Ducati Monster Forum

The only Ducati dealer in WI is closing its doors.  That leaves Chicago area as the closest dealer.
How far are you willing to drive for service (if you don't do it yourself) or estimates in case of insurance covered accidents? That would be 2+ hours for me. Imagine multiple trips to drop off and pick up the bike.

I love my S4R but have been considering a change and this might push me over to the dark side. I need something I can ride all day or for days on end, but also be able to be ridden aggressively. The S4R handles well, but my knees just can't take it. I'd like to keep a V Twinish configuration. VFR maybe. Something that can handle bags.

Also considering a Vstrom or possibly GS, but with the BMW there is a much higher upfront cost and maint will definitely cost more.

Would dealer distance and maintenance requirements sway you one way or the other?



 

It possibly would for me.

At my age an hour is about as far as I want to ride for service and I wait while my bike is being serviced in leather pants and boots.

I have Honda , Yamaha, Kawi, and Suzuki dealers with in a 1/2 hour if I ever go that way.

If my Ducati Dealer went out of business , the next closest one would be 1 1/2 hours away and that would be difficult especially with dicey weather.

Dolph      :)

It would factor in. But its more incentive to learn how to do the maintainence yourself.

but if the bike itself isnt fitting your body and riding style. theres no point in keeping it unless you are willing to put up with it. thats ultimately what would make me change bikes.

My Ducati dealer is about 2 hours away.  In hindsight, I would much prefer a bike from a dealer here in town.  We only have The Big Four here, but it wouldn't be a stretch for me to go back to a Japanese bike at all.

As far as Japanese bikes, what have you tried?  I know you said v-twin, but have you ever tried a Bandit? 

No Duc dealer in VT.
Nearest is Albany NY ( 3rs) or Laconia NH (2hrs+)

Far better to do maintenance on your own (certainly in my case).
Not sayin that would eliminate the need for a dealer but perhaps reduce the trips to every other year etc.
I see some wierd statements from dealers / techs  (moto & cage) - FHE always valuable unless you have a really
trusted tech available.

Ride what you want and want what you ride - (that's prophetic!).

Maybe a good independent will take up the slack.

+1

I use an independent shop for everything but warranty work. ECS (http://www.europeancycleservices.com/) in Middletown NY are my go to guys, they're awesome. An independent shop may well be the way to go if you're not into doing your own dirty work and want to keep your Duc.

For what its worth, Motorcycle Performance in Madison are Ducati Specialists. I have had my regular maintenance done by them for 2 years and will continue to use them for both my Monster and my new Sport 1000S

It's possible someone will pick up the franchise or at least open a shop that will provide service - though I got the impression that certain tools weren't available to independents. I don't mind doing the basic stuff. I did my 1st valve check too. Change my own tires and all that as well. Time was an issue this year which is why I broke down and had the shop do it.

I haven't tried any bikes yet - mostly window shopping. Though I did sit on an AE 2007 VFR and it seemed comfy. I drove an 03 FZ1 last year briefly and didn't like it. Perhaps a newer one might look/feel different to me( the fairing/dash setup seemed cheesy but I guess I'm used to seeing NO fairing). A Bandit is on the list to look at if I decide to go with an I4 as from everything I've read they are excellent bikes and not particularly expensive.

Fall is the time to buy if I change, but buying a newer bike would necessitate selling the Duc. Or trading. KBB puts the S4R value at about 8500. I've got full Remus GP exhaust, PCIII, CycleCat clipons, Sato rearsets, PM clutch cover and pressure plate, MW springs, Sargent seat, rear stand, new Odyssey battery, heated grips, Nap bar end mirror  and all stock parts.
I'd like to think I could get around 9k for it but I dunno. Book values don't always match up with the real world.

I'm heading out in a couple hours for a trip to the UP via the SSBadger. 400 miles tomorrow morning and 400 back down the west side of Lake Michigan Sunday. Ought to be a good test to see if moving the controls back to stock makes a big enough difference.

I try to do as much of my own maintainence as possible, but......I was willing to drive from South Carolina to Cincinatti, Ohio to pick up a non-running bike, so.....I figure I would have no issues driving upwards of 6+ hours for a bike-related cause if I were to deem it beneficial.  ;)

closest dealers are 2 hours for me. Cant just say im gonna run to the dealer real quick, ha ha, but my dealer knows i have a 2 hr drive in time and works with me.

The dealer I bought my bike from went out of business about 3 weeks after I made my purchase. The dealer was about 1.5 hours away (90 miles). The next closest is about 1 hour 45 minutes (95 miles). Hopefully it will work because the next closest on is over 3 hours away and almost 200 miles away. 

Jim

Maybe this would help you - a motto of the Life Is Good brand.

"Do what you like and like what you do"

(http://www.lifeisgood.com/images/fall09/results/fun-gear/license.jpg)

I've only been to Corse once, and I really liked that place.  It's a bummer that they are closing.  Doesn't Bob Barr in Madison still sell Ducati?

