I love them... but... The new V4S does it all; better even, with more power. With traction control. And drift control. And electronic suspension. And it's half the price new. I am thinking that the days of expensive 'sedicis may be over?
You sound like my mate who said he was going to buy one when they hit £20k. New stuff also will also do it all better than an RC30, RC45, Brough Superior, RCV213, R7, NR750 et al........Which way do you think the prices are going on these? They will fluctuate with the economy as classic bikes do, as houses do, naturally, but won't drop differently to any other small production, limited edition bike. They were expensive new, they won't be cheap 2nd hand, they bottomed out years ago and have risen since. Your logic seems to be that Ducati release a V4 bike and the Desmo will drop in value when it is in fact a coveted classic, even without the modern trinkets. Feel free to bookmark and get back to me in 5 years with what they are being sold for then if you like.
I’m inclined to agree, in every way the V4S is a better bike but...it ain’t a D16RR is it? Would still be one half of my dream team along with the MV F4 Tamburini. Some bikes transcend new stuff even if it is faster, better specced & cheaper
Don't get me wrong, I completely agree with you, and it would be one of the first bikes that I would buy if I had the spare money/lottery win/insurance payout. BUT... Not everyone can afford dropping 45-60k on a motorbike, regardless of its status. It then brings into question the usability of the bike - ride it and devalue it, or park it up and watch is appreciate in value? Can you ride it and still have it go up in value? Probably. Part of the exclusivity of the D16RR was that it was the ONLY released V4 that Ducati made. This adds to the cachet of owning one and has helped to keep the desirability, and thus prices, high. Until they made the V4 that is. Another MotoGP derived bike. It's a bit like everyone who went out and bought the 1199 Superleggera because it was the best L-twin that Ducati had ever built... until they built the 1299 Superleggera a couple of years later. The prices bombed on the 1199SL as everyone traded them in for the 1299SL. But anyway, my point is that for the everyday rider, it's unachievable to buy and ride a D16RR, and from a pure riding point of view the V4S is a better bike. And half the price new. And it has all the toys... etc! I would feel much happier throwing a V4S into the gravel at Paddock Hill than I would a D16RR
I'll sell you mine if you win £100m, I'm sure I could relieve you of some of it. I use mine occasionally and don't worry about the value. It's a motorbike. Only a small amount of the kudos was because it was a V4. The majority of it came because of the concept, the price, the materials used and exclusivity. The fact is was a V4 is simply because that's what the GP bike was at the time. Have you seen the prices of RC30's and RC45's. The newer bike didn't affect the value of the older one at all. A new Desmo would be a totally different proposition these days. A lot more expensive and the original will always have old school desirability. The SL is a rebadged Panigale. The D16RR is a different exercise altogether.
D16 is an L4 Panigale is a V4 So it’s engine configuration is unique with the Ducati catalogue Either way, D16 had several mayor problems and are expensive to to maintain and repair. So big pockets required to maintain it if it’s going to be used
I’d still have a D16 if I could afford it. Plus an RC30 an original Honda Monkey bike and a few other oddities. Spoke to a guy yesterday who was on a Ural sidecar outfit. Now that looked fun
That’s interesting. I always assumed that since Ducati started calling it a V4 and not an L4, that they had changed it to a V configuration. Everyday is a school day. So my attempt to shore up the exclusivity of the D16 has fallen away. Panigales are all definitely better bikes than a D16, but a D16 is something special, not least for the soundtrack alone
L configuration is a 90 degree V - just a Ducati thing to distinguish from the more common 60 degree twins. D16RR will always be special in the way Panigales are not as a 250 GTO Ferrari is special compared to a 348 GTB. Exclusivity is the main part
How about the engine layout on the V4? Is it fixed to the bike as a V or as an L as the Panigales etc? Despite the numbers all being on favour of the V4 and the 1299, my 1299 has never made my eyes water, whereas the acceleration of my D16 would make my eyes water. It was fearsome. When I bought mine I assumed it had the same TC as the 1098R........but nothing. I have carbon fibre wheels on my 1299 and it’s not that that makes the difference. It’s the frame. On the D16 you could feel every little ripple in the road. So between that and the noise, it’s an epic experience. If I won the lottery I would buy one again, and send it to JHP to have the engine taken to bits, inspected and rebuilt/blue printed and meticulously set up.
The L description is only really relevant to being a 90 degree V, not having seen a D16 with fairings off I wouldn't know whether it is installed with perfectly horizontal and vertical cylinders or not. The orientation of the engine will only really make differences to clearances and centre of gravity. As far as I am aware the L description is a Ducati designer thing and not really used outwith Ducati. I think we agree that the D16 is a special and will always command a premium for that where a Panigale is a great bike but not special in the same way
So that’s an L slightly tilted then Has the latest GP bike still 90 degrees or did the narrow it up to a v and rotate into the V position? Or just rotate the 90 degree L into the v orientation?
