's a trial going on about a motorcycle gang killing.
there are riot police out just in case... but the gangs are coming in by bus (per police arrangement) to show organized support and protest... by bus!
probably police threatened to arrest anyone who rode in. in germany, the police have a little more authority, you refuse a breathalizer... they take blood, the hard way if they have to.
anyway. back  to the gangs. germany has a HUGE harley following.

[NorDog]

here in kaiserslautern, germany, there's a trial going on about a motorcycle gang killing.
there are riot police out just in case... but the gangs are coming in by bus (per police arrangement) to show organized support and protest... by bus!
probably police threatened to arrest anyone who rode in. in germany, the police have a little more authority, you refuse a breathalizer... they take blood, the hard way if they have to.
anyway. back  to the gangs. germany has a HUGE harley following.

Raux, I presume these biker gang members aren't lawyers and dentists like so many of the H-D bikers over here.

[Raux]

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5046885,00.html

nope the real deal.
Hell's Angels
Bandidos
Outlaws

serious shit. we've been told to stay away from downtown on trial dates.

[RC]

Does anyone know if credit is readily available in Italy for motor vehicles? I wonder because most guys I know who own Ducatis' finance them. Maybe that's why italians don't own Ducatis'.