Ducati Monster Forum

G'day,

My S4RS is coming up for the 10 000k service.

The bike is 2 years old and the manual states that the belts should be changed at 20 000k or 2 years.

The bike has had a very easy life and I have inspected the belts and they look brand new. I guess Duc wants them changed due to degradation of the rubber.

I would just like your thoughts on wether I should wait until 20 000k before changing the belts as I am more inclined to do it now. I guess I have answered my own question!

Cheers [beer]

I had my bike in at Flywheels recently for 2 year service. It had just under 8000 kms.

Guys checked the belts but didn't replace them. I believe they said they could still see the writing on them (whatever is written on them. For all I know it could say 'change me before I break')

Similar situation.

S4RT 12,000km service at 2 years old ish by Frasers....

Belts all okay and left for 24,000km service......

Similar story, last service before I took full ownership belts were inspected but left till next major.

thats because they have broken, its up to you 

Screw that!!!  [roll]

I change mine every 20k. (Around once a year.) Its no big deal, and buying them from the USA its not too expensive. [thumbsup]

You cant tell the condition of a belt by JUST LOOKING at it. I've seen a belt that looked perfectly good and with low K's (But over the time frame by a year) snap with the resultant engine damage.  :o

Wasnt a Duc, but the theory remains the same. I'd rather change them, cos Murphy is a bastard. [evil]

My S2R800 was two years old and had 9k on it when I bought it. I had them changed just in case as I had no personal knowledge of the history, only what I was told.

Cheap insurance given what could happen if they let go, even if it is highly unlikely.

I asked this question of Lt Snyder of Desmotimes and he has now taken his belt interval out to 3 years, he reasoning is the new generation of belts are no where near as fragile and as fussy as the old belts, having said that, he says that for vehicles that get ridden at least once or twice a week.

Hello FFFracing, fellow Cairns dweller, I used to work at Pitstop, I took over in Spare parts for Andy (For the 3 months before the whole lot went Tit's up and went down the Drain) 

I am going to stick to the 2 year interval, mainly because it will match up to the KM's, my Major service of 24000km's is coming up by year end (S2R 800), so I'm going to do all the work myself, I'll soon be sending of a large order to Lt Snyder for a valve kit, belts and a few other bits and pieces.

I was going to get another local Ducati wrench spinner to do it, but when his quote got to $1000 for Labour alone, I told him thanks, but no thanks.

I've heard the sound of a Ducati after a belt has broken whilst in operation.
Well, at least after it had returned to the pits (at PI) due to operational abnormalities and the owner was having it "assessed".
It sounded like a single struggling to start....
For me it re-inforced my current regular servicing routine.
Recently, I had to change the belts well before 20,000km. In fact it may have been 10,000km. The rubber had visibly perished on one of the belts. I queried it and sometimes it happens...
Each to his own...

Oooh, still running with one busted belt???  :o

I have a mental picture of the crook cylinder doing the crunch, wallop as the good one tries to keep everything turning.  [roll]  [puke]

Show the results of that to anyone who tries to err, umm "extend" belt changing intervals!!  :(

As you said G, "Each to his(her) own. ;)

I currently manage a range of sub-sections, one of them MRD or Maintenance Requirements Determination. Each and every one of the practitioners has an extensive technical background and squillions of courses to do their job. Every maintenance extension to the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) schedule is evaluated and most times leads to "special" inspections to confirm/validate the decision.

So where is this leading...............changing service intervals is a specialist field and doing it without the appropriate considerations is risking failure.

If we have the time and can source the failure data I'll see if we can make a determination to get some science into the discussion.

Thanks everyone for the info.

I think for the sake of a few hundred bucks I will do the belts at 10K service.

I am going to do all servicing myself, so has anyone had anything to do with Desmotimes? They seem to have all the gear required.

Hey CairnsDuc. Cairns has plenty of Dukes, not bad for a town with no Dealer. I emailed Ducati Aus a couple of months ago asking what is going on and they couldn't even answer my email [bang].

Great bikes, crap importer. They have a very similar approach to the KTM importer. That is: We have a great product which sells it self, so who cares about customer satisfaction.

Cheers  [beer]

desmotimes are awesome, as are ca-cycleworks. For general maintenance parts and tools, you can't go wrong with either.

LT Snyder of desmotimes also has an awesome maintenance manual as well...

Like goldFiSh said!  ;D

A huge +1 for bothe LT (Desmotimes) and Chris (CA-Cycleworks). Great prices, great stock and very reliable.  [thumbsup] [bow_down]

What a sad reflection of our Industry, we get told to support local suppliers and distributors, but what is the point, they are, to be quite frank, make the beast with two backsing useless!!!
Every time I seem to give a local company a go, they are to expensive, to god damned slow or just plain useless

I ordered a Screen for the Monster from the local supplier/importer, that took 3 months to arrive from the States, and another 2 weeks in transit from Sydney to Cairns.
I ordered a rear Sprocket, was promised many times is was right and would fit, totally wrong design and size.
I ordered some gloves and some Exhaust springs from a prominent online store in Sydney that advertise during the Superbike and Motogp on Fox Sports, Order lost, Order found, Stock never sent, order forgotten, then decided after 2 weeks of phone calls and Emails to finally send the order on Friday.

