Sure it's not cheap, but really?

Well

You buy a bike for 30.
Your wife kills you.
Then she is the owner of a bike worth 30.

Like the guy never opened a bike mag and read the data column with "MSRP: $$$"?

On the flip side, I did see a loaded HD at Daytona Bike Week stickered at almost $44K USD...

I've been riding cruisers (never a HD) for many years and HS is my first sports bike...Now I feel sorry for riding that many years on heavy, slow, cruiser bikes, though i've no regrets as i had a solid time of enjoyment. However I am happy that i've never owned a Zero tech, highly priced Harley. Compared to modern bikes it is not worth the money and time anybody spent on a Harley unless they are the hardcore "real motorcycle" owners

wow a Ducati? isnt that like $100 grand?

Frank Rizzo said:

I had to share this: I was stuck in wicked traffic last week, and a fellow - really nice chap - on a Harley pulled up beside me. We "chatted" over the rumble of both bikes, and after a short while, he said "so, a Ducati, eh?" ...those are pretty "dear" aren't they"? I'm guessing you paid 40 to 60 grand for that, eh?"

[sorry for the Canadian "eh" stereotype, but he *did* say that ]

In any case, I'm not kidding, and neither was he. I'm not suggesting that I've heard that estimate many times, but a lot of folks that I've spoken with, most who don't ride, really do think that Duc's are in the 30+ grand range. My wife would KEEEEL me if I paid 30 large for a sport bike

BTW and off topic: to any and all Canucks who see this: have a great and safe long weekend. Keep the rubber side down.

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as a fellow 'Canuck' I had to throw this in - Thursday I was gassing up at Camp Verde on I-17 south of Sedona. A guy says "wow a Ducati!! Aren't they like $100 grand or something?" I corrected him but maybe should have let it go to keep the myth alive - better yet I should have offered him a great deal at $50k!

Omoishiroi said:

as a fellow 'Canuck' I had to throw this in - Thursday I was gassing up at Camp Verde on I-17 south of Sedona. A guy says "wow a Ducati!! Aren't they like $100 grand or something?" I corrected him but maybe should have let it go to keep the myth alive - better yet I should have offered him a great deal at $50k!

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then you could've bought yourself a new hyperstrada and a diavel with enough left for farkles

It's sometime surprizing how people know few and distorded informations about bike's brands and prices. The other day, one guy was trying hard to convince me that my HS brand was in fact Japanese and the design from China. Of course I was laughing my balls off. I must look like a complete ignorant. Poor me. lol

Ya know, I remember reading about a new Duc in a magazine, maybe a 996, back in late 90's early 2000's. I got to the data column and saw the MSRP. I don't remember what it was then but it was about twice the price of decent Japanese makes of the time. That stuck with me, that Duc's were very expensive.

There's so many monster's running around anymore that people must know they are obtainable.

Harley riders seem sheltered to me. Before my 2013 HS I had a 2010 M696 I bought off the showroom floor for $7000. Never had a battery in it. Only the required 3 miles to set the bike up. People asked me if it was a Buell. It depresses and upsets me that I know how much their bikes cost, why don't they know how much my bike cost?
I worry about my bike on road trips and when I stay at hotels, if people think it's like a Bugatti or something, will it be there in the morning? If I replaced the Ducati emblem on the tank with Honda nobody would give the bike a second glance or the time of day. I'd rather the public just learn about Ducati motorcycles. They have a lot of good qualities, but they are not like the shinazz of all motorcycles. Sure i've had two. The engine is the best part, I think. My next bike though might be a Triumph Tiger explorer or a KTM. MV Augusta make amazing bikes that I never see. Nor do I see any KTM's or Superdukes although it was voted best bike of 2014. Mostly what I see in the St. Louis area are Harley's and Honda CBR's. Sure, people can ride whatever they want. I respect all kinds of motorbikes and riders. just know that if you're on a Harley my Hyperstrada with ABS, traction control, three riding modes, and many etc. cost less than, as much as, or very close to your Harley Davidson!

Other riders don't necessarily know the MSRP of other motorcycles. Just because they ride a motorcycle, doesnt mean they are a enthusiast, watch moto gp at mugello at 7 AM or get a monthly issue of a motorcycle magazine. People have told me I must be rich and that my Ducati must've cost a ton of money.

Yeah Ducati's cost a little more than japanese models, but it's not astronomically priced. They used to be expensive because all the components were authentic Italian and expensive. Ducati has out sourced to Taiwan (the headlight and gas cap is made in taiwan on hypers..) But Ducati still offers higher end models dressed with Ohlins and Marchesini wheels to be a little more authentic Italian. It's no doubt that Ducati has changed their business model in the past 10 years.

