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Harley to buy Ducati
- Thread starter apok86
- Start date
nojoconnections
New member
interesting story. I guess if they're gonna be acquired, I'd rather have it be HD than one of the japanese companies. hopefully HD won't interfere too much.
Winchester Bailey
New member
I just hope that it doesnt happen. plain and simple!
mandee.totherescue
New member
I'd be curious to know why the big apprehension in a Ducati/Harley merger? It's not like they'll start opening up "Ducarley or Harley Davitisti" shops. HD has resources that Ducati could leverge (economies of scale). And it's not like there is any real overlap in brands, so there won't be canabolism. From a business standpoint, it would take both companies into markets where they have no current pentration. Just a thought.....
Did I mention I'm considering a VROD?
Did I mention I'm considering a VROD?
My concern is that Ducati just recently fixed some issues.
The 1098, Hypermotard etc. all seem to point to development of passionate performance bikes. This is what Ducati is known for and is their bread and butter. Their key marketing is racing and winning, as they currently are in MotoGP and World Superbike.
Under American ownership by TPG they were starting to push "Lifestyle". I don't like that. To me Ducati means performance - not lifestyle. Tshirts and Red Thongs with a Ducati Corse logo may have huge profit margins but when development concentrates on growing those sales racing and performance can suffer.
I would worry that Harley as a premier vendor of a "Lifestyle" would push Ducati back in that direction.
I want to see more products like the 1098 and Hypermotard developed by the competition group. Not a matching set of "Red Chaps + Pasties" when I go to the Ducati dealer.
The 1098, Hypermotard etc. all seem to point to development of passionate performance bikes. This is what Ducati is known for and is their bread and butter. Their key marketing is racing and winning, as they currently are in MotoGP and World Superbike.
Under American ownership by TPG they were starting to push "Lifestyle". I don't like that. To me Ducati means performance - not lifestyle. Tshirts and Red Thongs with a Ducati Corse logo may have huge profit margins but when development concentrates on growing those sales racing and performance can suffer.
I would worry that Harley as a premier vendor of a "Lifestyle" would push Ducati back in that direction.
I want to see more products like the 1098 and Hypermotard developed by the competition group. Not a matching set of "Red Chaps + Pasties" when I go to the Ducati dealer.
Mocha Latte
New member
WOW! Please no! No, no no!!
Jason
Jason
wwe diva Maria
New member
I agree with Old-Skule & Desmo Duc. How ironic, an HD & Ducati merger! As a pure sport bike manufacturer Ducati has nothing to offer HD and HD doesn't need Ducati. They are two worlds apart. Stranger things have happened though so it will be interesting to see what develops.
As a sport bike rider I have never been attracted to the HD style due to their lack of technological advancement of their motorcycles including and especially the engine. When the VROD came on the seen it was cause for excitement and I could not help thinking maybe HD would bring out a sport bike model. I even rented a VROD one sunny afternoon to check it out. Yes it moves out smartly but with the gaudy pipes, longish wheelbase, raked front end, and extra weight it is not what the purist sport bike rider is looking for. I even secretly hoped for the sake of mom, apple pie, and American flag waving that HD would build a sport bike based on the VROD. Where is it? It is apparent guess HD is doing fine selling chrome and memorabilia without dipping into the sport bike market.
Oh, don
As a sport bike rider I have never been attracted to the HD style due to their lack of technological advancement of their motorcycles including and especially the engine. When the VROD came on the seen it was cause for excitement and I could not help thinking maybe HD would bring out a sport bike model. I even rented a VROD one sunny afternoon to check it out. Yes it moves out smartly but with the gaudy pipes, longish wheelbase, raked front end, and extra weight it is not what the purist sport bike rider is looking for. I even secretly hoped for the sake of mom, apple pie, and American flag waving that HD would build a sport bike based on the VROD. Where is it? It is apparent guess HD is doing fine selling chrome and memorabilia without dipping into the sport bike market.
Oh, don
Chazzmin H
New member
I doubt this will ever happen, not now with the 1098 selling like hot pizza!
Jason
Jason
A-F'ing-Men brother. I live in SoCal where we have a ton of Italian Harley riders anyway, all pose, no go. And they always try and argue that "real" ducati owners buy them for the looks, not the quality or peformance. Those guys can kick rocks as far as I'm concerned. These are the same guys that won't buy a 1098 because it has too much power, and must be uncontrollable. I guess improving your riding ability would get in the way of the posing lifestyle.
On the other hand, we have a lot of employee's of DNA down here and I've heard a couple say the talks are pretty advanced and Harley people have been seen touring Ducati facilities. They seem to be eager to replace Buell.
One positive thing to think about is that Ducati has historically taken a ton of shortcuts. They always think, cheapen this part and maybe we save enough money for 2 people's salary. Harley comes with such a huge war chest, that mentality could be put aside forever.
On the other hand, we have a lot of employee's of DNA down here and I've heard a couple say the talks are pretty advanced and Harley people have been seen touring Ducati facilities. They seem to be eager to replace Buell.
One positive thing to think about is that Ducati has historically taken a ton of shortcuts. They always think, cheapen this part and maybe we save enough money for 2 people's salary. Harley comes with such a huge war chest, that mentality could be put aside forever.