Why get in a froth about the price? It's a motorbike not a necessity and savvy companies charge what the market will pay and not a cost plus x% formula. Plenty of Royal Enfields out there for us paupers in the real world.
That's come as part of being within the VAG group, look at Porsche, there's a new 911 every month which is just a spin on an existing model with a snazzy paint job and a few trinkets to boot.
Ducati doesnt exist, at least in the form we knew it. Trellis frames, torquey v-twins. A bit mad Italian. Now, others will disagree I'm sure, but I wonder if theyve not just become as soulless as a BMW. No, if you want mad italian, its MV or Aprilia. Change happens, its needed and some of us get left behind. I wish theyd build a daft vtwin again. >200bhp is daft. I doubt, apart from the track day guys, many of us use 50% of it. I remember the days mocking BMW's GS for building lardy fat tourers, now Ducati do the same. Theyre just a red GS. Heavy, fat and ugly. Much like many of the riders to be fair. Always good to insult as many people as you can 1st thing on a Tuesday. It's a hobby. Of course I mean it in jest. Some are not that heavy. I feel like a luddite sometimes. It must be an age thing. Disclaimer: the views above are just the rantings of a middle aged moron and should not be taken seriously. Like the majority of my posts, everything in life is a bit tongue in cheek.
The lines and contours. Ferrari get right. Ducati get it right. Kawasaki get it wrong. The Panigale V4R is the best looking sports bike on the market right now. Ducati nail it every time. Have you seen one of those H2 things in the flesh? That’s how to get lines hideously wrong. Get the looks right, drop a ridiculously powerful lump in there, and you’ve cracked it.
I dont agree Fairy. The V4 is a fat bike. Not the svelte lithe creatures they were once. Admittedly the newer V4 is better looking than the series 1. Its not ugly sure, the new V4, but its stumpy. Its no 999 or 916. Its fat and bloated. The V2 is better looking imo. The Xtrenta is a better looking bike.
MV are just as bad at making pointless expensive limited bikes though. Its not just a Ducati trait. And they are now owned by KTM anyway so wait for the cheap plastics and finish to happen soon.
Sorry guys, not going to be available at your dealer any time soon, the bikes are going to be offered by invitation only. If not all invitees take up the option (yeh, right) you might get a chance. Andy
They took the v-twin configuration as far as it was possibly financially viable. No one loves a v twin more than me but I knew when Ducati switched to the V4 configuration, it was going to be exciting. And I was right. No Panigale interested me. I had my nutty 1098R and I knew it had them covered. But I knew the V4 would be next level in terms of rampant power. The game moves on. Two bikes I’ll hold fond memories of are the 999R and the 1098R. And probably the V4S when it’s gone.
I bought one of the very last 999R’s. And in doing so earned an invitation from Ducati to place a deposit on a Desmosedici. That I think were £40k at the time (2006?). Anyway, a shed load of cash at the time for a bike. I was beyond skint having bought the 999R so politely declined their offer.
The top view if a 999r amply makes my point. The v4 isnt in the same page. It could have a bmw badge on it and you wouldnt be surprised. Allegedly.
Buy shit loads of Doocardi’s. It’s like buying the latest, greatest Ferrari. You have to order, spec up and buy about 6 of the fucking things until they let you buy the one you actually want…
Its not the engine andy. Its the prettiness and styling. Its not italian enough looking. Allegedly no returns.
