I rather see it in the hands of HD/USA than being snapped up by some power hungry widget maker from you know where...

Now a joint venture within the design studios could be useful, maybe they will let Buell use some of Tamburini's discarded sketches
on the 1125R

Buy a MV now before beige-ism sets in with the taint of HD. Please oh please Tamburini come home to Ducati.

this is funny. HD is buying back a company that they sold off 30 years or so ago and everybody is acting like it's the end of the world.

It all sounds good to me . If Ducati can try and compete with HD by going retro to cash in on its heritage. why should HD not try to modernize by buying a company that has technical knowhow and probably THE best designer in the business.

I am not an 4 cylinder fan (like my twins) but if MV gets the ability to develop new models and go racing with the backing that HD has watch out. They may even end up with a dealer network that can get parts without waiting for ever.

I wait for Buell parts. 

Quote from: Monstermash on July 11, 2008, 09:49:52 AM
Fixed it for ya!

Although the MV stuff is more expensive than HD, at least you get a pretty good value with MV vs. the cheap parts bin crap that comes on the HD's.

Must be horrible to buy a bike that's such poor quality that one would have to mod it to almost beyond recognition to appreciate it.....

Does this mean your F4 will be able pass a valve out exhaust and still run?

Quote from: someguy on July 11, 2008, 06:01:08 PM
Must be horrible to buy a bike that's such poor quality that one would have to mod it to almost beyond recognition to appreciate it.....

Careful...careful...   

That remark resembles an awful lot of Monsters on this forum!           

Quote from: sbrguy on July 11, 2008, 08:35:34 AM
the real question is why?

why would HD want to buy a motorcycle company when moto sales are down overall and mv is inherently a very expensive product almost more so than even the HD products.

So they can get in the European market.I guess.

Personally, I view it as a positive move for MV and Cagiva. The current distribution chain in Spain is absolutely shite - Motos Bordoy, hopefully there will now be real parts availability and warranty support.

Quote from: duc996 on July 13, 2008, 01:49:44 AM
So they can get in the European market.I guess.

there was no shortage of harleys when we went to italy a few years ago.

Quote from: akmnstr on July 11, 2008, 09:38:40 AM
All very good points.  I see nothing but good coming out of this.  Harley haters, I think you are way off the mark. 

+1

Don't let your preconceived stereotypes get int the way.  IMO, this is going to be a "win-win" situation just like H-D's deal with Aermacchi.  At a time whe HD couldn't compete with the Japanese in the firecracker-hot small MC market, the Aermacchi deal gave them instant product with hardly any investment.
Now that "lifestylers" are deserting Harley in droves, due to the economy, the deal gives them an expanded market and more than a little cachet with "motorcyclists".

It will be interesting to see the effects on dealers.  AFAIK, most MV dealers are exotic, superbike oriented. Could be interesting.  OTOH, the Las Vegas dealer started life with Big Dog and Boss Hoss and expanded into Ducati, MV, Benelli, Moto Guzzi, and Triumph as those franchises became available.  They should fit right in.  :-)

And to be quite honest, something along the lines of a Dr. T redesigned V-Rod might interest me in the brand for the first time.

Quote from: akmnstr on July 11, 2008, 09:38:40 AM
All very good points.  I see nothing but good coming out of this.  Harley haters, I think you are way off the mark. 

+1

Don't let your preconceived stereotypes get int the way.  IMO, this is going to be a "win-win" situation just like H-D's deal with Aermacchi.  At a time whe HD couldn't compete with the Japanese in the firecracker-hot small MC market, the Aermacchi deal gave them instant product with hardly any investment.
Now that "lifestylers" are deserting Harley in droves, due to the economy, the deal gives them an expanded market and more than a little cachet with "motorcyclists".

It will be interesting to see the effects on dealers.  AFAIK, most MV dealers are exotic, superbike oriented. Could be interesting.  OTOH, the Las Vegas dealer started life with Big Dog and Boss Hoss and expanded into Ducati, MV, Benelli, Moto Guzzi, and Triumph as those franchises became available.  They should fit right in.  :-)

And to be quite honest, something along the lines of a Dr. T redesigned V-Rod might interest me in the brand for the first time.

Quote from: Evil_Ductator on July 11, 2008, 01:31:49 PM
HD actually had a long stretch of race winning.  The XR750 won many a flat-track championship. 

I actually really like the new XR1200 (replica of the 750) but it's only for sale in Europe for the time being.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WIHhnnEQdsU

Rather them than the Chinese