Went to my closest dealer, obviously have seen the bike in pictures and videos now hundreds if not thousands of times. I didn't really expect them to have one, they are a small dealer in a small market, and have only had the franchise for about a year.
Walk in, no bike on the floor as expected. I ask the salesman about some literature for it. He gets me the promotional book. He says, "yeah, we got one yesterday, wanna see it downstairs?"
Let me think about it a minute...sure OK.
We walk downstairs through the techs eating lunch, past the muddy side-by-sides waiting for service. Turn the corner and there she sits...
At that moment my life simplified because there is no doubt what my next bike is going to be. I will buy a Ducati Panigale. I nearly bought one today.
"Yeah, a guy ordered it. This is the base non-S without ABS. He decided to upgrade to an S. I'll knock off any all freight and setup fees. MSRP plus 45 bucks for documents."
"How's your credit? Good? Cool, I can get you 72 months at 3-1/4%. It's $276 a month."
Why did I go downstairs? It is so tiny. So many little details to take in so unlike previous Ducatis. It is just about the coolest motorcycle I have ever seen. I consider myself pretty jaded and snotty when it comes to sportbikes, but today I was, as the Brits say, gobsmacked by the Panigale.
I am a cheap bastard about many things, and usually talk myself out of the nicer thing for the cheap thing. I am also not impuslive and VERY rarely impulse buy anything. Today I thanked him and conciously made an effort to leave the dealership before I signed papers on that f***ing bike sitting downstairs.
Aprilia RSV4 is cool. MV-F4 is cool. But if I bought either I would always still want the Panigale. So now the decision is over, and my life is simplified. And it is more complicated, because since then all I have thought about is why I didn't buy it today, and what things have to be completed (we're about to spend desmosedici-type money on a pool and pool house, so that might have gave me pause) before i can park one of the glorious little machines in my garage.
I came home and the 851 suddenly looked old, while the Mille just seemed like a fat old whale.
After today, my motorcycling life will be incomplete until I have a Panigale. Perhaps Butthead said it best...
Damn Burns....makes me wanna offer up a month's bike payment for you to go get it...videotape the whole transaction and then the initial start up and ride.......
How bad are the little voices inside your head getting?
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06 999
03 999S
01 748S
All bikes are black.....any other colors are just mistakes by the paint shop.
I really couldn't believe how awesome that bike was in the flesh.
I told the salesman (we met last year a couple of times when they had a used 1098 I was seriously thinking about), that I had to get out of there before I bought the thing. That bike will obviously be gone in a few days at most, but others will be coming.
And then my wife was like..."so let's talk about this bike, why don't you get it?" I told her let's get the stupid pool done and then I will. My wife hates the Mille and would love to see it go. Never mind the Aprilia wouldn't even buy the full Termi system from Ducati Performance. But if selling the Mille is a prerequisite, so be it.
Maybe next year the 800cc version will be out by then, but the full 1200cc would be nice too of course.
I really like the 1098 series, but it makes them look very old.
Sounds familiar....the first time I had the uncontrollable urge to get an F4, the old lady said..."go ahead...you've worked hard for it. Just make sure you ride it and don't abandon any of the others". In a warped sort of way, her support almost enforced my decision not to get it. After that, I went into a "FIFO" program so the count stayed the same.
I can see from your last post, your mind is already in full "good cop/bad cop" mode.
Good luck....however it works out......I bet they'd open the shop for you on request
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06 999
03 999S
01 748S
All bikes are black.....any other colors are just mistakes by the paint shop.
Now that you know what you want, it will all be easier.
You can either wait a few months and pick up a second hand bike or wait for next year's model: like all bikes it will be more and more polished with time, small glitches will be worked out, more aftermarket parts will become available etc.
Last year I understood I wanted a CB1300. I took my time, sold the SP2 at a good moment, looked around a lot and found exactly the bike I wanted at a decent price. No need to be in a hurry: we aren't hormone-charged teenagers anymore. Well, at least most of us aren't.
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Shame on me, my heart is black.
The indecision phase can be a roller coaster, but when the decision is finally made it is a true watershed moment. A weight is lifted. Sweet clarity returns with sunbeams slashing through the clouds accompanied by a chorus of angelic voices.
Now that you know what you want, it will all be easier.
You can either wait a few months and pick up a second hand bike or wait for next year's model: like all bikes it will be more and more polished with time, small glitches will be worked out, more aftermarket parts will become available etc.
Last year I understood I wanted a CB1300. I took my time, sold the SP2 at a good moment, looked around a lot and found exactly the bike I wanted at a decent price. No need to be in a hurry: we aren't hormone-charged teenagers anymore. Well, at least most of us aren't.
Agreed, the problem these days is not the cost - as they are all relatively in the same price range, or the quality of the product, or their performance. Often it is which one. Once past that it all becomes very easy.
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2006 BMW HP2
2011 Husqvarna TE630
2011 BMW S1000RR
Sour grapes are a lesser man's fruit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Busy Little Shop The [fact] that the RC45 was a "relative failure" is what matters most...
Believe me the pool is not my first choice, but I committed to it a couple of months ago and we are in the middle of also doing a refi on the house to reduce our rate plus take some money out to pay for it. That should be closed in the next couple of weeks but i didn't want any new credit event to slow that process down.
By that time this particular bike will be long gone but there will be more Panigales.
Believe me the pool is not my first choice, but I committed to it a couple of months ago and we are in the middle of also doing a refi on the house to reduce our rate plus take some money out to pay for it. That should be closed in the next couple of weeks but i didn't want any new credit event to slow that process down.
By that time this particular bike will be long gone but there will be more Panigales.
You will be able to swim into your 80's, how long will you be able to ride a Panigale?
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2006 BMW HP2
2011 Husqvarna TE630
2011 BMW S1000RR
Sour grapes are a lesser man's fruit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Busy Little Shop The [fact] that the RC45 was a "relative failure" is what matters most...
kuddos Burns for having the discipline not to just do it, I regret that I probably wouldn't be, probably why I haven't gone to look at one yet, wouldn't be able to sleep till I had it...
For me it was easy to walk away. I had just picked up the S1000RR and stopped by a Ducati dealer on my way home to take a peak. I have no idea how you were able to walk away.
Initially I was underwhelmed. By that I mean the bike is gorgeous but what Ducati superbike isn't imo. What I mean is it is almost a bit subtle, you have to take the time to note the details and remember that there is no frame, where the rear shock is located, how the suspension works...
Nothing stands out because everything stands out on it if you catch my drift.
I often wonder if Ducati and Ferrari share design ideas. The Panigale had me thinking Ferrari Italia from the off; possibly the prettiest Ferrari in decades, which is also very successful in its racing class.
I'd be happy with any Ducati, still considering a 1098, but I could see myself swayed by the Panigale over the MVAF4 next season possibly.
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2006 BMW HP2
2011 Husqvarna TE630
2011 BMW S1000RR
Sour grapes are a lesser man's fruit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Busy Little Shop The [fact] that the RC45 was a "relative failure" is what matters most...
I almost did that with a Kawasaki ZX10R in 2005 when I got back from Afghanistan. It was a 2004 for $10,500 out the door tax title everything. All I had to do was write the check for the total amount. Had it in the bank.
Only thing stopping me was I was going to unemployed and then retired in 4 weeks when my terminal leave ran out.
My life was simplified and complicated today...
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