Are there no Ducati dealerships because the 999 was a flop and there was no viable business model for a dealer, or do Ducati just not see the UK as a good market? I’m interested to find out how things will, or won’t develop now that the 1098 looks like it’ll be much more popular than the 999 (based upon a quick office poll showing most people to have the ‘would buy’ attitude that they didn’t with the 999).
According to the Ducati.com site, they’re looking to open a store in NE London, but they need a partner first.
I’m surprised we don’t have more flagship stores in London, considering this is the hub of motorcycling in the UK.
its true that most of them did shutdown tho - dod you see the servicing prices in most of them gasp - biking is a cheap form of transport apart from if you’re on a Ducati…
ducati went into receivership a while back didn’t it? most of them closed as part of that i believe
the other prob is that a ducati dealer deals only in ducati - jap bike dealers also deal in 2nd hand bikes of all brands (except ducati as they dont want to touch them in most cases). ducati south didnt even have a service dept and had to send them off elsewhere for the work and weren’t quick to turn around.
ducati aylesbury is still going reasonably strong as far as i’m ware (they’re twinned with onyerbike and have their own service team) - i got my 748 from there.
I think the approach of only being allowed to sell one brand is restrictive and old-fashioned. Man ufacturers should have confidence in their range, not their marketing.
Casoli was the other one, but I thought it was just a site, not a shop…
Infinity in Purley is mostly Jap bike but has a few second hand Duke’s if you’re looking.
Jay, if you wangle that 1098 test ride…let me know, make a day of it and get some good shots too.
Was going to say that Metrop is now the London dealer. Personally my allegiance lies with Ducati Aylesbury for sales and Daytona Kings Cross for servicing.
It also doesn’t help that Ducati have a two tear dealership/reseller scheme.
The only thing good about getting a bike from far away is the ride home
Not looking for second hand stuff, just interested in the 1098, want to see if it’s as good as my gixxer. No point having a bike that’s all looks and no go.
Jay, get yourself up to Ducati Aylesbury. Your test ride will be a lot more fun on the roads up there, plus they give out test rides without any hassle (so long as you’re over 25, had your licese 2+ years, yada yada)
I’m planning a test on one next summer, can’t wait.
JB, all taken care of, on the list for a test-ride sometime in the next few weeks. I just hope I get a dry day!
Very interested to see if I could like a twin, mainly because the scream of an inline makes the hairs on my back stand up every time That said, I put in my fastest time round Valencia on the PS2 in Tourist Trophy last night on the Ducati 999r! hehe…
Yeah, Ducati Aylesbury are tantalisingly close. Andy, fancy trying to arrange a test ride on that there 1098? Just let me re-mortgage my house, I’m sure that’ll make them consider letting us loose on one.
EDIT - despite the high salaries in London I imagine anyone with that much money lives outside of London (but not too far out), or lives in a penthouse but doesn’t wish to put up with the crippling agony of commuting on a ducati…
far from owning a penthouse flat but used to do the ‘crippling’ belt to work on a 748
pride must abide!
really interested to see how you like it jay. felt like a traitor giving up my ducati when i got the r1. had the r1 a few weeks then rode the 748 to my mate who’d bought it off me. couldn’t help wishing i was on my r1
1098cc is a whole new ball game tho! defo want to ride one. let me know when you’re doing the ride and i can bring my cam if you like?
I had heard that Ducati London South (DLS) closed because the owner expanded and over capitalised into Ducati London Central (in Chelsea) too quickly. DLS was doing fine by itself, but Ducati London Central bled the operation dry and in the end both had to close. I’ve since had one of my bikes worked on by an ex-DLS mechanic now running his own small operation.
There’s also Daytona MC in Ruislip that have Ducatis, although I wouldn’t take my bike there.
If you’re looking for a 1098 test ride, I reckon one good option might be MotoRapido in Winchester, Hampshire. They’re only 50 miles outside the M25 and are taking names for test rides.
Would like to arrange a 1098 test-ride at some point.
