The Bike That Saved Ducati

[Slide Panda]

20 years on, and still moves the most units for Ducati.

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/122_1308_the_bike_that_saved_ducati/

[graydo]

Interesting read.

Thanks a lot.

[Vishwacorp]

I still get the same feeling when I look at my parked Monster that I did first time I saw one. I don't know what it is about the way its few defining curves flow into each other, but I can't think of any other naked that looks as perfect as the Monster.

[JohnEE]

Good read. I always wondered about where the name came from. Especially from a company steeped in Italian heritage/pride (I still can't say Pannigale correctly).

[triangleforge]

I liked Galluzzi's anecdote about doing the first sketches while at Honda, but realizing that company would never go for the idea. 

[wantingaduc]

My Monster is my first Duc and is the only bike of many that I've had, that I intend to keep.
I thought it was the most perfect expression of what a motorcycle should be back when I first saw them and it still is.
While there may be bigger, faster, sharper handling bikes out there, my 'lil 620 dark does it all and more.
Hopefully someday I will pass her, well cared for and in perrfect condition, to my son as his bike.
Thanks Mr. Galluzzi for your efforts, they served Ducati and the motorcycle community well.

[Skybarney]

I have wanted a Duc for over 20 years.  Why did I not buy one sooner?  No freaking idea except that I wanted a brand new one and I wanted to be able to afford it without noticing the money I spent or wanted to spend on upgrades.  I also wanted to be a highly experience rider as I know when I drop her I will be sitting in a puddle of my own tears....... 

[kuzemko]

Read it this morning. Always nice to see a Monster on the cover of Motorcyclist. Glad they seemed to appreciate it as much as I do.

[HotIce]

“This was an interesting time,” notes Miguel Galluzzi, the Monster’s creator. “I was at Honda (Europe) and we were working on the second generation of fully covered CBRs. We used to get these Japanese motorcycle magazines, the kind that had a big photo of a bike without any body, just the engine and chassis. One day I saw a Ducati 851 photo and immediately began a sketch over the top. It was simple, just a tank and a seat. I knew we would never do it at Honda, so I put the idea away. It’s funny, the first sketch of the Monster was done on Honda time.” Galluzzi smiles broadly and holds his palms up, a gesture to say that the statute of limitations on shirking must surely have expired.

With job contracts you sign nowadays, where the company owns all the IP of what you produced while employed with them, that could be a challenging statement right there 

[hbliam]

With job contracts you sign nowadays, where the company owns all the IP of what you produced while employed with them, that could be a challenging statement right there 

I thought the same thing when I read that.

[Rudemouthsky]

With job contracts you sign nowadays, where the company owns all the IP of what you produced while employed with them, that could be a challenging statement right there 

Doubt Honda would want to bring that kind of embarrassment on themselves. Apple wouldn't GAF tho

[DucNaked]

Quote
405 Number of Monsters gathered on Sept. 21, 2008, in Hamme-Moerzeke, Belgium, breaking the Guinness Record for the “largest parade of motorcycles of the same brand and type.”

Could the DMF break this record?

[herm]

great read!

too bad some of the pics in the photo gallery are mislabeled (i.e. the 2007 m695 photo, ....clearly an S4R)

[GK]

Great read. Thanks!

GK

[Raux]

Quote
405 Number of Monsters gathered on Sept. 21, 2008, in Hamme-Moerzeke, Belgium, breaking the Guinness Record for the “largest parade of motorcycles of the same brand and type.”

Could the DMF break this record?

doubt it
the scale of europe helped this record. i know the club that did it.