Ducati set to take on BMW R1200GS by 2010

Yeah right, Italian technology  against German technology.
Posted: 16/12/2008 12:16

ehm..examples of italian technology..agv dainese brembo marzocchi magneti-marelli alpinestars sidi marchesini marvic paioli aprilia ducati pirelli termignoni arrow bimota MV-agusta and few more including ferrari and maserati..now get some drinks in,please
Posted: 16/12/2008 12:32

That told ya
Posted: 16/12/2008 13:26

I'm talking about technology not about design
Posted: 16/12/2008 13:50

Doesn't technology come into any of the designs
Posted: 16/12/2008 14:00

Tasmanian Devil wrote (see)

I'm talking about technology not about design

exactly..that's why I didn't mention pininfarina giugiaro or tamburini..you may get confused with that old chestnut of reliability
Posted: 16/12/2008 14:01

Isnt it strange how somebody thinks a BMW motorcycle is an example of technology!  Might have been in 1950 but we are in 2008!   

 They dont even seem to be that reliable any more from reading various posts from owners of newer machines...

Posted: 16/12/2008 15:04

I'm firmly in the Italian camp: But wouldn't accuse the R1200 GS of lacking in technology. Just because it still uses the flat twin layout there is a temptation write off the whole bike. (though it is ugly). Italian bikes used to be all about style over substance, rusted and failed to start: there have been some AWFUL Italian motorbikes -Those days are long gone and Ducati of all people don't need to make excuses.... Hey! If you've got grey pubes or residual values turn you on more than individualism then you're not going to buy some edgy Italian bike are you? This bike is not going to worry BMW.
Posted: 16/12/2008 20:04

i was doing some building work at mill bmw at boldon a few year's back and every day breakdown truck's came in with bmw bikes on the back .i ask'd the workshop guy what's the crack with all these beemer's coming in and he said the owner's are lazy bastard's there bringing them in for a service.it was january mind and they used a out side company for transport.
Posted: 16/12/2008 20:22

The lazy S.O.B's! Mind you: I suppose they saw Ewan and Charley with their back-up trucks and thought it was the right thing to do!!?
Posted: 16/12/2008 21:10

I think it looks too slimline, more designed to go against KTM supermotos then the BMW GS. If they beef up the rider/pillion seat and make fitting of decent lugguage a bit more obvious then they may be onto something. That and a new mudguard arrangement up front. They just have to refine the current multistrada more so then complete redesign.

Posted: 17/12/2008 02:23

Yer pays yer money and yer makes yer choice! Maybe I'll wait until the Ducati " GS" has a few years under it's wheels.
Posted: 17/12/2008 02:36

I still find the Italian bikes not very reliable. I have college's here with Italian bikes. I have drivin Italian bikes (also very recently).
Posted: 17/12/2008 14:16

I've heard of plenty of BMW's with reliabiility problems. The only real issue I can think of with Ducati's is the rocker issue where the chrome flaked off the rockers/cam followers/ valve actuators (whatever anyone prefers to call them). That is (was) a manufacturing fault and a costly one too.

But BMW's seem to have countless manufacturing and design issues that mean they keep failing, so in a BMW V's Ducati reliability fight I'd put my money on the Italians. Although they'd probably prefer to drink coffee and look cool about it rather than actually fight.

Posted: 17/12/2008 17:06

Why is it every article seems to come from a French, Italian or Spanish magazine?

Do TWO never get any info themselves?

Posted: 17/12/2008 17:11

Most of the hot info. on European bikes gets leaked to 'friendly' Italian mags first -By company insiders, at Ducati etc. The UK mags do get the scoops on Triumph and the NEC. When they're pissed MCN staff draw 'artists impressions' of fanciful new bikes and call these scoops too. I'd rather TWO gave us info on real bikes rather than on V6-engined scooters or bang-on about NORTON is back!!! ....It took me ages to write this: I was too busy looking at that girl's tits on your last post!
Posted: 17/12/2008 17:41

V-fun wrote (see)

Most of the hot info. on European bikes gets leaked to 'friendly' Italian mags first -By company insiders, at Ducati etc. The UK mags do get the scoops on Triumph and the NEC. When they're pissed MCN staff draw 'artists impressions' of fanciful new bikes and call these scoops too. I'd rather TWO gave us info on real bikes rather than on V6-engined scooters or bang-on about NORTON is back!!! ....It took me ages to write this: I was too busy looking at that girl's tits on your last post!

Trouble is most of it turns out to be bollox.

Sorry about the tits

Posted: 17/12/2008 17:44

Matey: NEVER apologise to me about tits and especially not when they are that good! As to the bollox... you're probably right. Hell that girl is good at skipping!
Posted: 17/12/2008 19:11