Biggest disappointment of the year. Those bikes look great in person. Damn if I'm paying all that for under 100 horse's @the wheel.

 

I have been watching this bike with interest.

Seems like a great formula.

Power is not everything, presence and rideabiiity and return to the rider is what counts.

How many times have you smoked a guy or gal on a much more powerful bike ?

I like Ducatis for their different take on performance .

I would love to throw my leg over one of these however, I don't think that the experience would be the same as my VTR.

One day,

I think it is a very clever marketing ploy by Ducati to lure folks that don't have the ability to stretch a Panigale to its limits to the brand.

Nice bike, good formula, good price !

Honda would do well to take note of this and reintroduce a modern VTR .

 

The concept is great but a 1200 version would be nicer. Cam chains in place of belts would also to reduce maintenance costs. That aside, I would love to try one...

 

I too would jump at a chance to ride one.

Since I don't have the cash to ante into the game, and I won't finance one, that leaves me just a dreamer.

Around 100HP and 70 something LB/FT is, IMO, about all I really need. Yeah I know more is always nice, but that comes with other compromises.
Hopefully they will attract buyers to the Ducati brand and will sell in some numbers and in a few years there will be a decent supply on the used market.

It would be very cool if Honda made something like this, a modern VTR. Though I don't see that ever happening. Ducati has a lock on V-twins and a Honda spec'd at the same level would about the same money. There are of course other factors besides cost that would determine choice, dealer support being a biggie for a lot of folks. I see the biggest issue as brand recognition and all the intangibles that come with it. For a lot of potential buyers it will come down to "why buy a Honda for the same money as a Ducati". Not a market position that Honda wants to be in (again).
Still I would like to have a go on one, along with some other bikes that look like they check a lot of the right boxes.

 

Yeh I could add USD forks but I like traditional legs, ABS and TC are a nice safety net, more HP & FP also are nice but not really for the street. My VTR has maybe 100 modifications that make it my VT sport tourer. I have 2 spare engines and a frame, 4 sets of carbs and 2 sets of full electronics. I have too much invested for a modern version of the same. That's why I kept my 77 RD400 and got the FJ-09 last year.

I don't feel right on anything that weighs more than 480 pounds and is not thin in the waist. I still feel weird going from the FJ to the VTR, like a gorilla on a bicycle.

The Duc seems like a real nice modern alternative to the VTR for someone who does not already have one, and why risk riding the Duc and be disappointed getting back on the VTR...

 

A thought that I've also had.

 

Look back through the years. Honda has kept the superhawk/hawk name alive. Someday it will resurface.