For me it was design and style, I'd ridden a 907, but really got hooked and determined to buy, when a mate got one of the first 916's. there was also an exclusivity to them. Before that I'd always had Jap, and you just didn't see many Ducatis, and those I saw caught my attention/imagination.
Got to agree with Steve above. The Bordi era dukes were so different to jap bikes and so rare. In worcs in 1994 Daz Powell bought a 916 and he became a God In and around the bike scene. No one else had one for months after because demand was so high because of Foggy and Fallapa's success in WSB. Even a 900ss bandy cost over 7k back then. Do i think the current range stir your soul like back then? Sorry No! They all look like other mainstream bikes but a different colour.. Dukes exclusive now ? Not post Bordi era imho. Apart from the D16 that is.:wink:
Sadly I think in order to be commercial/survive Ducati have had to conform and try to become more mainstream. I actually had a lad run up to me when I had my helmet on to tell me to turn my bike off because he said the big ends had gone, he was very embarrassed when I explained about the dry clutch, he'd never heard of one before.
Ducati ownership has always marked one out from the crowd, which is an even more difficult thing to do in this day and age of homogenous lookalike bikes.
The fact they have character and appear to be a living entity Not just something you open the garage door - ride - put away The great people that also ride them
Just the engine. It ain't looks - I own a fuglystrada, ffs. The engine produces power in such a pleasing way, nothing like jap v-twins, nothing like Guzzis, and not at all like Harleys. It's the engine alone that draws me.
Originally I actually avoided the brand and went the MV route. However the mv's although beautiful are a nightmare to ride. I actually went back to riding an R6 again to get back in to the grove again. Then it happened the 848 was released. It was gorgeous. Anyway went to test ride one and rsv4 and came away with the 848 and not looked back. In my tiny little mind the bike suits me that well I actually think it was built for me. Perfection, beauty and provenance
When I first started riding in 2007, the whole biking world confused me and I had no idea which way I wanted to go. I started picking up Bike Magazine to further my interest and there was an article on the 1098 and it just blew me away with its style and presence. Over the next few years I had thought about other bikes like the Blade or the GSXR, but cam full circle and started dreaming of a 1098. Watching Casey Stoner on track booming it down the straights didn't hurt the cause either :smile:
Years ago loved the trellis frame. Then this person turned up on one at my abode.... Fell in love with the sound and the bike. I curse that day !!!!!
For me it was the sleek slender look of the bike, the undertail exhaust note that doesn't sound like a bunch of bee's in a group!
The look and the unmistakable Ducati soundtrack, you know what it is before you see it. Also IMHO Ducati owners are probably the most passionate about their bikes.
