Maintenance, what's the difference between a Ducati and other bikes then? :-?
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08-09-11, 08:16 PM
Maintenance, what's the difference between a Ducati and other bikes then? :-?
08-09-11, 08:30 PM
They have a reputation for unreliability - even the brand new ones :/. Having said that, you'd have a warranty so shouldn't matter too much! But always worth test riding a few other bikes too I'd say!
08-09-11, 09:02 PM
ALL new bikes and cars can and will break down, law of averages...Originally Posted by Dabz
Ducatis before the early Nineties were - although arguably beautiful & iconic machinery - flawed mainly on the electrical side & others, a true mechanics bike...
The newer ones are as just as good as any Jap bike out there, period.
Every 7500 miles - recommend valve clearance check (Doocats have the fabled desmodromic valve system, where a cam lobe works an opening rocker pushing the valve open, another lobe works a CLOSING rocker, mechanically closing the valves, no valve springs to be seen!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocfIYUc5bpU
If you miss a gear and REVVVVVVV the cr@p out of your bike - you will not and cannot mash your valves into your pistons due to valve bounce, it is an mechanical impossibility.
(Desmodromic system invented in the mid-50's by the Ducati engineers due to the poor spring-steel available at the time, allowing their race-bikes to achieve reliably at the time unheard-of red-lines??! Naturally modern valve springs work no trouble at all, Ducati keeps the desmo valves for the same reasons Harley still run pushrod-actuated valves...
A) Nostalgia
B) They WORK.
Jap bikes ALSO have to have their valve clearances checked, this is often overlooked because:
i)There are a LOT of valves to check - 16 per engine in a four cylinder
ii)It is a Royal pain in the A$$. Arguably easier to drop the engine out and do it rather than drop shims into your crankcases... When were yours last done?? HMMM??
Every 15,000 miles or two years: Both cambelts changed.
There is a lot of humming and ahhing about this - I can confirm on my 900SS - & most Doocats - it is a 20-minute job.
Bike on rear paddock stand, belt covers off, sparkplugs out to let you turn the engine over easier, ploopploop the engine round in gear with the back wheel so that the pulley & casing marks line up, release belt tensioners, off with old belts, on with new, re-tension, refit plugs & covers, start engine.
You have to ask yourself if you will still have the bike in two years/15,000 miles later?? It's a LOOOOOOOONG time in anyones life.
08-09-11, 09:02 PM
Do they still use cambelts on the new ones? There is some extra consumables if so involved in some service intervals, genuine Italian parts can be pricey, a brake lever for mine is cheaper from a Ducati dealer than an Aprilia one..!?
08-09-11, 09:04 PM
Ah 470 beat me to a better answer for u jaq!!
08-09-11, 09:05 PM
15k miles???? i did that in 1 year last year.........do i ride too much? ;D
08-09-11, 09:08 PM
Lol no such thing!
Do you work??;D
08-09-11, 09:09 PM
Lol no such thing!
Do you work??
self employed.................oh look the sun has come out off i go ;D
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08-09-11, 09:10 PM
Lol no such thing!
Do you work??
self employed.................oh look the sun has come out off i go ;D
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SLAP!
08-09-11, 09:11 PM
Pike's Peak rep Multistrada S please :-D
Saw one down at Moto Rapido in Winchester. I'd walked round it twice before I noticed the drool soaking through my shirt and the tent in my trousers.
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