And the majority if the rest are just to over priced!
I got an Ohlins Shock for my Monster delivered, setup and Sprung for my weight from Motowheels for $700
Aussie Suspension places want $1200 for the Shock, $200 for the spring, $200 for the setup and tuning of the shock plus freight. Not bloody likely  :o

I agree CairnsDuc,

When we live in so called isolated areas we get shafted. But I still support local businesses when they deserve it. I do most of my business in Cairns through Holeshot Motos in Newell St. Good little shop, know your name and help you out. Thats all I ask and I don't mind paying a bit extra.

Cheers  [beer]

I will support Oz businesses if they earn it!!  ???

But when it is obvious that the prices they charge are just blatantly exorbitant, nup, no way. My Arrow high mounts were quoted as $1600 plus delivery from NSW.  :o
I landed them here from CA-Cycleworks to my doorstep for $960. Ok, CA-C might sell more volume but, local was still nearly double the cost. I appreciate that a business has to make a buck but me name is Dragonworld, not stoopid!  [roll]
I can purchase a set of cam belts for my DS, a set for the 7fiddy, 2 oil filters ands a Tshirt from CA-C and get them delivered from the US of A for less than what just the DS belts alone cost locally. :o

Now tell me local businesses dont have excessive markups and crap service. (Generally, not all, but they are few and far between. If you find 'em look after them 'cos they deserve to be supported and succeed. [thumbsup] )

If you don't mind me asking FFFracing, what are you getting done through Holeshot? I bought a Kawasaki KLR250 through them when Griffo owned it about 10 years ago, but never been in since, I notice they are the local dealer for MV Augusta.

Do they do your service work as well?

Hey CairnsDuc

I get almost everything through Holeshot. Tyres, fitting, riding gear, oil and other bits and pieces. Some stuff I will get over the net when I have to.

They are the Dealer for Husky and MV Augusta, but they help out with all makes.

Tania owns the Business, Adrian is the spares guys and Garry is the Mechanic (Thats the whole work force). I do most work on my bikes and intend to do the same with the Duke, but it is great to have a good re pore with a mechanic who can give advice or help out with special areas.

I have no other association with the shop other than being a customer, but I can't recommend them enough. Oh, and the other benefit is the best pie shop in town is accross the road!

Cheers  [beer]

Me thinks I'll have to drop in and have a look around  [thumbsup]

geez, I'm tempted to come up and pop on in!

(although in reality I have THE best bike mechanic, he's so good David Hasselholf is a client)

has your mechanic been busy lately, have not seen him here for a while??

I believe he stalks. Plus he saves hostages and dolphins in his spare time!

Ah, I get it, David Hassleholf is not a Client, He IS the Mechanic.

So Saving the Hostages from the Terrorists, cutting the Dolphins from the fishing Nets, and a quick Valve adjustment on an S4R and all home in time for Dinner!

Who said being a Ducati mechanic is not all Tits and Champagne!  [cheeky]

his business card actually reads:

Brad Black:
Ducati mechanic
Hostage negotiator
Dolphin rescue team
Consumer of Breasts & Champagne

 [bow_down]

(I better check he's OK with my jokes or my next service is going to be $$$$)

don't worry, it was going to be expensive anyway.

are you going to help?

oh yeah, forgot to mention, Brad has the best frickin sidekick since Batman met Robin....

Black and Spider!!!!!!

 [laugh]

I used to have this on the wall of a Workshop I used to manage:

If we do the work:
$90 an hour
We do the work, you offer advice:
$100 an hour
We do the work, you assist:
$120 an hour
We do the work, to fix your Blunders, make the beast with two backsups and errors, because you were to tight to pay us $90 an hour in the first place:
$200 an hour

Made me laugh.

yes!!!!

I'm number 3.....Brad loves it! 'Yes Spider, use all the tools you want...just call me when you've done the worst!'

Its great to have an enlightened spannerman who is willing to impart knowledge in their trade. ;D

I was introduced to cars, engines and the like by the father of a mate who served his apprenticeship on Buick straight 8's, old Chevs, Chryslers etc.

He was from the "Dont just replace the part, find out what caused it to fail" school of mechanics. A very knowledable fella.  [thumbsup]

And even in his later years, was teaching himself the modern way of electronic engine management. ....[clap]

This guy was happy to teach and have you work and learn on your bike, car even mower, it didnt matter. If you showed an interest he was happy to assist. [bow_down]

red brad black spider has a nice ring to it  [thumbsup]

Woulda been a good name for a motorcycle workshop business I reckon??  [thumbsup]

with spider working there , come in and get stung  [laugh]