Boom goes Ducati! - Sales up 43%

[Slide Panda]

From superbikeplanet

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Jan/120120c.htm

"Both Suzuki and Kawasaki cited soft sales worldwide as a reason for withdrawing from MotoGP in the last three years. But their Italian rival Ducati doesn't have such problems - at least in North America.

Ducati North America announced Jan. 19 its motorcycle sales grew 43 percent in 2011, with a record market share in the United States, Canada and Mexico. North America has become Ducati's biggest global market for the first time.

The manufacturer's Ducati Performance line of apparel and accessories also recorded 50 percent growth in 2011."

- Jebus, the little red engine that could. Seems that Italy should elect the team who's running things at Ducati to the PM seat and cabinet.
I'm curious what accounted for the huge leap. I know the Multi 1200 was a big win. But as big as it's been, I can't see that pulling up total sales by 50%. One of the guys at a local dealer said they couldn't get enough Diavels to meet demand. But, again, I can't see that accounting for a huge bump. Anecdotally I haven't seen a single one in the wild, save for the demo bike I had for a lunch run, so there aren't that many about.

Thoughts?

[Triple J]

I think the 848EVO was pretty popular as well.

Diavels don't seem to have done all that well here after the initial rush...at least I've only seen a couple on the road and they are available at dealers. The MTS1200 seems to have been very popular though.

[Raux]

MTS and Diavel

[red baron]

I have yet to see a Diavel.

Based on price, I doubt there are that many being sold.

[bevel]

I've only seen one Diavel in the wild, and that was at DiTR.

[Pedro-bot]

Economic reports of sales increase in luxury items have been reported over the past year.
Heck, even Tiffany & Co. are reporting record sale #'s. Seems the 1% has good taste.  

[polivo]

I know it seems hard to belive.. but i think it may be the new monsters.  Everyone has one. Im certainly seeing more new monsters on the street that mts or diavels.. I think i read somewhere that ovberall, monsters make up the majority of their sales?

[mickyvee]

  If it wasn't for Monster sales, Ducati would have gone bust in the 90's. Fact. My dealer sells 3x more Monsters than anything else.

[Slide Panda]

Per bike and probably total gross sales Monsters have always been the revenue generator of the commercial bike sales arm. Monsters new or old sell well. But even if they are moving 1.5x the monsters of last year that's only one line. 150% sales increase is a cfos wet dream... Just curious where it came from

[AJ]

If North America continues to be Ducati's biggest market going forward...think they'll change their tank materials for us?  

I wonder...were 2010 sales particularly low?
Maybe it was MTS + Diavel + EVO + ABS at no extra cost in 2011?

Here in San Francisco there are a ton of Monsters. I'd say 70% are classic, 30% new gen. I've seen 6 Diavels in the wild, but that's a tiny % of all of the Ducatis zooming around SF.

[venomousr1993]

As far as Ducati's....I see more of the smaller displacement newer Monsters here in the DC area.  Low seat height, affordability, and quality product.  Seems alot of people here in the city like them.

[CrashVR]

You'd think with sales figures like that they would be more responsible dealing with the tank issue.

[Frisco]

You'd think with sales figures like that they would be more responsible dealing with the tank issue.

[duccarlos]

Tank issue mostly impacts old Monsters. The boom can be related to the MTS and Diavel directly and indirectly. They stole some customers from the HD and BMW crowd. Plus something that liked those new models rolls into the showroom and realizes he can't afford them, but the Monster or SF are also cool. So they "settle" on buying the "lesser" model.

[DRKWNG]

Tank issue mostly impacts old Monsters.

Care to discuss that point on any SC or Multi forum?