2000 when i bought my 916 (still own). Wouldnt say Im brand loyal tho. My next bike isnt likely to be a ducati. 1299s will be sold as soon as I return from Almeria. (assuming its in one piece). Im buying an R1 for trackdays thereafter.
1997 with a 900SSie, then a 1098s in the noughties, now a Supersport S. I’d say I was brand loyal, had plenty of other bikes in the past but would always look at Ducati first now, not really sure why, it’s an interesting thought!
Continuous ownership since November 2004 in no particular order 749 749R Desmosedici 1299 Monster S2R 800
Almost 27 years...! Bought 916SP3 late 1995 to go with a 'Blade and while other bikes (Hondas, BMWs) have come and gone the 916 stayed. On my 4th Mutley since 2010 and also the 888. The 916 came from Bob Hill...
Why would you ever “once have owned” a Desmosedici? You’d have to prise that out of my cold dead fingers…sigh…
Bob Hill.... It's all his fault! My dad had a knacked Triumph T120 that my brother decide to try and rebuild, scattering parts to the 4 winds! Oldman dropped if off with Bob to get sorted, a couple of times a year we'd drop in to see if they started rebuilding it(we lived in Cheshunt) 7yrs later we collected box of bits still untouched ended up flogging it to a friends dad for £700. But on those visits I eyed the beauties on display... Bought my 749 in 2004 from him which took 9 months to arrive after paying 50% upfront. Lucky didn't get caught up in the administration drama after.
Oh remember him welll...! Paid the 20% deposit and then it took months of wrangling to get it delivered once fully paid, and even then he didn't leave the standard EPROM and correct stand which took another age to get sorted! But also was lucky enough not to get caught up in the following shenanigans...
To be fair he lent me a SV1000 & then DZ400 green lane thing whilst I waited. Friends bosses 916 track bike got caught up in it all. Seem to remember he had real trouble getting it back from administrators. He didn't seem like a bad bloke, think messy divorce had a lot to do with it.
