FBI Raids Ducati NA

[LowRyter]

Very little info but Roadracing World reports that the FBI raided Duc NA HQ in California in December. 


https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/fbi-agents-raid-ducati-north-america-headquarters/

[GeorgiaGuzzi]

I was expecting something like a link to a daily onion report. But huh, musta been a slow day at the bureau. Actually, I shouldn’t say that. Having worked around and dealt with Vogon-like bureaucracy, somebody probably mid-filed their paperwork.

[LowRyter]

No details, just an admission by the FBI.

[sdcr]

Well, Ducati is owned by VW, and they have had some legal issues in the not too distant past.

Very little info but Roadracing World reports that the FBI raided Duc NA HQ in California in December. 


https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/fbi-agents-raid-ducati-north-america-headquarters/

[bad Chad]

Maybe Ducati is the new Delorean?

[oldbike54]

 

 Dusty

[guzzisteve]

Maybe they got caught with their fast women-------------------------------------

[Vagrant]

Nope, they purposely brought in the feds to rewrite the valve setting directions. they want it to be a minimum of 1200 pages and incomprehensible.

[mobiker]

Nope, they purposely brought in the feds to rewrite the valve setting directions. they want it to be a minimum of 1200 pages and incomprehensible.

Nope, that wouldn't be the FBI. It would be congress and it would be 5000 pages.

The EPA probably thinks Ducati cheated with their diesel emissions, being owned by VW and all 

[LowRyter]

Nope, that wouldn't be the FBI. It would be congress and it would be 5000 pages.

The EPA probably thinks Ducati cheated with their diesel emissions, being owned by VW and all 

Valve setting for a Desmo Ducati is 10,000 pages and six Italian Youtubes with subtitles. 

I dang well hope it's not an emissions deal where my bike's horsepower gets neutered.  It already has a catalytic converter and could use another 15hp on the top end. 

[mobiker]

Valve setting for a Desmo Ducati is 10,000 pages and six Italian Youtubes with subtitles. 

I dang well hope it's not an emissions deal where my bike's horsepower gets neutered.  It already has a catalytic converter and could use another 15hp on the top end.

Not to worry unless you have the Ducati Diavel Diesel 

[mtiberio]

Years ago, when "Lucky" Luchinelli was head of Ducati's world superbike team, it seems he was busted for smuggling peruvian (bolivian?) marching powder in the crates used to ship bikes between races.

[Vagrant]

Well, at least that would explain the original high price and the first service coast.

[s1120]

I was expecting something like a link to a daily onion report. But huh, musta been a slow day at the bureau. Actually, I shouldn’t say that. Having worked around and dealt with Vogon-like bureaucracy, somebody probably mid-filed their paperwork.

Nice!  Not often someone gets a chance to toss in a hichhikers guide reference!! 

[LowRyter]

Years ago, when "Lucky" Luchinelli was head of Ducati's world superbike team, it seems he was busted for smuggling peruvian (bolivian?) marching powder in the crates used to ship bikes between races.

Those were fast bikes and faster crew.

[Rons]

Have you seen the new Monster?
The charges probably include:
Making the Monster look like a KTM
Hiding mechanical parts and an engine behind plastic covers that look like mechanical parts and an engine
Redesigning the 950 Supersport to look great, but not adding any power at all

🤪🤪🤪

[LowRyter]

Have you seen the new Monster?
The charges probably include:
Making the Monster look like a KTM
Hiding mechanical parts and an engine behind plastic covers that look like mechanical parts and an engine
Redesigning the 950 Supersport to look great, but not adding any power at all

🤪🤪🤪

I think the Honda looks like a Honda.  Probably a nice bike.

In so far as the Supersport, it's a restyle.  Being an owner of the existing model, given your remarks, you'd likely be disappointed in the power.  I'll just ride along with my ugly one. 

[Murray]

I think the Honda looks like a Honda.  Probably a nice bike.

In so far as the Supersport, it's a restyle.  Being an owner of the existing model, given your remarks, you'd likely be disappointed in the power.  I'll just ride along with my ugly one. 

How many kms/miles do you get out of tank on the super sport, when riding in a "sportsman like manner"?

[LowRyter]

The fuel light comes on about 120 miles.  I can go 150 for a fillup if I feel brave (probably 160).  My bladder is usually good for 100 miles.

That's getting about 43 mpg with a performance front sprocket (7% lower gear).  Just about the same as my two Guzzis (or perhaps 10 miles less range but close).

[Murray]

The fuel light comes on about 120 miles.  I can go 150 for a fillup if I feel brave (probably 160).  My bladder is usually good for 100 miles.

That's getting about 43 mpg with a performance front sprocket (7% lower gear).  Just about the same as my two Guzzis (or perhaps 10 miles less range but close).

Cheers what I suspected, not enough to be actually useful but just enough to be a PITA.

[PhilB]

Back to the OT, details are fuzzy, but it is most likely to have to do with finances relating to VW ownership, and Deutch Bank bribery and misdeeds (many of which happened in Italy).  It is unlikely to have anything to do with the bikes directly.

PhilB

[LowRyter]

Cheers what I suspected, not enough to be actually useful but just enough to be a PITA.

Speak for yourself, I don't know what bikes you're comparing.  The range is just about the same as both my Guzzis and far enough for me.

[LowRyter]

Back to the OT, details are fuzzy, but it is most likely to have to do with finances relating to VW ownership, and Deutch Bank bribery and misdeeds (many of which happened in Italy).  It is unlikely to have anything to do with the bikes directly.

PhilB

Perhaps, but I haven't seen anything factual that would tie all that together.  Why don't you post some of the info?  I'd like to know more. 

[PhilB]

Perhaps, but I haven't seen anything factual that would tie all that together.  Why don't you post some of the info?  I'd like to know more.

I don't have hard info.  Nobody has hard info; it's an active investigation.
It's probably illegal to have obtained any hard info on it.
Which is why I said things like "likely" and "unlikely" and "probably".

PhilB

[LowRyter]

I don't have hard info.  Nobody has hard info; it's an active investigation.
It's probably illegal to have obtained any hard info on it.
Which is why I said things like "likely" and "unlikely" and "probably".

PhilB

I didn't use the term "hard info".   You were discussing info that I hadn't heard, the way you mentioned it appeared to be more than mere speculation.  I thought you might have come across some additional info or web news.

[PhilB]

I didn't use the term "hard info".   You were discussing info that I hadn't heard, the way you mentioned it appeared to be more than mere speculation.  I thought you might have come across some additional info or web news.

It's fairly speculative on my part; there's no hard connections.  But the FBI itself stated "tax and financial papers", and VW has been under several investigations recently, and Deutche Bank is undergoing major investigations and fines right now, which are stated to involve bribes in Italy on a large scale.  So that's what I bet it's all mostly about, based on what's going on in the world today with regard to events that could reasonably be likely to affect Ducati's taxes and finances.

The other main possibility I see is that VW made Ducati part of their luxury group with Lamborghini, Bugatti, and Bentley, likely in order to bring up the fuel mileage average for the division, and thus reduce their "gas guzzler" tax liability.  So it could have something to do with that.  But I think, because of the timing, that it's more likely to be the first one.

PhilB

[LowRyter]

Phil, how does Deutsche Bank play with this?