| Author | Message | ||
     Xlcr |
It seems we were having this discussion recently. TPG has finally found a buyer. I hope this works out for them: Bologna, 3 December 2005 – Satisfaction at Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A (NYSE: DMH, Borsa Italiana S.p.A: DMH), with the announcement of the preliminary agreement to transfer the Texas Pacific Group (majority shareholder of the Bologna motorcycle manufacturer) controlling stake in Ducati to Investindustrial Holdings. “We had always hoped to have Investindustrial as our partner for the re-launch of the company” commented Federico Minoli, President and CEO of Ducati Motor Holding. “the transfer of shares provides the guarantees that Ducati needs in order to continue its growth and reach the goals it has been working towards. The agreement is subject to the approval of Ducati’s banks. We will be working with all of our main banks, with the assistance of Unicredito Banca Mobiliare – UBM – to finalize the agreement as efficiently and quickly as possible. We expect to operate in a calm and harmonious way, combining forces and sharing results with those partners who have our same passion and pride for the worldwide success of Italian bikes”. Founded in 1926, Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. The Company produces motorcycles in six market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Supersport, Monster, Sport Touring, Multistrada and the new SportClassic. The Company’s motorcycles are sold in more than 60 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European, Japan and North American markets. Ducati has won thirteen of the last fifteen World Superbike Championship titles and more individual victories than the competition put together. For more information about the Company, please visit our web site at www.ducati.com. | ||
| Jon |
Looks like crow is on the menu for some. I wish Ducati well. I was at Munroe Motor's open house yesterday. I saw Danny and Don from Modesto, Skip from American Sport Bike Night, and of course Woz. Did I mention Thomas Montano was there as well?! I really enjoyed the bikes. The Ducati scene and people are very cool as is the Buell scene and people. Someday I will have an old Duc. But if I never do, that's OK. Cuz my X1 is what I NEED! | ||
| Buellgirlie |
i couldnt find it on the ducati website. did i miss it, or is it not there? i did find a little survey asking for input on their concept hypermotard. | ||
| Bomber |
no crow ordered here, thanks -- I wish Ducati all the best - they make great motorcycles, they don't refer to them as "proiduct," and I've long lusted after almost anything they had a hand in building -- just know too many folks missing prime riding due to parts backorders due to a lacdk of sound bidness practices -- I hope the new owers are smart enough to bring those to the party, and leave the r&d (and those wonderful welders on the line) alone | ||
| Kevyn |
I have to say that my Buell motorcycles have, for the most part, been reliable with minimal downtime. Owner induced problems are a different story. My Ducati has never missed a day of riding because of any factory or dealer problems. By '02 the simple 900 desmodue with FI was probably one of the most tried, tested and reliable motors Ducati had produced. The desmodue motor has a reputation for reliability on par with the Sportster's. The SBK's...another story. Still, for purpose built machines, they tolerate owner induced errors very well. I'm glad to hear they are on 'sound' financial footings! With both bikes, my dependency on the dealer networks has been minimalized intentionally. I am fortunate enough to be loosely associated with really good mechanics and try to do as much of the routine maintenance as possible. However, missing prime riding time due to parts back orders and poor business practices is an affliction common to every dealership and marque I've encountered so far... | ||
| X1tx |
I've owned a Duc and know several owners. Due to the shoddy dealers in this area I (as well as many I know) will never own another. Their bikes are great, but some of their dealers I wouldn't allow to work on my lawnmower. Guy that lives around the corner from me has two. But rather than let any of the dealers here in Houston mangle them, he trailers them to DFW when they need service (and we're on the opposite side of Houston, so it's a LONG trip) and has Nash do all the service. He's got deep pockets (as well as another seven bikes) so it's not a big deal for him. Not worth that much trouble for me. | ||
| Rocketman |
It's a shame that many people who would subscribe to things Ducati believe in the myth that they are complex beasts to work on. They are in fact very well designed and nowhere near as complicated as most not in the know would have us believe. My 916 is truly sublime. Rocket | ||
| Brucelee |
Never owned one but it seems the Duc works better if you are handy with the wrench. Leaves me out! Sigh! I do want a Monster S2R. | ||
| Mikej |
Don't know where to post this link so I'll post it here. Sometimes when arguing/discussing things on the net, one needs to remember that everything is based upon a personal perspective. Emotions aside, a bike is a bike is a bike. Emotions astride and the picture changes:  I don't own a Ducati, but did test ride two of them a few months ago. Nice bikes. Probably good that the local shop tried to overly lowball me on my trade-ins and the deal didn't go further. Time will tell how it goes for the Ducati corporation, same with Buell. | ||
