Why are Ducatis more popular than Guzzi's?

[Daleroso]

Are they more reliable? Are they less expensive? Are they sexier? Do they have a better dealer network/support? Are more accessories available for them? (Euro Cycles in Reno, worse dealer I've ever experienced, doesn't stock anything for MG. The'll "order it.")  They've  won more races? Is red more popular? Just wondering.

[Tusayan]

In the early 80s, Ducati was making less than 2000 bikes per year.  Cagiva then did an incredible brand building job for approximately 10 years, 1987-1997, initially hiring the best designer in the world (Massimo Tamburini), setting him up in a new design facility and then pouring money and resources into a successful World Superbike racing program.  After that TPG (an American investment company) bought the company and in its tenure fixed most of the remaining reliability/maintainability issues.  Once that kind of thing is established it takes on a life of its own, the name becomes a reason to buy and buyers are less critical of how the product itself evolves.

[fotoguzzi]

Less weight, less wheel base, more power..faster. Sexier.

[Toecutter]

Ducati appeals more to a  younger base of riders that value sex appeal, than Guzzi does.

Face it.. none of us have much sex appeal any more.

[AJ Huff]

I remember Ducati being popular with Hollywood, sports, and music celebrities, those who had that kind of cash. And then it probably became a matter of following your role model.

-AJ

[Kev m]

The Monster.

Are they more reliable? Are they less expensive? Are they sexier? Do they have a better dealer network/support? Are more accessories available for them? (Euro Cycles in Reno, worse dealer I've ever experienced, doesn't stock anything for MG. The'll "order it.")  They've  won more races? Is red more popular? Just wondering.

They aren't more reliable, though we've found ours to be nearly flawless.
They aren't less expensive, not only was ours more expensive it costs WAY more to service.
Sexier - well Jenn bought ours over a V7...and only later only picked a "sexier" V7.
Better dealer network - I think so, though it's not by a huge margin.
Races - more lately, so that probably has some draw.

You didn't ask if they performed better though? And honestly if low weight and high hp (in an Italian bike) is your priority, they have an advantage there for some. Not for me, but certainly for a number of other people.

[LowRyter]

Ducati is pretty savvy using a few basic engines but coming up with new cutting edge models every year.  Ducati will warrant their products and have many more service depts while staying loyal to its performance image.   In the last 10 years Guzzi has treated their legacy bikes like orphans, has seen it's dealer network dry up and has difficulty getting a new model out every few years with attendant flaws and reliability issues.  The brand itself has been hodged podged with no defining image.

So the advantage goes to Ducati regarding product, image and support.

I probably could've been more tactful but that is the answer.

[Toecutter]

The Monster.

They aren't more reliable, though we've found ours to be nearly flawless.
They aren't less expensive, not only was ours more expensive it costs WAY more to service.
Sexier - well Jenn bought ours over a V7...and only later only picked a "sexier" V7.
Better dealer network - I think so, though it's not by a huge margin.
Races - more lately, so that probably has some draw.

You didn't ask if they performed better though? And honestly if low weight and high hp (in an Italian bike) is your priority, they have an advantage there for some. Not for me, but certainly for a number of other people.

"Sex appeal" to a greater number of riders than Guzzi.

[roadscum]

Less weight, less wheel base, more power..faster. Sexier.

I'm with ya on this one except for the sexier thing. Don't know what that means? Never have I had, an erection, a franticly, or performed a sex act with a motorcycle. As Bill would say.... " I did not have sexual relations with that motorcycle".

Both Kev's wife and some guys here find the Guzzi sexy.... I'm sooooo confused. 

Paul

[Kev m]

I'm with ya on this one except for the sexier thing. Don't know what that means? Never have I had, an erection, a franticly, or performed a sex act with a motorcycle. As Bill would say.... " I did not have sexual relations with that motorcycle".

Both Kev's wife and some guys here find the Guzzi sexy.... I'm sooooo confused. 

Paul

It's ok that language confuses you...

