It's what I went for after getting fed up with the 'DUCATI' brand - never regretted it's a fantastic bike did 4K on it last year & looking forward to taking it to the Pyrenees in July [emoji2]
Have you never heard about DKW. One of the founding companies of what is now known as Audi. In 1932, DKW merged with Audi, Horch and Wanderer to form Auto Union.[2] After World War II, DKW moved to West Germany, with the original factory becoming MZ.[1] Auto Union came under Daimler-Benz ownership in 1957 and was purchased by the Volkswagen Group in 1964
Good point and good background. And I think the supercharged two stroke DKW ulD 250 was one of the loudest bikes ever to race at the IoM TT. I've a feeling it was actually banned from Brooklands because of the noise, but that might have been a Squirrel. You might enjoy this: OddBike: DKW Supercharged Two-Strokes - Force-Fed Deeks Lapping the IoM at an average 79 mph on a 250 in 1938 wasn't bad going.
Fair play I love that bike, noticed the tail tidy to get rid of the naff mud guard! Is it off the shelf or a bit of a custom part?
Decat? It would look even better with that massive collector lump gone. Have to confess I never fancied the Brutale from pictures but the Dragster is one of those bikes that looks far better in the metal. Saw one at Loomies and it stood out in the crowd. When you walk round it, it all really comes together and the attention to details is meticulous. It looked very classy.
Personally I'm looking forward to the V4 Ducati, I think we all know it will a beast , but will it stir the soul :Happy:
I'm not sure Ducati are losing the plot, but can say the sbk's don't appeal to me anymore, I remember commenting when the pani was released "oh well at least it's RED". Like my Ducs to have at least one of 3 things, trellis frame, dry clutch or belts, so my love affair with sbk's stopped at 1098R/1198's. Used to own the older monsters(S2R thou and S4RS) and the new ones don't appeal to me at all and I 'm still not sure about that hipster thing they've called a scrambler. As owners get older (me) there will always be a point when the newer offerings don't appeal. I'm at that point, can't really see myself buying a new Ducati in the future.
I detect much truth in this insight. I think though that it's not simply because they are German designed; it's more the KIND of German design, the way German design has become, within the EU. It's more like a German after-market culture, working on old minis and so forth, with money no objection, and a view to mass production. THeir design flare is 'daring' with a view to a certain kind of cosmetic appeal coupled with sport tuning. It's crap. Just a day job, backed up with fast computer rendering. Mercedes have lost their way now, too.
I do admire the fact that Ducati are still pushing the technology envelope. Technological innovation in the pursuit of performance has always been the Ducati way and the Panigales definitely honour that tradition. I love the 1098/1198s as well but if Ducati stuck to that narrow parameter forever (however good it is) it would become a rut and they'd die. I don't resent the new technology, whether its beltless, dry clutch Superquadro engines, monocoque frames, DVT, traction control (another Ducati first?) etc. My problem is that the Ducati design purity seems to have been lost. It wasn't just a case of having bigger numbers than the opposition, it was what you did with them. Lighter, faster, better handling were the goals and once upon a time nothing was designed into or bolted onto a Ducati unless it served that end. In fact Ducati once seemed oblivious to the existence of an opposition. They did what they did because it was good, regardless of what other manufacturers were doing. Or at least that's what it felt like. That uncompromising single-mindedness, that focus, seems to have has gone. I actually think its still there in the Panigales (and even in a sense, in the Scrambler). I can just about see the thinking behind the original Monster showing through in the scrambler but the actual Monsters have lost their identity. Away from the pure performance of the Panigales the rest of the range has been diluted by fashion and the marketing rat race.
I agree. Blame the Eurocrats for that though. I'm sure you'll be able to buy an underslung Akrapovic system for about 3 grand...
omg give it a rest, yes blame them. Cause if you left uk gov (or any other) to sort out pollution we would not at all end up like for example Beijing. I prefer to breve fresh.
The cans on the new Pani are a consequence of Euro 4 noise and emissions regulations. No ifs, no buts. And they will make not the slightest difference to carbon emissions or air pollution. And no I will never give it a rest. I detest this bureaucratic, collective, supranational authoritarianism and I will fight it to my dying breath and encourage as many other people as possible to do so as well, especially the younger generation. And I'll continue on a point of principle of uncorking every bike that comes into my possession. Whether it needs it or not it will be tuned and unlpugged until it sounds and goes like a proper motorcycle again and to hell with the emissions. There are smug little stickers appearing on the back of vans and trucks proclaiming "I have been specially tuned to reduce my emissions by up to 25%" I want some made for my bikes that say "I have been specially tuned to increase my performance and fuck the emissions".
