Ducati brings back 999 for LE model (UPDATE: Yes this was an April Fool’s)

[ducatiz]

http://www.ducatinewstoday.com/2010/04/ducati-brings-back-limited-edition-999/



I find it strangely attractive.

But I can't seem to find it anywhere else, and I assume Ducati would have it on their website...  might be an April Fool's

***UPDATE:  Yes this was an April Fool's Post!!  Hope you enjoyed it

[Ratfink749]

Wow.. I'm feeling a fairly high ammount of activity below the ol' utility belt for this one!  Thats awesome..  Strange move for Ducati.. but I'm definitely a fan!

[Howley]

That was posted on april fools day. Just sayin'.

[1KDS]

I'm not yet a fan of the platinum, but it may grow on me (if this isn't an april fools prank).  The Terblanche signature and the sf motor are nice touches.  Did they just have parts laying around?

[Triple J]

That was posted on april fools day. Just sayin'.

Exactly 

[Betty]

That was posted on april fools day. Just sayin'.

But I think they may be right in that the 999 may be more popular (style-wise) now than when it was on sale.

[DoubleEagle]

That's pertty.



Only 999...........that's for the whole Rock.

No mention of $$$.

We'll see.

Dolph     

[hadesducati848]

http://www.ducatinewstoday.com/2010/04/ducati-brings-back-limited-edition-999/



I find it strangely attractive.

i find that really hot and i dont even care for the 999s

[ducatiz]

So you contract with your suppliers to build X thousands of parts for your new bike

Your new bike design doesn't sell well.

You have far too many parts in storage for spares because it didn't sell well in the first place (frames, tanks, fairings, etc)

You have a new engine design.

Take all the spares and stuff the new engine into it,voila!  Make lemonade from lemons!

They are also only making 999 of them.  I think they will sell out.

The 999 had the adjustable seat and tank angles, which were NICE. 

[duclvr]

"The 999 sold so poorly that it nearly put Ducati out of business!"

Gotta love that quote. 

[ducatiz]

"The 999 sold so poorly that it nearly put Ducati out of business!"

Gotta love that quote. 

now that i think aboutj it, that quote sort of proves it's an april fool's joke.

ducati had their highest sales during the 999 period -- including the sbks.. they all sold very well...  the 999 did not sell as well as they would have liked, but it certainly did NOT nearly put them out of business.. their stock when it was public soared during this period..

[whippersnapper]

I wrote the April Fool's post.   By the way it isn't true that "ducati had their highest sales during the 999 period".  I lay everything out on a post on my blog http://www.ducatinewstoday.com/2009/09/how-the-999-nearly-killed-ducati/

Here is an excerpt.

After reaching sales of 413 million Euros in 2002, sales fell 6% in 2003 with the Superbike range down 26%, the new Multistrada the only bright light. The following year the already poor 999 sales were flat. With sales falling in 2005 by 36%, a reduction at least in part attributable to the discontinuation of the 998 Final Edition, the company suffering a 41 million Euro loss.

[ducatiz]

I wrote the April Fool's post.   By the way it isn't true that "ducati had their highest sales during the 999 period".  I lay everything out on a post on my blog http://www.ducatinewstoday.com/2009/09/how-the-999-nearly-killed-ducati/

Here is an excerpt.

After reaching sales of 413 million Euros in 2002, sales fell 6% in 2003 with the Superbike range down 26%, the new Multistrada the only bright light. The following year the already poor 999 sales were flat. With sales falling in 2005 by 36%, a reduction at least in part attributable to the discontinuation of the 998 Final Edition, the company suffering a 41 million Euro loss.

ah, thanks for that clarification, i thought the "TPG Rebound" happened sooner.