These photos are not for the feint of heart. We can only hope this is the only Ducati 1098 Tri-Color that finds its final hours on a bed of tacky blue tarps. Rest In Peace dear Soldier of Machismo.
Source: MotoXMoto & MotoBlog.it
Everyone knows that the Ducati Desmosedici is the closest us mortal men will get to riding a true GP bike, and everyone knows they were produced in limited numbers. Because of this even the social elite had a hard time getting their hands on them since they ran out so quickly. So how does such a limited edition bike all of a sudden find a way to be un-sold-out all of a sudden?
According to Michael Lock, CEO of Ducati North America:
“We are fortunate to offer a few units to those interested individuals who were closed out of the initial ordering process…as the global run of 1500 bikes comes to an end we are notifying interested parties that we have secured inventory to deliver in the coming months, but only if they act quickly.”
I have a couple theories on this:
1) Bologna has switched to the base-8 counting system, and undercounted how many bikes they produced.
2) A box of Desmo’s fell-off the boat on their way to America, and until now were thought lost at sea.
3) The economy
4) El Niño
5) Ducati of North America saw that they under-priced the Desmosedici, and thus sold it at a price far-below what the market was willing to bare, and as any good micro-economics professor would suggest is bumping up supply to meet the demand curve for peak efficiency.
Regardless of what answer you choose, the news is this…if you missed your chance to buy a Desmosedici in the United Stats, Canada, or Mexico, here is your second chance.
Source: visordown
The correct answer is #4. El Niño (Spanish for: The Nino) is in fact the cause of mysterious bike productions, the current economy, and French-Canadians.
Some lucky journalists were invited by Ducati to ride the new 2009 Ducati 1198S, the 1198cc monster recently endowed with its big brother’s traction control system. On the outside the new 1198S looks like its predacessor, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts: 100 more cubic centemeters, a new lighter crankshaft, and Ducati Traction Control (DTC). DTC is a true race traction control system that works first by retarding the ignition, and second by cutting the fuel injection during major wheel spin. Read more for the full report.
Not to be out done by , Ducati has released its own teaser video for the new 1198 and 1198S Superbikes. It’s nicely done, although we could do without the bullet-cam style fading in the corners. Trust me guys, I don’t need a tunnel vision effect when these bikes are on the screen.
Source: motoblog.it
Grazie Maestro
The world markets may be down, and stores may dropping out of business like it’s third period French class, but Ducati is finding the economic downturn to have an upside on its balance sheet.
Ducati’s sales revenue for the first three quarters of 2008 grew by 25% compared to last year’s figures. This means to close to $417MM in revenue for the Bologna Bandits, with their bottom line looking 87% better than before, totaling in at $41MM.
Why now brown cow? Well shipments from Desmo-central to dealer floor rooms has been up by 19% for the year so far, with sales up 8% worldwide. In the meantime, worldwide industry sales are down 6%. Evidently, those cars that people aren’t buying, is not equating into motorcycle purchases (you know…for the mileage advantage)
The Bologna Boys say they are still on track to achieve a forecast 20% growth in worldwide sales for full fiscal year, up from a predicted 15% sales growth.
How are the other European manufacturers doing?
KTM has had a 50% drop in operating profit for the full 12 months of its fiscal year, closing the books at $21MM. The House of Orange (not Oranj) is blaming this decline on a bad Dollar to Euro exchange rate, and plans to cut motorcycle production for the 2009 season by 10%.
Piaggio (owner of Aprilia, and most of Europe’s scooters) is also cutting back on production across all its motorcycle and scooter brands after depressing results for the first 3 quarters of 2008. Overall sales were down by almost 6%, falling 10% in Europe, which accounts for about 80% of its bike and scooter sales.
BMW, while slightly more insulated, is feeling the pain too, with global motorcycle sales down by 2.5% in the same period, and profit from bikes falling by nearly 16%.
Source: visordown
In other financial news, the trade-deficit for sportbike hotness in the United States has increased another 300%. Sorry Buell.
Ducati’s 2009 prices are out. So, umm…here they are:
Ducati Monster 696: $8,995
Ducati Monster 1100: $11,995
Ducati Monster 1100 S: $13,995
Ducati Streetfighter: $14,995
Ducati Streetfighter S: $18,995
Ducati Hypermotard 1100: $11,995
Ducati Hypermotard 1100 S: $14,495
Ducati Multistrada 1100 S: $14,495
Ducati 848: $13,995
Ducati 1198: $16,495
Ducati 1198 S: $21,795
Ducati SportClassic GT 1000 Touring: $11,995
Ducati SportClassic Sport 1000: $11,995
Ducati SportClassic Sport 1000 S: $12,995
Source: Hell for Leather Magazine
Nuff said.
In case you didn’t see this last MotoGP season, you may not have heard of the shenanigans going on in the Repsol Honda garage. With a very unhappy Nicky Hayden, and what has been described as an imaginary wall across the team’s garage, Nicky’s move to Ducati has been a welcomed change.
With most camps being cheeky as to the details that have surrounded the team falling outs, it is interesting to see what outsiders, who may have some more perspective, have to say about the whole thing. MotoGP.com released a short article about Kevin Schwantz’s perspective on Nicky, but left a very telling quote for the end of the article. Click to see what he said.
There must be something about November and transportation tradeshows. Behold the Toyota Tundra/Ducati Transporter. Now, I own a Toyota, and it hauls my bike to the track just fine. But this concept would make me look WAY cooler, not to mention it would be a far more effective setup. With a motorized loading ramp, integrated tool system, storage space spares, and solar panels mounted on the bed rails to provide auxiliary power (goodbye super loud generators). More after the jump.
Along with the line of 2009 motorcycles presented at EICMA, Ducati CEO, Gabriele Del Torchio gave the world a glimpse of the new company logo.
It is an evolution of the historic brand name, which now includes a new red shield featuring a graphic symbol alongside the classic Ducati script, making this motorcycling logo even more eye-catching and unique and communicating passion, competition and performance.
To accompany the launch of this new logo, Ducati has produced a video to highlight its distinguishing features – including the fun and passion that have always been part of the Ducati spirit.
Source: Ducati
What’s Italian for “Holy Crap! It looks like we know what we’re doing!”?
UPDATE: Info on the Troy Bayliss Limited Edition
But wait! There’s more! There’s a reason that the Streetfighter will get the Superbike’s 1098 mills…it is because the Superbike line no longer needs them! Ducati will be bumping the rest of the Superbike line (the 1098R has already made the engine displacement jump) to the newly decided upon 1198cc displacement for the World Superbike regulations. More after the jump.
Well it is in the wild now, Ducati has finally cast a light on the dark corner of their factory in Bologna where they have taken the prized Ducati 1098 Superbike, and made it anew in streetfighter form. The result? A 1099cc 155hp v-twin motorcycle capable of urban doom. There will be two models, a standard Streetfighter and the Streetfighter S. Sharing the same motor, the Streetfighter S will boast Marchesini 5-spoke rims, traction control (as seen on the 1098R Superbike), a data acquisition unit, and Öhlins rear shock and forks. More after the jump.
