Desmosedici RR - A Defining Moment?

[Dan]

My simple thoughts on the Desmosedici RR:

I think the production of the V4 Desmosedici RR is an excellent marketing strategy by Ducati, if they wish to re-establish the 'exclusivity of the marque', by manufacturing a motorcycle most of us can't afford. Very expensive motorbikes are nothing new, I hear you say, however I have mixed feelings about whether the production of the Desmosedici RR has been done at the expense of Ducati’s number one trademark, it's styling and V-twin engine note…?

Okay, the Desmosedici, is a breed apart from the 999, and superbikes verse MotoGP bikes are like comparing the cars of F1 to the Le Man 24hr; different machines for different jobs. However with the Desmosedici available to the general public, surely this will inspire other manufactures to follow suite and produce their own MotoGP replicas.

With the introduction of the 916 in 1993 Ducati enjoyed a great many race wins, which effectively put the brand back on the map. Also due to 916’s styling it also changed domestic biking for you and I, and made motorcycling a cool pastime and for some more of a fashion parade than about the bikes. However things move on and in my view, change is a good thing usually. But I wonder what the V4 powered Desmosedici RR is going to change, just another cool bike to appear in the bike Mags for a few months, or are we witnessing a defining moment in motorcycling?

[Fireman]

Originally Posted by Dan

But I wonder what the V4 powered Desmosedici RR is going to change, just another cool bike to appear in the bike Mags for a few months, or are we witnessing a defining moment in motorcycling?

Dan I think the latter. If Ducati gets a decent order count for this they can take advantage of economies of scale in wider production terms. This means they can produce a bike for the average customer using a version of the RR engine, suspension etc , that can trump the Jap domination of the high street superbike market. Say a 170hp+ street machine for £15,000 with outstanding credentials.

Then they won't have to worry about 1200cc for WSB or BSB because they can compete with 4 pots at 990cc. The true replica will no doubt prompt the others to follow suit. I just wonder how many RRs they will sell at £37.500 and will this be an exclusive machine or will those people who go the extra mile to get one feel ripped off in 18 month's time??

[DrBob]

I thought a £15,000 poor mans version was on the cards anyway.

[Rick 996R]

Will there be a POOR POOR mans version ? say 8000 GBP

[Fireman]

Originally Posted by DrBob

I thought a £15,000 poor mans version was on the cards anyway.

First I've heard of it. When, what, how, where did you see this????

[Mini Mo]

What a stunning machine!

Please let there be a poor man's version

[NEIL1711]

I also read somewhere that there was going to be a cheaper, higher volume production run of the RR by the end of 2007 or early 2008.
I have started saving already, bring it on !.

[Freak]

Maybe you should read Frederico Minoli's comments about Ducati's future for commercially available superbikes http://blog.ducati.com/post/31/desmosedici-rr#more

[NEIL1711]

MCN what a piece of journalistic c**p, guess I will have to save for a 999R instead, can't see the RR being a second hand bargain for a while if ever.

[DrBob]

The blog means nothing as he like all Ducati ad men contradict themseleves.

Companies with the financial backing like Honda take on challenges and fulfil technical dreams, companies who are a few million euros in debt don't unless they are after some kind of return which 400 bikes at £37,500 doesn't provide, 2000 bikes at £15,000 a year for say 5 years would.. That statement does seem rather like Honda's reasoning for the NR750 and it's worth noteing Honda struggled to sell 300 of them.

Ducati also aren't exactly loyal to the twin layout, if they where there wouldn't have been the parralel twins in the 80's. They started building 50cc singles and then moved in to larger capacity singles, they didn't produce thier first twin until the early 70's so thier roots aren't in twins either.

Ducati did say they where going to build a road going single based on the Supermono but the only thing which stoped them was the money. Building a production version of the Supermono engine would have put it in the same price range as the 916 and the cost of developing a production single would have ruined them earlier then normal.

[the man from del monte]

you can't make expensive bikes per se and hope to sell them. look at MV Agusta and Bimota. perpetually in financially trouble.
but if you've got racing pedigree that is a completely different story.
there are more than enough people with minimal knowledge of motorcycling and lots of money worldwide who will buy a 37000 quid Ducati and barely use the thing. this will be because Ducati won a world championship, and all the non motorcycling magazines will have pictures of the thing. however they wouldn't buy a japanese bike for this money! canary wharf and the city of london probably have enough people divorced from the financial world that most of us live in to account for the UK's allocation, so they can do 200 miles a year on one.
if ducati can make enough of the RR then eligibility for WSB factor comes into account.
unfortunately the 999R will then be of historical interest only....

[DrBob]

And the NR750 didn't have a pedigree?

Just because it's Japanese doesn't mean it's worth any less. Is the Bimota SB8K Santa Monica worth less then it's £35,000 asking price because it uses a TL1000 engine, would you pay less for a Moriwaki because it's Japanese, ofcourse you wouldn't.

Plus I wouldn't bet on many Demso RR's reaching this country because there isn't the market for a £37,500 bike. The only markets which will buy it in larger numbers are the North American and Japanese markets as that's where Ducati sell the most bikes and there is a large opening for very trick and expensive motorcycles.

[markymark]

i ove it

[Hereford_duke]

I saw one in a bike mag and that looks like some bike.
Well done on the Retro styling of the fairing and the back end of a performance bike.
Sadly like most of us, in fact a lot of us £37,000 is a bit on the steep side.
Okay it does over 211 MPH which is possibly an instant ban for life i would have thought (assuming the cops ever caught up with you) and it didnt have a Ducati tempremental moment shortly after breaking their speed camera and conk out and looks sexy.
On the flip side £37K is a bit rich, in actual fact stinking rich and that kind of cash would get you a handful of great bikes to ride around on.
Not sure where they went with this one unless its Pareto's law that 80% definitly cant afford one and the other 20% wished they could.Me i like it and it looks fantastic , but hey theres always the lottery and i would love to own such a bike!!

[theoldbuzzard]

Originally Posted by Hereford_duke

Not sure where they went with this one unless its Pareto's law that 80% definitly cant afford one and the other 20% wished they could.

Didn't smoke anything when you visited Glastonbury did you H_d 8)