Ducati Formula 73

[ungeheuer]

The first new Ducati in years that I've lusted after....













When I first saw it I thought it was somebody's very cool custom Paul Smart-ish Scrambler.... but apparently this is a factory job.  I want one.

[stopintime]

Lust isn't my reaction, but it does look nice. Paul Smart'ish yes. Also a little like the new Guzzi?

[Airborne]

I love it. The last decade of design seemed too boy racer for me. I'm looking forward to what direction they go from here.

[ungeheuer]

Lust isn't my reaction, but it does look nice. Paul Smart'ish yes. Also a little like the new Guzzi?

Yes, I see your modern Guzzi angle 

[stopintime]

Another small hmmm detail; the right side engine cluch cover shape. It's a bit "vintage".

[ungeheuer]

Another small hmmm detail; the right side engine cluch cover shape. It's a bit "vintage".

I'd like it much better if it was whizzing around in the open air.   Also, looks like it runs tubes inside those tyres looking at the spoked rims... not a fan.

[Duck-Stew]

Café Racer aesthetic, will it ever die?!?

I'm hoping soon.  Nostalgia was great for a while, but it's not where I like to stay anymore.

[Howie]

I'm not bothered by the nostalgia thing, but ?I would not pay extra for it.

[stopintime]

Café Racer aesthetic, will it ever die?!?

I'm hoping soon.  Nostalgia was great for a while, but it's not where I like to stay anymore.

You were quite early - innovative, so it's only natural that after you followed early and late majority, now finishing off with a few purely commercial copying efforts. Nicely done by Ducati, but proper boring for innovators like yourself? What do you think is next? What, if anything, tickles you? Dragster styling? Naked sportified adventure? Scooterish (italjet..)?

[Duck-Stew]

Thanks for the compliment.

I like what companies are doing with swingarm mounted plate holders  that integrate signals.  Great way to clean up behind the seat.  Triumph has a couple examples of tidy seats with these swingarm mounted plate/signal combos.

I do like the bodywork extending above the front wheel on this '73' model,  i've always thought that space has been underutilized.

Yamaha had(has ?) a 450cc dirtbike thumper where the intake is at the front and exhaust out the back.  I wanted to see them do some innovative street scrambler with that motor.  I think engine placement could have been really close the the front wheel.  That would have opened up a skeleton of tubes behind it to hold the rider up.

I like the Honda V3 concept.  I don't know what their plans are for that.

I like the Piaggio three wheeled scooter platform.  The bodywork execution though, ugh.  It's like they're actively trying to bore you to death.  Yamaha had (has ?) a three wheeled bike that I've seen one of here in Portugal.  Bodywork execution on that is slightly better, but it's got two fork tubes per side and they made them blue.  Oof.

Last thing: I like the design potential of electric motors on bikes.  I've seen a few designs I like but the battery pack (necessitated by kWH capacity) are huge lumps of...boring.  I don't think I could do better, but...

I haven't ridden anything in almost five years.  I don't have plans to change that.  I don't follow the industry much anymore.  That said, I still perk an ear up when I hear a good sounding bike zip past me.  So, some part of me still desires it.

This was fun.  Thanks for asking.
Ride safe!

[stopintime]

You should follow me through the Alps one summer. That should wake your passion up again (or at least a new appreciation for  survival)