| Xlcr |
Sure, Rocket! Now lets talk about valve adjustment. How long does it take to do eight Desmo valves, compared to NO adjustment required on the Buell. The first rule of great engineering, simplify, then add lightness. | ||
| Choptop |
The first rule of great engineering, simplify, then add lightness. like getting rid of power robbing valve springs? GREAT idea. BTW, not originally Ducati's idea. But ultimately not the only or best solution. | ||
| Brucelee |
I just priced an S2R. Great looking bike. The dealer told me the 6K service was $400 and the 12K was $900. That price is in Porsche 911 territory. Wow!!!!! What the hell they doing for 9 hrs on this bike? | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I think he was talking about a 2 valve per head engine. Still two clearances per valve but hey. | ||
| Bomber |
I think it was Merc that first did the desmo-deal -- it was, if memory serves, a way to raise the onset of valve float past the limits imposed by the metalurgy of the day today, it's an interesting tech excersize, and a market differentiator -- | ||
| Blake |
Friend of mine has a Duc 750SS and does the valve adjustments himself. No big deal, just time consuming. If given the choice, I'd rather not have to do it. | ||
| Grndskpr |
Sure, Rocket! Now lets talk about valve adjustment. How long does it take to do eight Desmo valves, compared to NO adjustment required on the Buell. about the same amount of time it takes to replace a belt on a tube frame bike I should know i have done both Oh and i thought BMW decided desmo wasnt the way to go mid 30's If given the choice, i wouldn't care; all bikes have there own quirks I like ducatis, and i like Buells, actually i like anything with 2 wheels and a motor(been thinking CRF50 as of late) i weird like that R | ||
| Rocketman |
Hey Xl, you mean they're not hydraulic? Actually, valve shimming on a Desmo is a satisfying and rewarding part of motorcycle maintenance. Rocket | ||
| The_old_poop |
Desmos history: http://members.chello.nl/~wgj.jansen/ | ||
| Jon |
Rocket, not knowing by experience, but recognizing the validity in what you say, I am inclined to agree. I have a pal who declines owning a Ducati for this reason, but it all depends in wht you want. Let's all hope that Ducati stays strong and healthy. They are just too cool. But I am all for Triumph going belly up! | ||
| Rocketman |
No Jon I can't agree about Triumph. They are the shape of the future. I only found out recently, Triumph manufacture a massive percentage of their models and that has to be fantastic. Rocket | ||
| Xring |
Duc Hypermotard `  More at http://www.webbikeworld.com/ducati-motorcycles/hypermotard/ | ||
| Bomber |
The new Trumps are great scoots, IMO (I know others don't agree) -- the newest addition to the Motor Pool is an 05 Bonnie -- it has all the positive attributes of it's namesake (nuetral, confidence-inspiring handling, great all rounder, a wonderful platform to go in almost any direction), but with more power, modern brakes and electricals, and oil that stays inside of the bike ;-} how long they can maintain the model of producing most everything themselves has more to do with the unions than anything else, I'd guess, but it's a really great sled (my MaDeuece reminded me of a modern Bonnie, when it was new, and un-altered) | ||
| Jon |
I was joking about Triumph. Heh heh..he he | ||
| Rocketman |
Nope, the unions are all but dead in the water here. It has more to do with Triumph's new, since after the fire, state of the art production plant which houses most everything they do on one huge site. I'm no fan of the modern marque and I think the retro models are way over priced and of poor quality. The Kawasaki 'Bonneville' is way cheaper and looks better built to me, but the new 675 triple is really getting close to rivaling the Japanese at their own game. In the flesh it looks to me to be the best quality modern era Triumph to date. Great things are expected of this new model. Rocket | ||
| Bake |
I hope the new owners put the same effort into making quality bikes! I'd have a Duc in a heartbeat, shimming valves isn't a big deal. But those bikes are very spendy here, and the nearest dealer is 6oo kilometers away, besides the Buell is North American, I like to show local support! | ||
| Bomber |
R -- thanks for the news re: unions in the UK -- didn't know that -- price, in the US anyways, for the Bonnies is pretty good -- the Kawi "bonnie," I believe, is not available in the states -- the short ride I've had on both tells me the Trump "Bonnie" is a better bike, by far -- agree on your quality statement, tho - there are some things about the Trump "Bonnie" that scream "built to a price," but, hey, it's owner is madly in love with it, which is, after all, what counts | ||
| Xlcr |
