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

[herm]

maybe not with a drum brake on front though...

[Travman]

I like small displacement bikes, but have you guys actually ridden any air-cooled small singles like Ducati used to make?  The only small bike I have experience with is my brother's 250 Suzuki enduro.  I think it has something like 18 hp. It is a fun bike to ride around in the yard and around town, but has no real acceleration which is needed for pulling out into traffic. It can be taken on the highway, but it doesn't really belong there and it definitely is not fun over 55mph.  If Ducati was to make a 250 it would have to water-cooled to make the most power from the limited cc's. Even then it is going to be limited.

Anyways, I just don't see people paying Ducati prices for a small single. If Ducati was to sell a single it would need to be big single similar to the KTM 690

[Turf]

I like small displacement bikes, but have you guys actually ridden any air-cooled small singles like Ducati used to make?  The only small bike I have experience with is my brother's 250 Suzuki enduro.  I think it has something like 18 hp. It is a fun bike to ride around in the yard and around town, but has no real acceleration which is needed for pulling out into traffic. It can be taken on the highway, but it doesn't really belong there and it definitely is not fun over 55mph.  If Ducati was to make a 250 it would have to water-cooled to make the most power from the limited cc's. Even then it is going to be limited.

Anyways, I just don't see people paying Ducati prices for a small single. If Ducati was to sell a single it would need to be big single similar to the KTM 690

ninja 250 is like 33hp...which aside from the hyosung 250 is the only starter sport 250

so really kawasaki is the only sport 250 in the states

I've always thought that if someone came out with a sweet looking 250 at roughly the same price as a ninja they'd sell like crazy. No only are you introducing people to riding but to your brand etc. etc.

The go to answer for new riders is the ninja 250 but imagine if that sentence ended with, but if you spend a little more Ducati has a sweet looking new 250

they would sell if you could make up for time lost with production numbers

when the new ninja 250's came out the dealership down the street from us had a crazy waiting list for them

[Travman]

I need to try a Ninja 250 for the experience. How much does it cost?  

Could Ducati make money with a similar bike, maybe add a couple of cc's and better suspension/brakes so they could charge a small premium?  It would still have to sell for under 5 or 6K.  Would it cheapen the brand?  Who cares as long as it is a fun bike that has some style.

[Turf]

I need to try a Ninja 250 for the experience. How much does it cost?  Could Ducati make money with it?  Would it cheapen the brand?  Who cares as long as it is a fun bike that has some style.

$3,200 ish

it's quantity with them

Definitely not

Style is the key, make it look fast

[mojo]

Air-cooled Streetfighter

[Statler]

Definitely a 600 sized four valve single set up like an SS and maybe a cafe.  I dream about a superlight backroad blaster.  

yup...  but needs to be outrageously light.

We know it's a tiny little niche market for the bike.

Do it, Ducati.

and sell a track version for the same price.

oh...and half fairing with trellis frame, btw.

[Dave R]

How about this, let's say Ducati builds some of the bikes being described, with all the good stuff, nice and light..  what would you pay?

$           -  250 l/c 2 valve twin (Ninja competitor)
$           -  400/500cc l/c 4 valve single (full faired, supermono-ish)
$           -  600cc V4 competitive with all I4 form Japan
$           -  848 Fighter
$           -  1100 Supersport (modern day version of the last go round)
$           -  ST2/3/4 incarnation but to be competitive it better have all the bells & whistles of the FJR/K1200
$           -  V??  most competitive SBK available

[Drunken Monkey]

I love my Duke II

But I'd love it more if it was a sportbike and not a SM.

They need to make a new supermono (which is not one of the poll options)

[ducpainter]

How about this, let's say Ducati builds some of the bikes being described, with all the good stuff, nice and light..  what would you pay?

