bigpoppa
Well-known member
In depth and a pretty good read
History of the Ducati Monster
- Thread starter bigpoppa
- Start date
Wonder Woman on a Monster:
bigpoppa
Well-known member
Wonder Woman on a Monster:
lady driven, mint condition, driveway drop
Catwoman on a Monster:
bigpoppa
Well-known member
Catwoman on a Monster:
The best ducati scene in the greatest trilogy ever:
Apparently Keanu has that exact green one:
Yeah, my buddy has the green 998 Matrix Edition. He's never ever going to sell it.
Here's Thanos racing against a Desmosedici:
Here's Thanos racing against a Desmosedici:
I'm sure the Monster line doesn't get the premium suspension parts (they're built to a price). I'm sure good bits can be fitted. Most naked bikes have that issue, they're not called upon to be race-winners. I doubt if the suspension is as bad on pavement as some (all?) of the BMW GS bikes are ... (my rental experience: F800GS = rubbish on pavement, really bad cornering clearance)
Average rider won't know the difference, and the Monster line has certainly been paying Ducati's bills.
Average rider won't know the difference, and the Monster line has certainly been paying Ducati's bills.
The Monster line started as a low budget line of Ducatis. They, like most Ducatis, were parts bin specials, only using existing parts, to save design money.
The original Monsters were stripped down SS's. Same frame, swingarm, wheels, motor (at first. The first 900 Monsters got the good big valve V2 heads, till they ran out of the good heads, then they got 900 ported heads with 750 valves. BLEECH!!).
The 80's were a hard time for everyone. Recession, unemployment and inflation caused by raising energy prices, everyone was broke... except the coke dealers.
So Ducati made a line of bikes as cheaply as they could, and still call it a Ducati, to try to take market away from Honda and they called them Monsters.
But the Monsters did in fact save Ducati. They've sold several boat loads of 'em.
... then Ducati and Harley traded shares, Harley got tech, Ducati got marketing, The harley marketing did their job, Ducati sold tons of bikes... then started raising the price of "Cheap" bikes, then got rid of the lowest priced bikes and taught Ducati an age old marketing lesson: Don't sell the steak, sell the sizzle. Ducati changed from a motorcycle producing company to a "life style" selling company.
At that point I decided I was out.
And Honda defined the "Naked" with the 1988 RC31 "Bros"
All years of hawks look the same, couldn't find a '88
Can you see a Monster 620 in there?
The original Monsters were stripped down SS's. Same frame, swingarm, wheels, motor (at first. The first 900 Monsters got the good big valve V2 heads, till they ran out of the good heads, then they got 900 ported heads with 750 valves. BLEECH!!).
The 80's were a hard time for everyone. Recession, unemployment and inflation caused by raising energy prices, everyone was broke... except the coke dealers.
So Ducati made a line of bikes as cheaply as they could, and still call it a Ducati, to try to take market away from Honda and they called them Monsters.
But the Monsters did in fact save Ducati. They've sold several boat loads of 'em.
... then Ducati and Harley traded shares, Harley got tech, Ducati got marketing, The harley marketing did their job, Ducati sold tons of bikes... then started raising the price of "Cheap" bikes, then got rid of the lowest priced bikes and taught Ducati an age old marketing lesson: Don't sell the steak, sell the sizzle. Ducati changed from a motorcycle producing company to a "life style" selling company.
At that point I decided I was out.
And Honda defined the "Naked" with the 1988 RC31 "Bros"
All years of hawks look the same, couldn't find a '88
Can you see a Monster 620 in there?
bigpoppa
Well-known member
OG streetfighter in the same movie, methinks ducati paid for the placement (or maybe the director is a fan)
Oliver Stone stated that he needed money to make the film, so he sold out to companies likes Borders, Moet, Heineken, Ducati, Bulgari, and Apple, even going as far as to shoot special segments highlighting each sponsor.
The film is about greed and capitalism, so the explicit product placements aren't jarring at all and kinda fits the theme.
Priller
Well-known member
Blend those two together and you end up with the SV650, the best seller of them all...And Honda defined the "Naked" with the 1988 RC31 "Bros"
All years of hawks look the same, couldn't find a '88
Can you see a Monster 620 in there?
As an aside, the Hawk GT/Bros was a sales disaster because they were way too expensive. Honda wanted almost the same money as a CBR600F for half the power. Ducati and Suzuki didn't make the same mistake...
Relax
Well-known member
RC-31
Well-known member
Hawk GTs in good shape sell for more than they did new. The CBR that was just a few dollars more didn't age as well.
When I stopped riding 2-strokes and was looking for something new, I almost put money down on the then new Monster at a (now gone Ducati dealer -- maybe Rev Cycles?). Then I found out about the Hawk GT. I have owned 6 since and still have 4.
When I stopped riding 2-strokes and was looking for something new, I almost put money down on the then new Monster at a (now gone Ducati dealer -- maybe Rev Cycles?). Then I found out about the Hawk GT. I have owned 6 since and still have 4.
