DewCatTea-Bob wrote:" Been working on Ducks since 1967. "
____ Just wondering Paso996,
If you've been fairly involved with 'Ducati-Singles' since "1967" , then why is it that you use the term "Ducks" ?
As I'm fairly certain that (back in those days), most all of us (DUCATI-lovers) in the U.S., had considered that term as somewhat of an insult.
And strongly preferring the term 'DUKE' for our beloved OHC-singles !
__ The term "Duck" or "Duc" didn't become generally accepted (across the USA), until after the term was much referred to concerning the L-twins !
So I'm assuming that you'd consider yourself more of a L-twin fan,(more so than a D.singles fan), correct?
Or just what would be your explanation, non-U.S. citizen ?
DUKE-Cheers,
-Bob
Nice... Hey Paso996, welcome to the forum. NOW PROVE TO US YOU ARE WORTHY!
Bob -really now. You read a post by, wait for it....
PASO 996 and figured out his preference is twins based on his using the term DUCK rather than DUKE? Outstanding!
Based on his preference for the term Duke over Duck, I'll bet I know how Bob pronounces Ducati. He says it like the Euros. I'll bet it sounds more like Dewcatee than Duhcotee. Am I right?
If we're going to get snippy about 40 year old terminology, how about we also acknowledge that "L twin" is a term invented by the marketing department, and has no engineering significance? Early Ducati literature even refers to it as a "V". These images (stolen from the Bevel Heaven site) clearly show that when the first Ducati twin was introduced, Ducati wasn't calling it an "L". Oh sure, people call it an "L" NOW, but it's offensive to us engineering types.
It's 2009. In the US, Ducatis are referred to as "Ducks" much more often than Dukes. Some people go with the times. Who really gives a rip who's more of a twins or singles fan? Does it matter here? If it does I'm in the wrong place... are we figuring it out to establish who the TRUE fans are and who the posers are? Or are we simply trying to identify the "alpha-duck" as it were? Who the true Duke is? If we're keeping score, hell yeah I"m more of a twins fan, I grew up in Minnesota after all. (a little baseball humor there for our non-US readers...) But seriously, yeah, I've got more twins than singles and if push comes to shove the singles get sold first.
FWIW I cringe whenever I hear someone say "L twin" like it has some sort of significance. I never hear anyone refer to a Guzzi as being an L twin. Why? If the designation of an engine depends on how the engine is situated in the vehicle, then that designation isn't much use, is it? Aside from marketing that is. And so now Ducati does call it an "L" twin as if that makes it special. So, call it an "L" if you must but don't correct someone who calls it a "V twin. (Not that you ever did, I'm just saying). While the use of the term isn't incorrect, it does sort of put anyone who uses it under suspicion of being a Johnny come lately fan than a true tech head. Which is fine, we can't all be rocket scientists.
All that said, in the US I have heard some people define bevel drives as Dukes and belt drives as Ducks. Whatever.
Paso996, a couple pics just for you:
The first bike I ever bought. Bought it new, still own it. had it in the Ducati display at the AMA vintage event in 2005, it ended up in a magazine. I'm famous!
The last new bike I ever bought. Still own it. It's the one that made me realize I am not worthy and pushed me towards vintage bikes. In the foreground is one of my latest projects, just so I don't get thrown off the forum for posting pics of twins here...
And since this is a "restoration" post after all, the first Ducati I ever completely rebuilt (though it isn't really "done" yet)
D'oh! Another evil twin!
And just to make things perfectly clear since A) no one here knows me and B) I should know better than to post before noon, and before I have chocolate - this post was written firmly tongue in cheek. Bob - I'm yanking your antlers! No flames intended. I'm giving ya a hard time.