Ducati out of MotoGP? Interesting speculative article

[ducatiz]

Ducati starting getting profitable when it stopped being just a motorcycle manufacturer and started being a name.
From Ducati toys, clothes, shoes, etc. They sold the name with a lifestyle attached. And it sold well.

Good point... It's a good question whether MotoGP matters, especially if they are pushing SBK.  It would certainly make SBK more interesting if Ducati focused all their racing Euros on that.

[Drunken Monkey]

Ducati starting getting profitable when it stopped being just a motorcycle manufacturer and started being a name.
From Ducati toys, clothes, shoes, etc. They sold the name with a lifestyle attached. And it sold well.

Somewhere I have the Ducati annual report from about 5-6 years back, and this was a HUGE part of their strategy to be successful.

They even pointed to Harley deriving the bulk of their income from merch, and not bikes.

I have mixed feelings about this, but if they have the money to race and continue to make cutting edge bikes, I'm happy (although I despise asperational/lifestyle brands)

[ducatiz]

I have mixed feelings about this, but if they have the money to race and continue to make cutting edge bikes, I'm happy (although I despise asperational/lifestyle brands)

If everyone of the people signed onto their Facebook page buys a Tshirt once, that's the equivalent of them selling about 7500-10,000 bikes profit-wise)

(assuming a t-shirt costing $30 with a profit of about $25/shirt)

Do that once a year and they have a nice little side income.

[thought]

Maybe that's why Ducati has been sticking the 90 degree V4?  Because with that angle, there might be some parts of the engine development that can trickle down to the production vtwin.

[desmoquattro]

Maybe that's why Ducati has been sticking the 90 degree V4?  Because with that angle, there might be some parts of the engine development that can trickle down to the production vtwin.

At this point, I don't want *anything* trickling down to me from Ducati's GP efforts

[lazylightnin717]

At this point, I don't want *anything* trickling down to me from Ducati's GP efforts

I wouldn't turn down their tire warmers 

[desmoquattro]

I wouldn't turn down their tire warmers 

I'm not sure I'd want *anything* related to traction from the Desmosedici

[thought]

So... basically...

best thing to come out of Duc MotoGP effort =

[ZLTFUL]

Anything worth saying is worth saying twice...

[gm2]

Maybe that's why Ducati has been sticking the 90 degree V4? 

been.. past tense

[OT]

Is this a widespread problem now?  They have in the past.  On my bike, the valve guide seals (little rubber parts) need to be replaced every 40-60K, but the guides themselves are still the original ones.

PhilB

The first few years of the 1000DS engines afaik.  Point was that in this time of high-tech prototype development the company ought to have at least one engineer who understands materials.

[Raux]

I will need exhaust guide in7500 miles so about 15k til they wiggle too much

[PhilB]

At this point, I don't want *anything* trickling down to me from Ducati's GP efforts

Be sure not to testride an 1199 Panigale, then.

PhilB

[desmoquattro]

Be sure not to testride an 1199 Panigale, then.

PhilB

I won't...I'll just test ride a friend's

[ducpainter]

The first few years of the 1000DS engines afaik.  Point was that in this time of high-tech prototype development the company ought to have at least one engineer who understands materials.

I'm pretty sure the engineers understand the materials...

just as the bean counters know the costs of those materials.

I doubt the race motors have guide wear issues.