Corse is closing?  I need a source, cause I don't believe it.  I thought they were great.

mitt

OK, it says it in big red letters on their website, that sucks.

mitt

Bob Barr has been out of business since 2006

I feel the same way sometimes.  I've been thinking about a more distance-oriented bike and am excited to see what the new VFR1200 looks like in person:

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2009/09/2010-honda-vfr1200-shamu-visit.html (http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2009/09/2010-honda-vfr1200-shamu-visit.html)
(http://hellforleathermagazine.com/galleries/images/VFR1200_Alps_3.jpg)

Dealer distance and/or maintenance issues with the Duc would definitely put me in the market for a new bike - if I were in your shoes. 

YMMV

As far as I need to for a good mechanic. I never have and never will use a dealership, for my cars/trucks or bikes.  ;)

I think even without the dealer issues Im going to shop around. This trip is sealing the deal and we only rode 30 miles yesterday - the rest was on the SSBadger. Guy Im riding with pulls the key ou t of his bike and walks away. I gotta take my tankbag off, backpack and carry that shit around which weighs probly 20 lbs. need saddle bags!
we'll see how i feel in 8 hours ;)

In Thailand the only and nearest Ducati Dealer is 100 miles away , I never use them do all my own work, I have 3 HD dealers and Kawasaki only one mile from my home but they are not an option.

IN UK there are 3 Ducati Dealers within 40 Miles but I only by parts from them.


Independants are usually the best if you do need work done because they love what they do.

Convenience is key!  I say why not shop for a new bike.  Go for it, and let us know what you end up with.

the drive would not bother me as long as it was good service. When I had my Monsters I used a local guy who did awesome work.....until the last service. The last time i took my monster there the guy kept my bike 2 weeks before he started working on it. (I stopped by 8 times and he was never home, when I did find him home he looked like he had not slept in weeks and his answer was I am getting ready to start!) T

Then after another 1/2 week I stopped in again. I could tell there was something wrong just by the way he was acting, so i told him how much I missed my bike, and how long i looked to find a older M900 in PERFECT shape....His answer was ahhhhh yeaaaaaa I need to ask you something. He then took me in his shop and asked me if my bike had any scratches when I dropped it off. I said no it is Perfect. (the bike only had 2500 miles) he then showed me 3 very deep gouges on my tank, and my exhaust cans were scratched up aweful, and the FBF badge was all messed up!!! He said his "helper" must of done it when he moved my bike!

I told the guy to get the bike back together it is leaving in 30 minutes. (I had new belts, oil, filter, fuel line, Kreeme, Clutch fluid, and brake fluid.) He said dont worry I will give you this service for free. I said Free? I dont care about the money , I just wanted you to take care of my bike! He then offered to paint my bike and sell me tires at cost. I said I will pay you for parts only. (he has to eat) I felt like if I paid for parts maybe he would realize he need to treat other peoples bikes with respect.

I then went back to give him one more chance to redeam himself. He ran out of fuel line to finish my bike. I needed 1 more section replced. As he lifted my tank he said "looks like someone didn't fasten you tank when they removed it!" I said it was you, you took the tank off to Kreem it! He then started unbolting the fuel cutoff and scratched the $hit out of my frame....I said stop, get away from my bike, and left....I sold my Ducati the next day. The guy will keep me from owning another one because I cannot afford Ducati of Charlotte, and have no idea how to do belts, valves myself...just sad to think about this guy.

I have a Ducati dealer less than 2 miles from my house but I now go to one 1.5 hours away, just because of poor service.  I always consider it an adventure.  When I used to ride Husqvarnas in the woods, the only dealer was 2 hours away, I never thought it was a big deal.

Wow. I've never heard of selling or not owning a particular vehicle, because of 1 mechanic.  ???

I have to be able to service it, and I cannot afford Ducati of Charlotte, and am not mechanically savvy

that was not the only reason, my baby probally had a little something to do with it...it just made for a better ending!

While the BMW has a higher upfront cost, you'll also likely get a loaner bike when you take the bike in for service.  You'll also be able to test ride just about anything you want.  They didn't let me test ride the Megamoto, which was probably good for my wallet. 

Some bikes you might want to look at include the F800ST, the Triumph Tiger, the V-Strom 650 ABS, and that new VFR looks nice.  Figure that you'll need a new seat for whatever you buy. 

As far as the extra bits on your bike, pull them and sell separately.  You'll never get that money back on an outright sale. 

We have service "loaner" bikes & a demo of every Ducati & Triumph model. Wait, not true, no 1098R or Desmosedici (big surprise).

Have never understood how dealers sell newly released models without having demos.

 

lots of people always want the 'latest and greatest' - so superbikes are quick sells no matter what

I'm still torn between a Speed triple and an 1100 Monster (I have a 08 Bandit1250 at the moment). Triumph dealer just opened this week here and the closest Ducati dealer is still two hours away. I'm still leaning toward the Monster and after meeting with the dealer a loooong way from here, I wouldn't have a problem towing a bike 2 hours for service. If that dealer is an ass I'll find somebody else. I'm looking at something not alot of folks have where I live. Gotta be willing to pay the price if you have too.  It's not a Dodge Dakota you know !!!

I like not having a dealer close, keeps the squids/posers from buying Ducks.