Best (least expensive) Source for OEM replacement parts?

You're lucky living in the states, add an extra 50-70% cost increase on those prices to shop in Canada at the dealer. I think most dealerships will have similar pricing.

Ducati Omaha has some of the better pricing.

I would scour ebay for the rest of the parts.

You can find a generic dirtbike handlebar on Rocky Mountain for $30-50. I would switch to a z1000 or similar mirrors - they are better and still look good, and cheaper.

On larger orders, I've ordered from Stein-Dinse in Germany. Even with shipping, I managed to save $50+ dollars on a $300 order. YMMV, good luck getting the bike going again!

monocog007 said:

On larger orders, I've ordered from Stein-Dinse in Germany. Even with shipping, I managed to save $50+ dollars on a $300 order. YMMV, good luck getting the bike going again!

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That could be a very good deal for large group orders. Would possibly save on shipping too.

I'm used to Japanese bikes (mostly Suzuki last 10 years) There are many true discount OEM parts sources. Sad to hear this is not the case with Ducati.

Any body been scouring around for an independent Ducati dealer offering parts at discounted rates? Seems that older, discontinued bikes should be discounted sharply ...

otherwise Ducati could end up tossing them all in a Dumpster like they did (BIG TIME) back in early 90's. Hundreds of Thousands of dollars of NEW
parts dumped back when headquarters were in (I think?) North Carolina.

This during one of Ducati's many ownership changes. (4 or 5 in last 15 years?)
I read posts on forums from guys who worked there. Unbelievable waste.

Really Ducati are pretty typical of many Italian companies. Some very "creative" book keeping techniques. Ducati bankruptzies and surrounding lore are legendary in the industry.

Brit journo Alan Cathcart has done a stellar job of following comings and goings of Ducati and other Italian companies over the last 20 years. A great insiders view. Quite a colorful history.

The Castigleoni bros. screwed the Italian govt. out of millions ... and screwed creditors too ... and both more than once!

VV are the first really good, stable owner they've had in 30 years or more.

But IMO, their engineers and designers are genius's and true artists. Where would the Japanese be without Ducati? Where would they get their inspirations to copy?

Did you know Yamaha (secretly) bailed Ducati out of one of their bankruptcies back in early 90's or there abouts. Cathcart alluded to this in an article in Motorcycle Sport & Leisure back then. No hard proof ... but strong hints.

The Japanese NEED Ducati, MV and all the Italians companies. Keeps the market rich, interesting and diverse ... and RED! The Japanese students go to study design in Italy and California. Still, the Italians and Ducati continue to amaze.

Now we see problems in the VW/Audi - Ducati partnership ... we all know that the Italians and Germans can never get along for too long. Hopefully a sale won't kill Ducati. If the Chinese buy Ducati ... IMO, it's over. They will GUT Ducati and hang it's entrails up to dry in the sun to bake. (just like we've let them do to us ... no, not a Trump supporter!)

The Japanese don't need Ducati. In the early days they copied the British, not the Italians. The question is where would the industry be without the Japanese. They forced manufactures to make better more reliable machines. Love em or leave em.

They can get too conservative, and need a kick in the pants, but if they see a market, they go for it. Most recently Yamaha is capitalizing in the success of Honda's new cb500 line.

As far as the Chinese go - they have been good stewards of Volvo and Pirelli. More interesting is what they've done with SWM.

Also don't forget why the sale is being discussed: VW, at times the worlds largest auto manufacturer, decided to cheat on diesel emissions. It's estimated that over 6000 deaths resulted from this criminal act of greed and ambition.

As I type this on my Apple laptop, I think ducati can be fine with Chinese ownership. As Beef **** points out : They're not exactly the epitome of fine craftsmanship. Maybe the Chinese can break through some of this semi absurd "heritage" construct that limits their design thought process. IE: they can get more KTM-ish and play with new ideas.