Is Bling really necessary

[Brett76]

 as the designer had intended...

Don't forget my friend that anything that rolls off the showroom floor is a compromise between what the design team drew, the marketers thought they could sell & what the bean counters were willing to spend on production. Think of bling/upgrades/modifications as getting your baby a littlecloser to what the designers originally penned. That's my line & I'm sticking with it - so far the wife hasn't asked too many questions.

B

[Betty]

so far the wife hasn't asked too many questions.

My wife doesn't ask questions either ... only statements, assertions and demands ... luckily I am submissive.

as the designer had intended...

Good point about the design intent - it is, after all, what the Monster was designed for ... personalisation. Geez, the porn bling accessories catalogue that comes with every Monster has been able to sustain the entire Italian print industry for 15 years.

Also don't forget that you are helping the world economy ... social sustainability is a good thing, right?

[Six95]

Just to let you know - Your first OZmo group ride is allowed bling free.
One piece of bling must be added to gain admission to every ride from there on........
Thems are the rules

[Mr.S2R]

Also don't forget that you are helping the world economy ... social sustainability is a good thing, right?

Ah so that is the cure for the GFC? If everyone bought a Monster and then purchased enhancements or modifications (bling is such a cheap filthy word  ) then we would be contributing to the bigger picture.  Plus reducing the carbon footprint? 

[stopintime]

.....................
  Plus reducing the carbon footprint? 

I think that's what carbon fiber is for.

[heatherp]

I was once like you, refusing to bling my bike.

But my bike refused to stay blingless.  It damaged itself in it's effort to get bling.  The rest is history.

[Mr.S2R]

I was once like you,

young, innocent and naive? 
yeah I know temptation will probably get the better of me, then it will turn in to an OCD.

Just another thought years down the track will bikes without bling be more collectors items?  I am making a loose (and that is my disclaimer) statement based on what I have seen in the car market - classic cars that is (I am a Pontiac nut also).  There is better value in an original than modified vehicle.  I am sure the Monster will become a collector bike as it is bike that changed the course of the market and started modern naked bikes.  So therefore bling could be bad?? 

[Betty]

Nice theory but the 'classic' market is extremely fickle. Depending on your perspective it could be argued that the Monster was Ducatis only truly mass produced bike.

Mass production rarely points towards escalating values ... if you were to hope for a stock bike being much sought after it would need to be in mint, original condition ... but where is the fun in that? Also if there is going to be any increase in value I would think you would need an extraordinarily long timeframe.

Collectable, classic and value are often have conflicting ideals.

[signora monster]

Just another thought years down the track will bikes without bling be more collectors items?  I am making a loose (and that is my disclaimer) statement based on what I have seen in the car market - classic cars that is (I am a Pontiac nut also).  There is better value in an original than modified vehicle.  I am sure the Monster will become a collector bike as it is bike that changed the course of the market and started modern naked bikes.  So therefore bling could be bad?? 

Just keep all your original bits in a box so you can change it back to original. But to be honest, everyone likes bling. I have a long way to go as I am still a Bling Virgin. Slowly but surely I am sure the corruption will get the better of me.  

[Mr.S2R]

Nice theory but the 'classic' market is extremely fickle.

true

Mass production rarely points towards escalating values ... if you were to hope for a stock bike being much sought after it would need to be in mint, original condition ... but where is the fun in that? Also if there is going to be any increase in value I would think you would need an extraordinarily long timeframe.

to be considered classic or collectable is only a time frame of roughly 30 years, which could make the first 'series' of Monsters collectable by 2024 approximately - or is that your definition of an extraordinary amount of time?

Collectable, classic and value are often have conflicting ideals.

agree there, and it is a matter of perception.  An example of that is the aussie muscle car market a few years ago had that massive boon and I thought "why?"

cheers for the comments and debate Betty!  

Just keep all your original bits in a box so you can change it back to original. But to be honest, everyone likes bling. I have a long way to go as I am still a Bling Virgin. Slowly but surely I am sure the corruption will get the better of me. 

yep already started keeping original bits! and true eye candy is always appreciated! 

[Betty]

trueto be considered classic or collectable is only a time frame of roughly 30 years, which could make the first 'series' of Monsters collectable by 2024 approximately - or is that your definition of an extraordinary amount of time? agree there, and it is a matter of perception.  An example of that is the aussie muscle car market a few years ago had that massive boon and I thought "why?"

cheers for the comments and debate Betty! 

Its a bit like the first time I saw a Toyota Corona station wagon at a classic car show ... neither classic, collectable or valuable ... but that's just my opinion.

As you may know we had our Fiat and Lambretta on display for Australia Day ... neither are original ... and yes it is easy to 'bling' a 45 year old scooter ... but we don't own them as investments. Interesting conversation with the bro-in-law that he was offered a decent amount of money for one of his scooters (which was not for sale) and he said he couldn't sell it for that because he simply doesn't think it is worth that much

[Mr.S2R]

Its a bit like the first time I saw a Toyota Corona station wagon at a classic car show ... neither classic, collectable or valuable ... but that's just my opinion.

Beauty (and value) is in the eye of the beholder! 

Interesting conversation with the bro-in-law that he was offered a decent amount of money for one of his scooters (which was not for sale) and he said he couldn't sell it for that because he simply doesn't think it is worth that much

Yeah I get that with my HQ Premier - it is in original condition (and I mean original down to the venetian blind and badly faded paint) and people offer me what I consider silly money. It is not for sale - I am leaving it to my daughter.

BUT back on subject I think the responses and comments have satisfied my curiosity for a Friday afternoon! Thanks all!

...and yes I will start looking at some bling errrr performance enhancements for my ride!! 

[Betty]

...and yes I will start looking at some bling errrr performance enhancements for my ride!! 

  What happened to staying strong?

[Mr.S2R]

What happened to staying strong?

I didn't say when I would start looking! 

[Spider]

as the designer had intended...

Don't forget my friend that anything that rolls off the showroom floor is a compromise between what the design team drew, the marketers thought they could sell & what the bean counters were willing to spend on production. Think of bling/upgrades/modifications as getting your baby a little closer to what the designers originally penned.

exactly!

remember Ducati has made many choices in spec throughout the years in the name of ensuring that the most expensive bike is 'worth' the most, so ever bike is a compromise. A stock bike is beautiful, but you can also view them as blank canvases ready for your paint - are you Pollock or Van Gogh?

Me? I'm not blinging - I'm building the bike ducati forgot to make, the S2rs, they always upspec the top of the line 2 valve except when the S4rs arrived and then they didn't want to cannibalise sales. So I build it the way it should have been done.

Other than a carbon headlight mount and a dash cover nothing I have done is bling....even the oil cap got replaced because the stock one leaked.