Are Ducati Singles Loosing Value

[IanHood]

You need to all keep quiet. I tell my wife my collection are appreciating assets. If she thinks they are depreciating the pressure with be on!

Ian

[blethermaskite]

I know! my wife isn't aware 'Motoscrubs' exists
Cheers,
George

[themoudie]

My wife has always insisted that the 450 is part of the family and I am not allowed to sell it! As for the rest of the fleet being "Investments", including the two other Ducati singles in parts, NO! They are all to be used/maintained, or pillaged and when I can no longer swing a leg over them, or swing a kickstart, they will go to auction.

I would like them to go to somebody who will sympathetically maintain and ride them, but we are but custodians.

Good health and keep wearing them out, the 450 was out for an 80 mile canter on Monday and the minestrone soup + anchovy and black olive pizza in the Italian cafe were very tasty!

Bill

[Rocla]

I don't share your pessimism: have you seen the surge of passion for classical cars and motorbikes, in many european countries and USA as well? If you consider the number of events or exhibitions, the number of collectors, the number of newspapers, magazines or simply TV reports dedicated to that, you have so many evidence of this increasing passion for oldtimers

[Duccout]

I think that the problem that we will run into will be spares and expertise. Classic agents are retiring at an ever-increasing rate and are not going to be replaced. The people on this site are generally those with a lifetime of mechanical expertise, who have tools and knowledge to carry out most of the work themselves, but if not, who can work on bevel engines? I think that I would be hard-pressed to name a bevel specialist in Britain (apart from Nigel) who is still in business, and the same applies world-wide. There are a couple in the Netherlands, three in Germany? A few in Australia.......

Then there are spares - what happens when Lacey Ducati is sold? There is Classic Ducati, and looking abroad Old Racing Spare Parts and Ducati Vintage, as well a few bike shops that sell general Italian parts, but Mario Sassi who runs ORSP must be getting on in years. It is not just the retail side of things, but the commissioning of the parts; who has the experience and is perverse enough to want to get involved in trying to get parts made to the required standard, especially now that Europe is actively destroying its manufacturing base due to Net Zero?

The Times They are A-Changing.

Colin

[themoudie]

Morning Colin,

All pertinant points, succinctly put and to which, as a non-engineer, I do not have a ready answer. Asking those that regularly race these machines can and I use the word "Can" sparingly, reveal others who are capable, or have the potential to willingly help keep them running.

Retaining helical bevel drive gear pairs appears to be another Achilles heel that will have to be dealt with in the near future. Straight cut bevels would be easier to manufacture and set up, but would run with more noise than the current helical form. Hey Ho!

However, I intend to keep wearing them out as long as I am able.

Good health, Bill

[blethermaskite]

Colin, For better or worse?? as far as I know I am one of probably around 3 people left here in Northern Ireland who have spent a lifetimes hobby working on Ducati singles and I'm 70 now so.......an old engineer friend of mine (now passed away) used to say "age and experience you can't buy it and you can't give it away". I for one have always been happy to help any of the younger lads out if I could, and hopefully help them realise they could 'do this stuff' themselves. The big problem I see is what happens when all of us ould fella's workshops are chucked in the skip when we peg out? There's not many people now have gas welding gear and non cnc lathes and milling machines and hydraulic press's in their shed, I only have one daughter who is very able but not really at 'our stuff' and a son in law who can't wire a 13amp plug! they will chuck it all out .....Whilst there are still a few decent and able 'old school' engineers out there they are a diminishing resource and are not being replaced.
I think we should stop this thread now before we all get terminally depressed, as I said earlier "be grateful for all the fun we have had.... (and still do) because nobody will be allowed this again in the very near future".........and as Bill ( themoudie) often says " keep wearing them out" for now anyway
Cheers,
George

[Duccout]

Amen George,

Merry Christmas, there is still life in us old dogs yet!Cheers,

Colin

[George]

Life has changed so much these last few years that I have decided to ignore all the things that are winding me up and live in my own little happy bubble, and f## k the lot of them. Hoping for a dry sunny year and following Bill's advice.

[themoudie]

Aye Colin and George,

Shame about the "13 amp plug" George! My daughter's other half builds gaming PC's and will twirl a spanner or two, but is nervous of shims, though I'm sure he could be trained if he showed the inclination. Unfortunately, Aprilia 125 tweaking is as far as he has gone so far, whilst his brother had more potential, being a HGV mechanic then a rig drilling engineer. However, ScotRail drivers make better money, even though the shift patterns are ....!

50 mile canter today into the hills between Dunkeld, Aberfeldy and Crieff, before the next load of snow and ice descends upon us. Blew a hoolie and a touch of sleet as the wind turned to the norwest, but good to get the 450 out. Wash down and blow dry with the leaf blower, afore some ACF50 and back in the workshop.

Have a warm and comfortable Xmas/New Year, with good health for the years to come.

Bill