Royal Enfield to buy Ducati?

[RhynoCZ]

[Polarbear]

[arry]

It would need 4 cylinders for starters. Can't see them going through that development loop.

[Alpineandy]

I saw somewhere recently that Mahindra were interested as well...
If Ducati is sold off then IMO I can't see anyone except Indian or Chinese money being involved...
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The above comment isn't necessarily the truth and anyone that says it is, is only correct if it's the truth or they're bigger than me.

[weasley]

Piaggio? It seems to be the only relatively solvent Italian option, although they have Aprilia already (doesn't stop some big groups having overlapping brands though).

But yeah, yuans or rupees is likely.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Rogerborg]

I'd assume that any buyer would want to move production to some sweaty East Asian hellhole, maybe keeping a token presence in Italy to handle support for 30 hours a week, 40 weeks a year.

Would the Eyeties go for that? They might rather drown it in the bath themselves than see it outsourced.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[linuxyeti]

[Alpineandy]

[Polarbear]

[Rogerborg]

Anecdotally (the singular of data):

There was a recent article in one of the magazines that I was reading that said about 10% to 15% of the Indian is foreign origin... about 20% for Victory... and 35% to 50% for HD's.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Alpineandy]

[Rogerborg]

[Alpineandy]

[linuxyeti]

Huh !! How flukey is this, I only mentioned SWM earlier, and, well ...

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/first-rides-tests/2017/june/swm-superdual-review/
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Beware what photos you upload, or link to on here, especially if you have family members on them

[Polarbear]

Is Ducati viable on it's own?

If it goes Chinese or Indian it's going to be the death of it. People just aren't going to pay the best part of £20,000 for a Chinese or Indian bike.

Even if it stays in Italy just with Chinese money people won't believe that parts are not being imported from the other country to be fitted to the bike.

Look at when the Chinese tried to make a luxury brand motorcycle with Benelli. You could buy a new Tornado for half list price, they just couldn't shift them.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[weasley]

And yet look at Volvo. Going from strength to strength funded from China. Jaguar Land Rover the same from India. If you can pull off the ability to stay with your roots, keep the brand values you always had (including national identity) but get funding from a big foreign pool, it can work.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Polarbear]

[Rogerborg]

[Alpineandy]

[Alpineandy]

Indian news seems to be reporting that Bajaj Motorcycles is in negotiations to buy some or all of Ducati and that it's hoped they will make a formal announcement within two weeks...
____________________
The above comment isn't necessarily the truth and anyone that says it is, is only correct if it's the truth or they're bigger than me.

[M.C]

Looking forward to all those Indian made Ducati 125s

[Alpineandy]

[M.C]

125 Panigale

[secretagentmo...]

[Polarbear]