Other riders' perception of Ducati riders...

Y

yo mama!!!!!

New member
I don't know if it's just me, but I get the feeling that riders of other brands(i.e. Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, whatever) seem to alienate and put Ducati riders under the microscope, so to speak. Just last night, I went to a bike night to meet up with a couple friends(none of whom rides a Ducati), and I've had many riders give me that 'look', as if I wasn't welcome there. I head over to see my friends, and I spot a couple folks actually looking at my rear tire to check out my chicken strips, which are more or less gone. So I head over to my bike to say hi to these people. They reply with a "...what's up... nice bike" and then leave. I'm like, "wow, they headed over here just to check out my chicken strips", which in all honesty doesn't measure one's riding abilities. This happens several more times, and each time I make eye contact with those people, I get the 'look'. I find it weird that just because I ride a Ducati, it doesn't mean that it's never been ridden, or I'm a poser with a nice bike with no riding abilities. I'm still slow. I guess there's a certain stigma that comes with Ducatis. Many people assume you just go to bike meets to show off your expensive machine and not actually ride the living snot out of it.

Then you have those folks who put Ducati on top of the pedestal. The ones whos say that Ducatis are the fastest best handling bikes on the road. I try to tell them that Ducatis have their strong points and weak points, just like any other bike does, and(as much as I hate to say it) Ducatis are often overshadowed by the Japanese competition, in terms of just about everything except for torque. They then proceed to ask the question, "you actually ride it?" Well yes, I actually 'ride' it. That's the reason I bought it.

I just find it rather strange that a group of riders, who probably love riding just as much as I do, can 'size me up' like that. I am by no means rich. I'm in debt because of my bike. And I'm still slow. I just don't get where the animosity comes from. We all ride and enjoy the sport. I just prefer Ducati, just like how people prefer a different brand.

Has anyone ever encountered something similar to this before?
 
Probably they are just jealous, I ride a CBR600 and I wish I had a 848. Im jealous of the Ducati riders but that doesnt mean I dont wave when they wave at me or anything like that. I just admire their bike and look forward to the day I get to buy my own. Hopefully I'll get mine for next year's riding season.
 
Hey Almazing...we'll ride with you anytime. I'm slow too and I don't care. I ride safely and defensively. I feel pretty good when I pull into my garage and my bike has no scratches and neither do I. I don't care what anybody thinks about my chicken strips. I don't care if they think Ducatis are expensive or not. You're right, every bike has its good features and bad features....like the mirrors suck on the 848, but guess what? It makes you more attentive to what's around you 'cuz you can't rely on the mirrors...hence, riding defensively and cautiously. Don't worry about what others think...just enjoy riding and be safe!
 
I actually have both....and certainly I like to look at the Ducati when I get into the garage....but I will pass it pretty much any day and take the CBR to work....so there you go...
 
Hey ASM...Its not humid in VA! Only thing that gets hot is the heat radiating off the exhaust from the 10 other Ducatis that ride with me... hehehe... Sure you dont wanna move to VA? lol..jk..
 
Well...not really...at least not in person. But....as someone just figured out in a different thread....Ducatisti are snobs!

So...there you go....so start keeping your nose high in the air....look contemptuously over the regular Japanese fraction...do not answer any question they may have....and sit alone at your table eating your chicken wings...

Okay...just kidding...I think Ducati always was known for building higher priced bikes....everyone knows that. They were always market as luxury bikes....like the 'Ferrari' of bikes and so on....that is an image that is memorized by many. These days, things have changed a little....at least for us in the US where Ducati sells them very aggressively...price wise (even though I still think that my 848 is kind of expensive especially compared to the 1198). But I still think that the aura is still memorized by many....they think Ducatis are exclusive and their owner pretend to display that image....

Jealousy may play a role as well....however, I actually think that americans are not as jealous as e.g. Germans....over here they usually respect you for being successful and harvest the fruits of your hard work....granted there some rich kids that get bought everything they want by Daddy....but this is a different story.

So....what was my point here....?
 
Yes....it starts to get nasty again....the next day they predict thunderstorms and stuff...humidity starts to climb...so I need to watch out or otherwise...
 
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