An ST with belt drive, hard bags, and 1200cc water-cooled 4-valve non-desmo engine would be a seller, IMO. I say non-desmo because of the maintenance worries your typical non-Ducati owner feels about buying the bikes. Give it 16,000 mile valve adjustment intervals and no one should use that as an excuse not to buy one. $15k would be the target price. Using the desmo system might attract buyers, and might repel other potential customers. Ducati doesn't know which is greater unless they try the first non-desmo since the early 1970's.
The Supersport should go the other direction. Lightness should be a big goal of the design. Basically out-Bimota Bimota with an airy design that has nice detail touches. Use a frame similar to the new Monster. Make two sizes, a 750SS (the engine of the 696 that also harks back to the 70's namesake) as well as a 1200cc Desmodue with about 110 hp. This engine would of course also go into the Hyper, Multi, and Monster. Target price would be $10k and $12k, respectively.
The first place this new air-cooled engine would go though is a new Sportclassic that looks like an F1 (F12?). Ohlins, monoposto, CF bodywork, one year production. $19k.
|