POLL: What type of bike SHOULD have Ducati introduced this year?

[SacDuc]

Would you rather have seen a different model out of Ducati this year? Anything not in the poll that I should add?

sac

[Turf]

I went with 250 because a ducati 250 would sell like make the beast with two backsing crazy here.

I'd LOVE to see an affordable 600cc supersingle

[Fergus]

848 SF

[ROBsS4R]

I would pickup a 250 in a heartbeat   [moto]

[SacDuc]

I would pickup a 250 in a heartbeat   [moto]

Me too! As it stands the next bike in my household will likely be this:

http://www.starmotorcycles.com/star/products/modelhome/617/0/home.aspx

But I would scrap that idea for a 250cc Ducati in a second. Something both the wife and I could ride.

If Ducati wants to introduce itself to a new market why not start with new riders?   

sac

[matt922]

1198/848 replica 250cc would be epic.  Albeit slow as all get out, it would have that cool factor like aprilia rs125s do. 

[Raux]

Any single would be epic by Ducati at this point.
but I'm afraid they are pushing the other directions on bikes.

[il d00d]

No 796-based SS in the poll? 

Personally, I think there should be a 250 in every lineup, and I wouldn't care if Ducati cranked out more bikes than Honda, but I can scarcely imagine the howls of indignation when Ducati puts out a bike that "dilutes" the brand or image.  See: Diavel thread.

[MotoCreations]

World licensing -- 250 or 400cc would be great.

Question is how to design/build a single cylinder that is cost effective to manufacture?

Thus figure old 620cc model and start substracting from that.  $300 to remove a cylinder.  $100 to remove one front disc/caliper.  And so on.  Simply frame design and save another $150.  As soon as you start to the math, you can see why it is easier to add parts/price to a platform then to design something smaller/cheaper.  And remember that with a cheaper product, the profit margin isn't as good -- so you need to sell a higher volume to make same profit as a more expensive model.

I'd love to see a modern day air cooled Testa-headed single in a small nimble frame with simple cafe tank and seat cowl. Most people seem to forget the marketplace for the early single cylinder Ducati's and who bought them during the 1960's.  (and how many Ducati's they have bought in the following decades!)

For the cost of development though -- there is more profit in building and selling 500 units of a street derived 800cc MotoGP (baby Desmosedichi) because you know the customer base out there will be knocking on their dealerships doors wanting to put money down on them as soon as the rumour that they are available.

[zarn02]

250-450cc "sport-classic" styled single. Maybe do a limited-production variant with bodywork and clip-ons.

I think it'd be a hoot.

I also think it'd sell like hip-hop at a KKK rally.

[Kopfjäger]

I would like to see a Motard with a thumper, kinda like my KTM. Oh wait, never mind.

[Stinky Wizzleteats]

Bring back the SS. 

[fastwin]

An affordable, up dated SuperMono and maybe a Hyper version as a companion... maybe in the 600-650cc range.

[Betty]

848 SF.

This allows them to use their existing platforms (refer to Mark's post above). Problem being it may mortally wound the big Monster line. But having ridden the M1100s and the SFs I know what I would prefer.

Anything that 'sells like crazy' would not be good for the company in my mind ... they are simply not setup to cope with volume. It is not about 'brand dilution' ... 'licensing' somebody else's product will simply stretch the management away from where they need to be.

With all this in mind the Diavel is worth a shot. If it works, fine. If it doesn't, it shouldn't ruin the company. But would I buy one ... ahh, no.

[zarn02]

With all this in mind the Diavel is worth a shot. If it works, fine. If it doesn't, it shouldn't ruin the company. But would I buy one ... ahh, no.

They've done the cruiser thing before (though a more traditional approach, less V-Max-ey.)

As I recall, the Indiana came and went, nobody was sorry, and Ducati is still here.

*shrugs*