Here's my take on the decision to drop the Supersport line. 1) The cost to manufacture the fully faired Supersport as compared to other models resulted in a lower profit margin for Ducati (and the MSRP was $1500 more than it should have been) Ohlins rear shock, Showa adjustable front fork, aluminium swingarm, mag wheels, faring etc.. Granted the "stripper" 750-800 version had the cheaper suspension, steel swingarm etc.. So Ducati thinks by inventing the Sport Classics ( basically your striped down standard, wire wheels, steel swingarm, no fairing, ugly unfinished muffer system, (Heck for the $11-14,000 they ask for them the least they could have done was plate the muffler system.)and marketing it as a return to the Classics , they promoted the hell out of them and dramatically increased the profit margin. They will have to cut the price by 10-15% to sell any more of them because the people who had to have them bought them and that niche of the market is gone. Of course sales of the Sport Classics have tanked and the dealers can't give them away any more. 2) Pierre "overstyled " the redo in 1999 Supersport and left a lot of prospective buyers cold by its looks. Like the 999-749 bikes, the radical change in styling grows on you after awhile. 3) For some stupid reason Ducati went and changed the ergos on the Supersport ( lower bars and higher footpegs ) to maybe compete with the Jap offerings. But they had the Superbike line up so why change and alienate a market segment that didn't want such radical a set up. As Ducati has learned from lastest market research and a change in their business plan, the price of their bikes were too high given the strength of their products performance. In the '90s Ducati cut the price of the supesport line and sales increased substantially. I think the 1098 will be a great sales sucess for Ducati. But its not the bike that I want. I want the 1100cc DS motor with monster low end torque in a refreshed fully faired model, the present Showa-Ohlins suspension is fine, adjustable pegs and bars, similar to what was on the 999 line. ( Hey I think they have done away with the adjustable pegs and seat on the new 1098 line?) for $9999. I'll place my order right now!!! The Supermotard will go the way of the Multistrada, corner of the showroom with very little interest.
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