Ducati Monster Forum

I hear this topic brought up time and time again, and I wanted to ask what areas do you, as riders and Ducati owners see on your own bikes as where there were corners cut, and if it made a difference to you - When you bought the bike, and now.

The obvious areas, like cheap, non adjustable suspension, chains, and tires come to mind, but what else?

If you look at your bike, what areas do you think could be cut more without you noticing?

Are we talking blatant "screw quality, we need cheap"? Or design and manufacturing efficiencies as well?

Having only 2 core engine families to share the major tooling costs across the entire product line would be efficient, IMHO, but not cheap.

Lower plastic quality, the aforementioned suspension shortcuts, and all I do consider cost cuts. They didn't really affect my buying decision at the time, but some of the items didn't wear very well. Some have failed prematurely. Some I just replaced with a better looking component.

Well, they already cut cost on the S2R1000's a bunch:
1. Shit ECU.
2. Bad Valve Guides.
3. Magic Expanding Tank.

I guess they could of used magic puddy instead of welding the frame...

 [laugh] I don't think any of those could be considered cost cutting measures...more like the opposite. Valve guides and expanding tanks seem to be supplier mistakes. The ecu problems are related to EPA/EU restrictions.

non-adjustable, non-rebuildable Marzocchi forks   :-X

I don't know if you can really call it cost cutting, after all I got the budget version.
This I knew when I bought it:
- non adjustable forks

Now these things bother me and I wish I had bought the S2R1000 in stead (just 2500€ more)
- no bikini fairing & seat cowl (after all it's just plastic and the price is rediculous)
- non adjustable levers
- only rebound adjustability on the shock
- non adjustable ride height rod
- 2 piston calipers
- wheels/rotors: because of the weight & if I want to upgrade to 4 piston calipers I need new rotors  (and even then I think mine have 5 bolts and the 320mm discs have 6 but I'm not sure)

This is debatable but I consider the oil cooler a real cost cutter; they say it was designed for the temps it's running but clearly the melting paint says otherwise. I'm not really complaining though as I got a DP ECU out of it and it runs much better now than it ever did with the original ECU.

320mm rotors with 10mm offset are what you need. They come in 5 bolt, and are on most ducatis.
The 848 and 1098 use 6 bolt.

I think the switch to plastic tanks was definitely a cost cutting measure.

The fact that what they bought didn't work was a engineering failure...either theirs or the vendor.

Ducati must have spec'd the guide material. If it was substandard it's engineering again. If the supplier cheaped out it's QA that's to blame.

Bottom line is every decision made in manufacturing is a cost based decision.

Dock-to-stock inspection methods.  i.e. taking the word of your vendor that the part is within tolerances and materials meet the certs.

That rarely works for any company for long.

Not enough time sorting the EFI maps on the S2R1000's.  Some run great, others hunt all the time...  It's sad to see really.

+1 to the Plastic tanks.  My G/F's 620 has one and I'm collecting bits to retrofit it BACK to a steel unit.

I wish they'd standardize some parts. That would save money considerably.

An example would be wheels --> Make all front wheels run the same axle size, same bolt pattern for rotors, etc. Then make all front wheels uniform. Similar, all DSS rear wheels and SSS wheels should be uniform. Volume economics to drive price down. Colors could change, that's fine, but the wheel itself would be an easy way for them to do it.

Likewise, uniform front brake rotors and calipers and masters. That shouldn't change --> Its a ducati, give all ducatis the same, high end brakes. The top shelf model can get the specialty billet units if so needed to differentiate it.

my 2c

actually, it's the other way around

agreed, they really really suck...

As a rider, ive always been cost cutting...

I...

a) do my own work whenever I can
b) I use sport touring tires instead of sport tires (Pilot Road 2ct are the key factor in saving a whole lot of money here)
c) I make with what I have...aka i built my own clutch holding tool, my own bead breaker etc
d) I *now* buy good stuff so i dont have to rebuy it later when it fails.

 I know my 696 is a beginner/budget bike, but what really bugs me is the skinny, chrome handle bar and the bottom shelf suspension components which are not easily rebuildable.
 A standardization of quality parts across the model line should save money and confusion as was written earlier.

Yes but at that point all that would differentiate the 696 from the 1100 is the engine size and cost. I'm guessing the cost difference would not be all that much, which would lead to the question "why even have the 696?".


The entry level aspects of an entry level bike need to come into play in some form.

 Big engine vs. small engine is a pretty big difference, but what I mainly meant was not to use very, very cheap parts like the forks on the 696 for example, Myself and others on this board have been trying to have the forks rebuilt for a little more performance, and have been told by some shops that there is little that can be done because the forks are so odd ball.
 I feel that "entry level", as far as Ducati is concerned, should mean a milder version, and not a  "cheaper" version as in bottom barrel quality parts. how hard would it be for Ducati to just have a good adjustable Showa suspension system for its base bikes and bad ass top shelf Ohlins suspension for all the "S" bikes.

 Just my 02.

It doesn't cost Ducati any less to build (or develop) a 696 cc engine than it does an 1100 cc engine. However, people expect lower displacement models to cost less...so Ducati (and all manufacturers) has to save money in other areas of the bike, like the suspension.

giant ugly cast footpeg brackets.  ugly plastics (chain and sprocket covers, rear fender/beertray).   non-water proof/resistant electric connectors.

There isn't one thing I'd change on my 1098 R.

After 5062 miles I am a very , very satisfied customer.

Dolph       :) :)

I should hope there was no cost-cutting on your $40k bike, Dolph  ;)