Have been a member of this for a few years but are starting to question the value of membership There is no local branch, their website / forum has hardly any traffic and is rarely used, the magazine has few technical articles in it and the club does not appear to have any international contacts with any other ducati clubs Basically have I missed a few points or should I just let the subscription lapse
It was the first forum I joined back in 2003 (I think), and back then it was buzzing with activity, but its gone awfully quiet these days. Sounds like you've made up your mind!
Like any club, what do you think you gain from membership? I was a Dsc member many years ago and finally gave up with them as they did nothing whatsoever for anyone outside the home counties other than line their own pockets. I'm currently a member of the Morini rider club for which I get an occasional magazine and not much else on the face of it, however it does support and run their website and forum which is good value for the advice you can get there. The Scottish Ducati Club has the right approach, even if I dont use it as much as I should its well worth the subscription fee.:biggrin::tongue:
thats why i didnt bother. ive ruminated about getting a nottingham branch going but i think it would be too time consuming for me. particularly as im basically anti-social and despise almost everyone i meet, and essentially everyone i begin to know. i also thought 'Desmo' shouldve been retitled, 'Dismal'. this owners club lark can all be a bit twee. That said, you only get out what you put in, just dont wipe it on the curtains.
I left after a year also, the Desmo mag was very poor and when I tried to get technical help through the website it turned into a nightmare process I gave up on. Now on the other hand for a mere tenner you can join the NACC - national autocycle and cyclemotor club. Bear with me here...it's perfect if you have a ducati cucciolo of course but in addition you get 6 annual issues of the excellent "Buzzing" magazine which has amusing ride out tales, historical info, and lots more plus they seem to make you eligible for some stunning insurance savings when you renew and they ask what clubs you are in....yes I have a cucciolo project bike so it's up my street but last year I saved £436 on my road going ducati insurance thanks to the membership - not bad for a tenner!
Whilst still not what you'd describe as busy, the DOCGB Facebook page has more traffic than the website/forum
It's like any club, you get out what you put in. I write the odd article for Desmo and am the point of contact for the Kent branch. We have ride outs every month and got over to France in September. If people don't submit good stuff for the mag it's bought d to be a bit thin, and if it's the old beardy types who write in then that's what'll get printed! I save my membership plus more on my insurance each month than the cost to join!
There's an excellent write up of one man's experience of owning an 888 SP5 in this month's Desmo. Not got any further than that..
I enjoyed reading the write up A touching write up by Mr R (Steve Robins) about his late Mate Bob Palmer.
Can't be dealing with "Owner's club's"... Might have been worth it in 1795 when we didnt have the internet but I can find out everything I need to know online in minutes! No need.
