Hosehead
Executive Member
My bad . The first Ducati dealership in the cape was run in the bo Kaap area when the 999 was everyone's wet dream.. I rode the first multistrada 620 about 2004/5 and it was downright hideous compared to the Tiger which was then 700 cc I think. Mine was one of two yellow 1999 Tiger models in the cape
They closed for a while if I recall and now you say they reopened in the waterfront and now they reopen again!! Third time lucky or bust. They are technically still owned by Volkswagen which owns Audi no direct link to Audi at all.
Re : Harley - yes I am correct two locations one after the other I forgot to add - much of a muchness with the current BMW boutique layout but alas it didn't work for them and their machines are almost in identical exotic price bracket as Ducati but older ridership and brand loyalty governed by hog membership . Linex Yamaha (failed) used to be in the current Triumph dealership which actually began as Pure Kawasaki dealership. Triumph was never embraced by Mike Hopkins. They started with a few models at their old Bree st store and even considered ditching triumph at one point - how they acquired Triumph was simply because the single existing triumph agent was the first outfit to offer off-road tours and he battled to sell the brand after his partner was killed in the Isle of Man TT in late 1990s
Triumph was pulled from Johann and Hopkins took the brand but not happily.
Triumph had some successes and was fairly well priced but I think they grew too fast too quick and their prices became well stupid/ not just for bikes but for clothing and parts - an example- sissy bars for the rocket were 3000k 4 years ago and the same ones are now 8000k Rand ! You can get these imported yourself for 2000k !
The explorer entered a crowded off road market and the rest of Triumphs later line up was poorly chosen for the SA market ( personal opinion) in fact there's no Model I'd want now unless I wanted to look like a pretentious twit on a scrambler for the city.
No wonder sales are slow but they were never fantastic. If you look at the prices of clothing in triumph and BMW it's funny how top and bottom riding gear will set one back 10k just for starters ! Nobody has that kind of money lying around for a secondary form of transport
And Ducati is in my further opinion downright stupid to consider opening a third time after getting their butts kicked twice already.
My bet they will close within 2-3 years Again.
We have a saturated market for expensive toys which is what these are at best.
Daily commuters are the brave few risking life and limb every day and are an absolute minority of riders.
But whatever - the more eye candy the better . Good luck to them. One can be 100% sure prices will be no
Cheaper than any other exotic brand now selling or sitting gathering dust whatever the case may be.
They closed for a while if I recall and now you say they reopened in the waterfront and now they reopen again!! Third time lucky or bust. They are technically still owned by Volkswagen which owns Audi no direct link to Audi at all.
Re : Harley - yes I am correct two locations one after the other I forgot to add - much of a muchness with the current BMW boutique layout but alas it didn't work for them and their machines are almost in identical exotic price bracket as Ducati but older ridership and brand loyalty governed by hog membership . Linex Yamaha (failed) used to be in the current Triumph dealership which actually began as Pure Kawasaki dealership. Triumph was never embraced by Mike Hopkins. They started with a few models at their old Bree st store and even considered ditching triumph at one point - how they acquired Triumph was simply because the single existing triumph agent was the first outfit to offer off-road tours and he battled to sell the brand after his partner was killed in the Isle of Man TT in late 1990s
Triumph was pulled from Johann and Hopkins took the brand but not happily.
Triumph had some successes and was fairly well priced but I think they grew too fast too quick and their prices became well stupid/ not just for bikes but for clothing and parts - an example- sissy bars for the rocket were 3000k 4 years ago and the same ones are now 8000k Rand ! You can get these imported yourself for 2000k !
The explorer entered a crowded off road market and the rest of Triumphs later line up was poorly chosen for the SA market ( personal opinion) in fact there's no Model I'd want now unless I wanted to look like a pretentious twit on a scrambler for the city.
No wonder sales are slow but they were never fantastic. If you look at the prices of clothing in triumph and BMW it's funny how top and bottom riding gear will set one back 10k just for starters ! Nobody has that kind of money lying around for a secondary form of transport
And Ducati is in my further opinion downright stupid to consider opening a third time after getting their butts kicked twice already.
My bet they will close within 2-3 years Again.
We have a saturated market for expensive toys which is what these are at best.
Daily commuters are the brave few risking life and limb every day and are an absolute minority of riders.
But whatever - the more eye candy the better . Good luck to them. One can be 100% sure prices will be no
Cheaper than any other exotic brand now selling or sitting gathering dust whatever the case may be.
Last edited:
