While at a Ducati Dealer Today...

[hank]

I'm checking out an 848 and a sales guy gives me a cheesy "you would look good on that bike" line... Then he rolls off the statistic "it makes 140 true horsepower" in a matter-of-fact tone.

I tell him that it is indeed a very nice bike and from what I have read, so far people are getting around 188 to 122 rwhp, so it should be very competitive against the I4 600's in most classes. He scoffs at me and says "horsepower is always measured at the crank, not the rear wheel". I simply smiled, said "thanks"and slowly walked away...

I believe that I'll continue to run my trusty 1999 748 for another year and never consider buying a bike from that guy...

[mfbRSV]

Frank's and the boy's new stock 848 dynoed at 119, with 400 break in miles on the odometer. Doug Polen & Pete Friedland will be riding it at Daytona for the first MOTO-St race, in the SST class.

Maybe that one you saw today had a jet kit installed!

[mfbRSV]

Double Trouble

[hank]

Double Trouble

Nice pair!

[rs250slowpoke]

I'm checking out an 848 and a sales guy gives me a cheesy "you would look good on that bike" line... Then he rolls off the statistic "it makes 140 true horsepower" in a matter-of-fact tone.

I tell him that it is indeed a very nice bike and from what I have read, so far people are getting around 188 to 122 rwhp, so it should be very competitive against the I4 600's in most classes. He scoffs at me and says "horsepower is always measured at the crank, not the rear wheel". I simply smiled, said "thanks"and slowly walked away...

I believe that I'll continue to run my trusty 1999 748 for another year and never consider buying a bike from that guy...

Hank, take it from me I've got both bikes. Once you ride the 848 you will never go back to the 748. My 748 is my red-headed stepchild now. hahaha

[mfbRSV]

The rear wheel changes on the 848 should be even easier than the BMW was, should make for a nice endurance platform!
I hope to be able to beat the gas man...

[FrankBlank]

I'm checking out an 848 and a sales guy gives me a cheesy "you would look good on that bike" line... Then he rolls off the statistic "it makes 140 true horsepower" in a matter-of-fact tone.

I tell him that it is indeed a very nice bike and from what I have read, so far people are getting around 188 to 122 rwhp, so it should be very competitive against the I4 600's in most classes. He scoffs at me and says "horsepower is always measured at the crank, not the rear wheel". I simply smiled, said "thanks"and slowly walked away...

I believe that I'll continue to run my trusty 1999 748 for another year and never consider buying a bike from that guy...

god, i hate that kinda shit. i have a knack for buying bikes i don't really need, but bonehead sales people still manage to chase me out of their dealerships with that stuff.

[Quirky]

Thats funny whats even funnyer is that 9 of 10 so called Ducatiest have no clue what their bike is all about, but they sure do have the matching helmet, jacket, boots, hat, and so on..... Ask them anything technical and you will get a wide range of wrong answers

Bollocks.
That sounded like a comment of someone who has never owned a Ducati, or perhaps not even rode one, let alone actually knows people who do own Ducatis. Rich squids excluded, of course.
In fact, that sounded like a typical comment from someone who's been riding some mainstream Jap bikes all his life, someone who himself may not know all the 'right answers,' either. That is, if I didn't know better, as this is an Aprilia forum.

Or perhaps things are a bit different over there, I don't know, but I tend to doubt it. I for one know quite a few Dee riders, probably more than ten, and not one of them is or behaves like described above. Usually it's the other way around - those who ride Ducatis usually tend to know a thing or two about technical things. Some of them are actually pretty skilled mechanics, some with racing experience, too.
I've seen quite a few Hayabusa riders, though, who do look and behave like described above. I know some of those, too.
What is unfortunate, however, is that being smart seems not to be a top criteria these days, when the sales staff are being picked and hired. There may be morons selling each brand.

[cwalker]

i have owned ducatis too (mid 90's), and i have to say, especially since about '99 on, at least 70% of the ducati riders here are indeed also of the 'all the gear,no clue' kind...


more like 'no clue whatsoever' even.....

[Alterego]

delete

[mad]

Okay, let's clear things up with a group hug.
EVERY profession, group, whatever has a wide range of people and throwing out "majority" towards any is usually wrong. Examples? MOST cops are bad. Um, wrong. MOST cagers hate motorcyclists. Wrong again. ...and my favorite today? MOST Ducatisti are asshats with money and no riding skill. BIG wrong again. There are idiots and posers everywhere, even on Aprilias. Fortunately, not many have logged in to this forum.

[Alterego]

Ok im sorry everybody, I was generalizing just to go along with the guy who started the tread. Peace

[hank]

Ok im sorry everybody, I was generalizing just to go along with the guy who started the tread. Peace

No worries - I was merely providing an example of poor sales tactics - appealing to mere looks and then a bogus statistic. If the guy has had success with that tactic, good for him - it doesn't work on me...

It could have just as easily been a salesman representing another brand for that matter...

The thread 'evolved' on its own - which happens on internet forums. I doubt anyone really gets too worked up over these discussions for the most part as long as they remain cordial..

[Quirky]

LOL looks like I stepped on your toes, sorry mate didnt mean to

No worries, mate, my skin is thick enough.
Perhaps there is even some truth in what you said, but that would mean there actually are clearly more posers on Ducatis in your whereabouts than there are in some other places, like mine. I for one have seen just one or two, during my biking years. Be it one way or another, Ducati is one of the brands that is rising emotions, both positive and negative, a bit like Harley.

No worries - I was merely providing an example of poor sales tactics - appealing to mere looks and then a bogus statistic. If the guy has had success with that tactic, good for him - it doesn't work on me...

Perhaps the guy thought you're one of the posers that flock around Alterego's neighbourhood...

[mad]

No worries - I was merely providing an example of poor sales tactics - appealing to mere looks and then a bogus statistic. If the guy has had success with that tactic, good for him - it doesn't work on me...

It could have just as easily been a salesman representing another brand for that matter...

The thread 'evolved' on its own - which happens on internet forums. I doubt anyone really gets too worked up over these discussions for the most part as long as they remain cordial..

Exactly. Just exchanging viewpoints. 99% of everyone on this particular forum is fantastic...ALL on this particular post included!