Still, you get the confusion of Ducati and Bugatti (I joke at that hip hop song "I woke up on a new Ducati" ) and the idea that anything Italian made is expensive.. I have women ask about my bike and I tell them "it's Italian". They automatically assume it cost tons of money and drool. Funny thing is, im a broke *** college student and I didn't lie!

The irony here is that most Harleys cost more than ducatis.

Audi purchasing Ducati was probably responsible for making them more attainable. I test drove a Lambo at the Amelia Island Concourse d' Elegance couple years ago and all the event staff kept saying to us was "Lamborghini wants people to know that these cars aren't just for old rich people". Well, I don't know any young adults with $200K burning a hole in their pocket but I'll take it for spin anyway!

The second line out of my mouth when somebody asks what I ride is; "It's one of their more affordable models..."

horses for courses

In my 49 years of riding I've owned all four Japanese brands, three British ones, a German one (but never a BMW, ridden a few) and three Ducatis. I used to think that Harleys were junk, too. Then in 2004 my wife and I got a test ride on a friend's E-glide Classic and she would not climb onto my Trophy3 any more.

So in early 2005 I bought a used E-glide Standard, a 2001. Put the trunk on the back and an aftermarket radio kit in the fairing. Then we rode 6000 miles to Daytona (what a waste of time), then to visit relatives in Miami, and back. Bike used a half quart of oil and I had to wash it once. For interstate travel the "touring" models are hard to beat for comfort and reliability. And they open doors that would not be available to riders of "other makes" in many areas of the USA. For example, an apparent immunity from citations for speed (profiling?) and a conversation starter at every fuel stop. Got directions to a few great eateries that way!

Now we still have a 2006 Road Glide, with ABS, ride-by-wire FI, and cruise control. She won't let me sell it. She insists that, in comparison, the Strada is unacceptable as a two-up tourer. Are they expensive? Sure. Did they screw Eric Buell out if his own name? You bet. But are they "zero tech?" Not at all, if you bother to open your eyes and look.

BTW I am not your typical HD rider, as our Road Glide still wears its original mufflers. I've done a few mods for comfort and handling, but I prefer quiet bikes and so do our neighbors. And I bevel the floorboards a bit more every time we go out.

PS none of the above applies to any other HD models...their Sportsters are some of the least comfortable and lowest tech bikes made. We had a 2004 for a while, it was awful. No wonder they've gone "modern" with the new 500 and 750.

zippy49 said:

Then we rode 6000 miles to Daytona (what a waste of time)...

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Ha! Isn't that place a shat-hole! The only reason I bought my Strada where I did was because the next closest shop was in Daytona. I do like a good LM or GT3 race, though.

Just tell me you don't don leather, chaps, a do-rag and everything else with an HD logo, and I'm cool with whatever you ride. That's my biggest issue with HD riders in FL- it's not the bikes, it's the d-bags that spend more at the gear shop before they take delivery and think they're honorary members of the Hell's Angels the second they crank their hog up. The persona kills them. Half of them wear a tie and drive an import sedan during the week!

We have a name for them here. It's "captain catalog" he's that guy so concerned of his gear fitting the part that he's scanning the catalog before taking delivery of his bike. Flying down the interstate with the price tags flapping in the wind.

Really I wouldn't make fun of them, because it's their money and entitled to do what they want with it. But what starts to annoy me is the lack of safety because "it doesn't look right". Especially with the helmet. Scary how middle aged men are still concerned about what ppl think of them. I guess some people never leave high school, because peer pressure ends up getting the best of them. When I owned a harley, ya should very heard what they said about me when I rolled up with a modular helmet! Haha

I think "it doesn't look right" is an excuse. They must think I like sweating in leather, looking like a power ranger.

Funny thing this, I also quite often get asked how much the bike cost, but it's normally by non-bikers.
Over here all in with top box added on and "on the road costs" it's about U$14 800-00 which by our standards is very reasonable (a new BMW GS costs about U$20 000-00 over here) your average rice burner Superbike 1000 about U$17 500-00
What does this bike cost elsewhere in the world?

13000€ in France which is 16,740$ at today's rate.

MSRP in US was $13,299 in 2013. Think topbox was an extra $800, so you could probably have haggled that whole package for $14,000, about the same price as a GSXR-1000.

In sweden the strada where 129,000 kr and its about 17,180 $ at today's rate.

In Norway the
Hyperstrada costs 200.000 nkr. That's about 31.545 US$.
Multistrada costs 250.000 nkr. That's about 39.432 US$.
Can anyone beat those prices?