[Daleroso]

I pretty much knew the answers but got good validating feedback. I did forget to ask if they had more seductive models at the shows.

[Rough Edge racing]

 My 96 900 Monster is thrilling to ride fast or slow...For me it's a mechanical feel of the bike..It's also lightweight...

[JJ]

Ducati appeals more to a  younger base of riders that value sex appeal, than Guzzi does.

Face it.. none of us have much sex appeal any more.

Thus, the ongoing tale of....."The Guzzi Geezer!!" - - - Dooooooohhhhh!!!  

[kirb]

Are they more reliable?
More? Well, they never used to be. The quality has dramatically improved since at least 2010. Some issues- fuel tank swelling, fuel sending units, other items have been problematic for some. I had an original Diavel...was 100% reliable for me. I even did the valve/belt service. It was much more involved, but not all that hard. Bike was well designed to make all of that not very difficult. Mine was bullet proof, so was a buddy's 1200 Multistrada with over 30k miles.

Are they less expensive?
No. You pay for the technology. They have this in spades. Some of the best handing bikes you can buy.

Are they sexier?
This is always depending on what a person considers sexy. Ducati is the ultimate Italian motorcycle design. They have some iconic bikes that just look right.

Do they have a better dealer network/support?
Do they sell better? Then they have more dealers. I show twice as many Ducati dealers than Guzzi dealers around the lower Lake MI area.

Are more accessories available for them?
The superstore near me sells everything but KTM. They stock more Ducati stuff than Piaggio stuff, but hardly any accessories for anything. Most accessories they can get in a week, so they don't divert $$ to something they may not sell. It mostly sells with a new bike purchase anyway. Guzzi, is one of the worst sellers for them. They only keep them around to sell Aprilia and Vespa.

They've  won more races?
At least in this century.

Ducati is now more diverse than ever. You can find just about any fit of bike you need...except a touring cruiser or off-road. The Multistrada could be one of the best executed bikes ever...power, light weight, comfort, and able to tour. The liquid 4-valve twin that powers the Diavel, Multi, and 1200 Monster is a brute. Twist the throttle on a bike with one and you will see the light of why Ducati is so desirable. Eyeball flattening acceleration while sounding amazing. I'll own another someday...

[RinkRat II]

        They're equally popular at my house

           



             Paul B

       

           

[Kev m]

        They're equally popular at my house

           


           

Here the Duc is outnumbered 2:1 by the Geese.

And until this past week was outnumbered 2:1 by the Harleys... but now they're dead even, unless we go by weight or CCs, then the Harley still is at LEAST DOUBLE the Ducati hmmmmm if we go by HP I think it's about a dead heat again      

[wolfeguitars]

My MG Cali is a super fun machine for the more relaxed rides. The attached sidecar is fun also. Comfortable, reasonably reliable, affordable to buy & maintain. I love that beauty. My 30 yr. old Ducati 851 is definitely "sexy", sounds amazing, runs fabulous, lightweight, fast enough for just 105hp which is more than enough for a 73 yr. old 230 lb. 6'2" guy who refuses to grow up. The Race Replica riding position is  uncomfortable to say the least, which limits rides to short durations. Bout all I can take...BUT......tha t old beast makes my blood run faster & hotter and I love her.  It has made me lose some weight & shape up some, which can't be a bad thing. Ya only live once.
    Definitely much more access in my Palm beach County Florida region for quality Ducati service. MG= not good at all. I love 'em both, along with my Triumph T-Bird Sport- with it's comfy upright riding position.
    The new 200hp Ducs don't interest me. Can't fit on 'em anyway & what the heck would I do with the extra hp??

[jwinwi]

Ducati's dealer network?

[Dilliw]

Are they more reliable? Are they less expensive? Are they sexier? Do they have a better dealer network/support? Are more accessories available for them? (Euro Cycles in Reno, worse dealer I've ever experienced, doesn't stock anything for MG. The'll "order it.")  They've  won more races? Is red more popular? Just wondering.

