The Ducati tax in full effect! At least it’s not the same as their arrangement with Akrapovic! You can’t even buy an alternative exhaust through them!
Thing is, the Ducati wheels look so much nicer than the BST ones. The straight spokes look so much better.
Totally agree with the principle suggested. However, sorry to be a pedant, but isn't the SP2 an S with bolt ons? Nothing fundamentally engineered in (like the SL or the R).
I was thinking more along the lines of giving better value - using the R as a base model would have been more appropriate for a special edition celebrating a championship but I included the SP2 because it’s price tag is at least a little closer to the £55k! I reality the only extra that would add would be the Carbon wheels - which really should be there for that £55k. There’s a limit to how many Superleggera bits Ducati can let trickle down to other models without watering down the exclusivity of the ultimate Panigale - but they definitely should have attempted to add more value to these bikes to justify the inflated price tag.
I think it’s almost a moot point - only because it’s highly unlikely that someone would buy a V4S and then order the Carbon wheels from Ducati as an upgrade. Ducati seem to have moved away from selling upgraded wheels and a vast number of other accessories that used to fill the pages of the Ducati Performance catalogues. You can order those wheels as a spare part - but at a price that means anyone wanting them would buy an SP2 to get them. The BST wheels aren’t what you call cheap - but there’s still a market for people who like to buy the base model and then spend the extra on upgrading the bike to their preferences - on that front I don’t think they are competing in the same space as the Ducati OEM wheels. Ducati are getting very restrictive with their suppliers in order to protect that profit margin. Their new partnership with Rizoma is different to the deal they had with TWM - no more identical - but cheaper levers - made by the same manufacturer but with a different branding. If you look on the Rizoma website and search for Ducati levers - the only search result is ‘these parts are available exclusively through Ducati dealers’. The Audi influence is coming through stronger and stronger.
“We thought the best way to share the successes of 2022 with the most passionate Ducatisti was to provide them with exclusive, numbered bikes …” and pocket about £27,000,000 of their hard earned in the process. Jeez, that’s a whole new level of cynical. Ducati certainly know how to tap the veins of the faithful.
So true. The faithful are one route to market, but I suspect another is via Lamborghini, which tends to attract a whole new level of wealth. There will of course be plenty of overlap of skill and appreciation into the world of motorcycles, but not all will care about the spec or what it means. Imagine the Lambo dealer calling his little black book of the most affluent clients: "I've got access to a limited edition, commemorative brace of motorcycles, each is a true one-off to celebrate Ducati's historic winning of the double World Championships. A marvellous investment, individually signed. Would look superb next to your Huracan, or in your living room!" Kerrr-ching! Sold!
There is some very interesting points made here, but what things are worth versus what they cost has no relevance in the world of the super wealthy , are some handbags for instance worth £50,000 or more , not a chance ,yet there is a long waiting list for them