$           -  250 l/c 2 valve twin (Ninja competitor)
$           -  400/500cc l/c 4 valve single (full faired, supermono-ish)
$           -  600cc V4 competitive with all I4 form Japan
$           -  848 Fighter
$           -  1100 Supersport (modern day version of the last go round)
$           -  ST2/3/4 incarnation but to be competitive it better have all the bells & whistles of the FJR/K1200
$           -  V??  most competitive SBK available

This should be good. 

[Travman]

$5,000-  250 l/c 2 valve twin (Ninja competitor)
$6,000  -  400/500cc l/c 4 valve single (full faired, supermono-ish)
$11,000-  600cc V4 competitive with all I4 form Japan
$11,995-  848 Fighter
$12,500-  1100 Supersport (modern day version of the last go round)
$14,995-  ST2/3/4 incarnation
$17,495-  V??  most competitive SBK available

[mattc7]

Assuming this is a what should they have overall, rather than a what to introduce.

$5,999  -  250 l/c 2 valve twin (Ninja competitor)
$7,999  -  400/500cc l/c 4 valve single (full faired, supermono-ish)
$9,499  -  796/800cc variant Monster. Light, city friendly 2 valve.
$11,999-  600cc V4 competitive with all I4 from Japan -- gear driven cams
$12,995-  848 Fighter
$13,999-  1100 Supersport (modern day version of the last go round)
$15,995-  ST2/3/4 incarnation
$15,995 - 1098 fighter
$18,495-  V??  most competitive SBK available -- gear driven cams

Current Multistrada as is.

a Limited run classic model.  Price depending on features.  Limited similarly to the Paul Smart, and the Hailwood 900E.

The 848 fighter, only while 848 engines remain. 1098 fighter while those remain, as both engines should be on their way out.


This would do away with the mini-monster, which has been the best selling item, so I'ld keep running a 796 (or 800ish cc 2 valve).
ST Hopefully reusing other engines. You can premium price the sbk v4, or you can go aircooled. The problem starts to come when you start taking away your own business with too many offerings.

However, here you end up with many engines. Too many to easily support?
-250, 500, 800, 1100, 1000, 600, 848
---------------------------------------------------
-250 parallel twin (or L/V twin etc).
-500 single
-600 + 1000 V4
-800 + 1100 Ltwin
-848 + 10(1)98 Ltwin

That's alot of different spare parts to maintain. Also, can Ducati produce, AND DELIVER, enough 250s or 500s to make them economical?  Also, can they make the fairings/controls/etc cheap enough to get beginners in, who are fearful of dropping a bike due to the parts cost?

That's 3 brand new engine architectures, which I think would be rough to implement.


One other item.  Maybe Ducati should develop a "Supersport kit" make it a purchaseable accessory to the Monsters. The frame is already fine for SS duties.  Put out some bolt-on frame mounts to hold bodywork, a front subframe that moves the headlight forward -- mounted bolt-on to steering head (to act as the headlight in the fairing), and some clip ons.  This could be a viable product at a $1000 price point, especially since the 1100S is gone, it might bring in more buyers, especially for the big monster.

[Triple J]

$0           -  250 l/c 2 valve twin (Ninja competitor)
$0           -  400/500cc l/c 4 valve single (full faired, supermono-ish)
$0           -  600cc V4 competitive with all I4 form Japan
$0           -  848 Fighter
$13,000    -  1100 Supersport (modern day version of the last go round)
$0           -  ST2/3/4 incarnation but to be competitive it better have all the bells & whistles of the FJR/K1200
$0           -  V??  most competitive SBK available

-----
The caveat being the SS would have to be light and simple. Something similar the NCR Milona or Pierobon F042...obviously not just like though, otherwise 13K isn't feasible.

I'd also love to see a couple V4 SBKs...but I doubt I'd buy one.

[Duck-Stew]

1100 SS, oh...and keep Terblanche away from it, K?

[Kopfjäger]

If they had any hair on their balls they would make something like this. It wouldn't compare, but they could try.


KTM Concept 125 Stunt