"A rewarding part of the motorcycling experience". No, I'm not buying that anymore. I used to believe it, back in my younger days when I hung with a bunch of other guys that rode Harleys and Brit bikes. We worked on them all of the time, it was a major part of the whole scene back then, because our bikes were all so unreliable, and it WAS fun. But since the old gang broke up and went their separate ways I've come to realize that what was fun was the comraderie, NOT spending half my life in cold, greasy garages busting my knuckles. As the owner of a '77 Harley Cafe Racer for 28 years, my only ride for most of that time, I know all about constant maintainance, I'm the only one I know that's still doing it. Unfortunately, the only Ducati owner in town never rides or even licences his bike, I guess he's not a mechanic. So no one else needs to. I don't really appreciate being the only one in town that has to wrench as much as I ride, and as no one I know here is planning to buy a Ducati, I can't see how that will ever change. So after all those years, I'm ready for a bike that doesn't offer 'rewarding' experiences. I've had enough of them for one lifetime, thank you very much. Which is why, much as I admire Ducatis, my next bike will be a Lightning Long. | ||
| Rocketman |
Bomber, I forgot you had the new Bonnie. Glad you're happy with it. Just to clarify. The unions still exist of course, but Thatcher really took away their power changing the ballot and block vote issues. No doubt the net could explain it to you better than I ever could. Xl, you missed my point I think. I've said it many a time before on BadWeB, I watched my mates ride into the sun during my younger years, whilst I stayed home screwing things back onto my Triumph's or Harleys. I enjoyed it sometimes, don't get me wrong, but like you those days are better as memories now. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed getting stuck into rebuilding my S1W this late spring / early summer and the end result was very very very rewarding. As for the Ducati maintenance, it's nothing like the old days. I get a total buzz from working on something as exotic. I can best equate it this way. As a Saab specialist seldom do I work on other vehicles unless they're ones I own or have in a deal, but if someone turns up in an Italian supercar I get a very satisfying buzz from fixing them simply because they're that bit more special. That too is the Ducati thing. Anyone turns up in a Ford Mondeo, I give 'em directions to my mates garage. Rocket | ||
| Bomber |
Rock -- actually, it's my better half's sled -- if it was mine, there are a few changes I'd make to it -- upgraded suspendors, ditch the buck rogers tail light assembly, deep-six the air injection, put some different cans on the poor dear so she could exhale a bit, etc etc etc -- I live with a threat of painful and dire consequences if I go within 10 feet of the bike with a wrench in my hand tho -- my wife fully understands my lack of ability to leave well enough alone, and has taken the appropriate measures to make sure that she'll never go out to the garage only to find a big that fits me perfectly ;-} glad to hear the unions have had their power reduced a bit over there -- for a while, they seemed (filtered through the press' lenses, of course) darned near omnipotent -- | ||
| Rocketman |
The better half's sled indeed. Pull the other one. There's a company in the UK that retro's them up into cafe racers, with added performance. Next time I find that MCN I'll post the details. Rocket | ||
| Mrh |
Brucelee, I had my valves checked/adjusted for the 6k on my 2-valve Monster for $200 (only service performed) and the complete 12k service was performed for $750 (which includes new cam belts, valve adjustment, brake fluid, synthetic oil, spark plugs, fuel filter, compression check) The cost and level of service I'm sure will vary from shop to shop...but the 6k miles of enjoyment between visits makes it worth it. It's hard to beat the routine maintenance schedule of the new Buells though...damn that orange Lightning Long looks good!!! | ||
| Brucelee |
Mrh- Agreed, certainly I have reduced the cost of service on my Buell by doing much of it myself. Still, the $900 gave me pause. Great looking bike that Monster S2R. However, the dealer won't allow me to test ride, so I think he has lost a sale. | ||
| Bomber |
Rocket -- s'trooth, brother! she love it to pieces! I've seen a bunch of the aftermarket sites -- I try to avoid em now, as they only give me ideas ;-} | ||
| Daves |
Bomber,ideas and winter. A great combination! | ||
| Bomber |
grin -- yeah, but the bruising from Brook would be painful ;-} | ||
| Court |
Outcome From Ducati Board of Directors Meeting of December 16th, 2005 BOLOGNA, Italy, December 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Board of Directors of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (NYSE  MH; Borsa Italiana: DMH) has approved today, among other items, the following: 1) an accrual on the 2005 Profit and Loss of a Euro 13.0 million restructuring reserve to support the reduction of dealer bike stock and to readdress and retrain the organizational structure of the Company; 2) the call of an Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting on January 24, 2006 (first call) and January 26, 2006 (second call), to grant the Board of Directors powers to increase the Company's share capital, for consideration and in one or more instances, over a period of five years, up to a maximum amount of Euro 80,0 million through the issuance of DMH ordinary shares to be offered to shareholders by way of subscription rights, and the subsequent amendment of Article 7 of the Company's By-laws. In addition, the Board of Directors communicates that the industrial plan to relaunch the Company is being prepared and will be presented to the market as soon as possible. |
