Are Ducati dealers drying up?

[R1150RTMark]

I don't know if this is a local phenomenon or something more widespread.  But two nearby multi-brand dealers have either been dropped or dropped their Ducati franchise.  It bums me out because I'd really like to consider one the next time I'm considering a new bike, but now the two closest dealerships have vanished.

What's going on near you?

[bizarro]

The two Ducati dealers I know of here in Seattle are doing just fine. In fact one of them sells nothing but Ducatis, as far as motorcycles go. I think they sell a couple of lines of scooters, but only Ducati motorcycles.

[garry]

Our Duc dealer is a multi-line Euro shop (BMW, Triumph, Ducati, KTM, Vespa). He seems to be doing great with regular expansion of the brands and his buildings. We only have one Duc dealer in the greater Pittsburgh area though. Next closest one is Kissell Motorsports in State College who also seems to be doing well.

[Bombauer]

Around here Ducatis are alive and well.  It seems that more than half the bikes I see are Ducatis.

Damn yuppies!

[bikerscars]

in our area the local ducati dealer just expanded at a new location

[Rincewind]

in our area the local ducati dealer just expanded at a new location

+1, assuming you mean Martins' they are semi-local to me as well.  I haven't been to their new place yet.  They are a pretty recent dealer, from what I gather.  The other semi-local dealer to me, Koup's near Harrisburg, has been in the business of Ducati's for many years.  And I suppose Fast by Ferraci has been selling in Philly for a long time, too, though I've never been there.  

We used to have a local dealer in Lancaster, but that was 10-12 years ago when B&B Yamaha had them.  That was where I first saw a Monster - I remember that well.  

[kendenton]

Desimone BMW/Ducati/Victory in southern NJ also seems to be doing well.  Relocated this year to much bigger digs.

[RickC1957]

My local Ducati dealer is thinking about getting a larger building....second time in less than 2 years. So things are going well.

[miles]

Our Duc dealer is a multi-line Euro shop (BMW, Triumph, Ducati, KTM, Vespa). He seems to be doing great with regular expansion of the brands and his buildings. We only have one Duc dealer in the greater Pittsburgh area though. Next closest one is Kissell Motorsports in State College who also seems to be doing well.

Isn't the biggest Ducati dealer in the Eastern US in Allentown or someplace like that?

[Rincewind]

Isn't the biggest Ducati dealer in the Eastern US in Allentown or someplace like that?

I believe you're thinking of North American Warhorse, which is in Scranton - a bit over an hour north of Allentown.  And about 5 hours east of Pittsburgh.

http://www.nawarhorse.com/

[garry]

Martin Motorsports and Fast by Ferracci are both in eastern PA. No idea how big they are though.

[jed]

Atlanta Triumph Ducati is doing just fine.  Another dealer on the north side of town picked up Duc last year.  ATLTRIDUC did drop Moto Guzzi in the past year I believe, but they picked up Husqvarna.

[Darkrider]

In CT, I think Cliff's and Gengras are also doing fine.

Tom.

[atadaskew]

In Socal Proitalia added a 2nd location in Santa Barbara a couple years ago.

[Desmo Demon]

Within a two hour drive radius of my house, the dealers in Greenville (SC), Asheville (NC), Charlotte (NC), and Atlanta (GA) seem to be doing well. There is also a new one that opened this year in Watkinsville (GA). I think MotoBritalia, north of Atlanta, is still selling Ducatis, too.

[Dichotomous]

the ducati dealer by me dropped the brand to focus on BMW and triumph I think, at least I havent seen a ducati in there for a while

[squeezer]

Our Duc dealer is a multi-line Euro shop (BMW, Triumph, Ducati, KTM, Vespa). He seems to be doing great with regular expansion of the brands and his buildings. We only have one Duc dealer in the greater Pittsburgh area though. Next closest one is Kissell Motorsports in State College who also seems to be doing well.

Kissell is a Duc/Triumph/Kawasaki/scooter (Vespa/Piaggio) dealer and, yeah, they're doing fine.  Moved up the road to a bigger building early this past riding season.  

I sure haven't heard anything about them dropping Duc.  They did, though, drop Guzzi a while back (just before the Norge was announced ).

Great dealership, by the way.  They always responded quickly when I mucked things up doing my own work on my old Connie.  

[jed]

Within a two hour drive radius of my house, the dealers in Greenville (SC), Asheville (NC), Charlotte (NC), and Atlanta (GA) seem to be doing well. There is also a new one that opened this year in Watkinsville (GA). I think MotoBritalia, north of Atlanta, is still selling Ducatis, too.

Motobritalia closed about 2 years ago.  Their franchise was picked up by another dealer up that way.

[davop]

How about Aprillia? Are they making a go of it in the US?

[Desmo Demon]

Motobritalia closed about 2 years ago.

By what they charged a buddy of mine for a 600-mile service on his Aprilia, it isn't surprising.

[B-rent]

I was thinking the same thing. It's good to see that this isn't what's happening for the most part, but exceptions.

The dealer I bought my Sprint from in 2005, Winchester Motosports in Clearbrook, VA, also a former Ducati shop, dropped Ducati last year.  

[Oilhed]

How about Aprillia? Are they making a go of it in the US?

Now those are drying up.  In CT Cliff's gave them up and is now MV Agusta as well.

[garry]

Our Pittsburgh Aprilia dealer (Heritage) was dropped by Piaggio, but then Aprilia was just picked up by Mosites Motorsports. Heritage didn't stock any bikes in recent years, but local Ape riders liked the shop/mechanics OK from what I gather. Hopefully Mosites does the brand justice.

[Mule]

The Portland Oregon dealer (http://www.motocorsa.com) is doing very well. They also carry MV and Aprilla.
The shop stays open during the racing season for SBK and MotoGP late each week to replay the races on the 110 inch projection TV or the smaller HDTVs. A couple parties throughout the year, sponser of Ducati NorthWest this year...they are doing fine, there is also a cafe in the shop (it is the Northwest - coffee is everywhere.)    They've won several awards from Ducati and the mechanics do excellent work - some have different opinions, the shop was not well respected for several years, but they have always treated us well. If you prefer less gloss, Salem (an hour south) has a Honda-Ducati dealer, Boise (8 or so hours east) has a well respected Ducati shop, and Hansens (Ducati, BMW and Triumph) is a real throughback south 5 hours in Medford.

[Sonic Duck]

Atlanta Triumph Ducati is doing just fine.  

Really?  

Atlanta Moto World  in Roswell is the dealer on the Northside now,  MB is now an "Original Pancake House".

Dealer in Watkinsville is NPR, been open a touch over a year now and are actually doing really well.  Paul even got new dealer of the year from DNA for 2007.