1.  The Cagiva save helped them continue on through the early 80s and help them survive until;

2.  The Superbike rule allowing 1L twins vs 750 fours made them a household name.

That's a pivotal time that connects vintage Ducati with modern Ducati.  The Brits were gone, and BMW and Guzzi had moved away from modern racing.

[Beowulf]

Being a younger member of this board take this with a grain of salt. Imo i think Ducati is better advertised and has more visibility in the public eye. Guzzi for what it is very obscure brand for most people. Half the time i fill up i get guys who are confused asking what kind of motorcycle it is. Guzzi are awesome, relatively fast but i think it's comparing Apple's and oranges.

If i had the money id buy a Griso first and than a Aprilia Tuono. Id think about a Ducati after that. I think in reality Aprilia is kind of Moto Guzzi's racing and technology division. I understand they are merely owned by the same company.

I think a better comparison is Aprilia vs Ducati.
Just my 2 cents. Love the topic.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

Ducati is 'cooler' than Guzzi for sure, that's just perception but they have done a great deal of excellent marketing work to back it up. The bikes are perceived as very fast and very exotic.

To me the number one issue is dealer network.  EVEN if you know what a Guzzi is, where the hell can you buy one? Maybe a single dealer per state...
Once you get one, who's gonna work on it?  No dealers + no support and no mechanics.  I know a lot of you old codgers will say "work on it yourself" and while that was all well and good in the days of points & carbs, it's just not the way people live now--- not to mention the warranty aspect or the fact every bike they produce needs to go thru two generations before the kinks and niggles are all sorted out.  Couple that with the fact that even when dealers are present, most of them turn over every few years, so if you buy new from a dealer, chances are they will have dropped the brand before your warranty is even up.

[blackcat]

The last sexy bike made by Moto Guzzi was the MGS-01 and it was t readily available to the public. Before that is was Daytona RS.  So to recap: 2001 and 1997 for a production model in a similar category as Ducati. 

[Huzo]

Race success.
If Guzzi was leading WSBK, what would that do for it’s sales figures..?

[acguzzi]

What Huzo says, they have been winning since Mike the bike in the 70's, Guzzi gave up in what, the fifties?

[bigbikerrick]

Sex appeal = you can pick up hotter chicks on a Ducati, than on a Guzzi! The only exception is a sidecar rig.... I have had pretty girls ask me for a ride in my sidecar, after turning down a ride on a Harley! On the other end of the spectrum, I also had a very conservative , but younger catholic Nun, ask me for a ride, which I gladly gave. About 9-10 nuns were out for dinner at a restaurant,  sitting outside,waiting for a table to open up, when she asked me. Told me she was a "farm girl" growing up, and loved riding atvs on the family farm.   
  You should have seen all the  other sisters clapping and cheering, as  we came back after the little ride ! It was sooo much fun!!   
Sorry about the thread drift,
Rick.

[Huzo]

Sex appeal = you can pick up hotter chicks on a Ducati, than on a Guzzi! The only exception is a sidecar rig.... I have had pretty girls ask me for a ride in my sidecar, after turning down a ride on a Harley! On the other end of the spectrum, I also had a very conservative , but younger catholic Nun, ask me for a ride, which I gladly gave. About 9-10 nuns were out for dinner at a restaurant,  sitting outside,waiting for a table to open up, when she asked me. Told me she was a "farm girl" growing up, and loved riding atvs on the family farm.   
  You should have seen all the  other sisters clapping and cheering, as  we came back after the little ride ! It was sooo much fun!!   
Sorry about the thread drift,
Rick.

No mate..
I REALLY like where this is going...

[blackcat]

Giving nuns a ride is not on my to do list.

[Dilliw]

What Huzo says, they have been winning since Mike the bike in the 70's, Guzzi gave up in what, the fifties?

I saw Baldwin win at Charlotte in 1977 on a LeMans! 

[Huzo]

Giving nuns a ride is not on my to do list.

There’s more material here than a linen factory..

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I saw Baldwin win at Charlotte in 1977 on a LeMans!

Then there's Dr. John's wins...