Ducati Monster Forum

Moto Board => Tech => Topic started by: jonnymtb on August 30, 2010, 02:57:22 AM

Title: Engine life expectancy
Post by: jonnymtb on August 30, 2010, 02:57:22 AM
I'm pretty new to the Ducati (May 2010) scene and wanted to know what kind of life expectancy 2v Ducati's have.  I will be ticking over 30,000 miles on my commute home from work.  I haven't had any issues over the past 3,000 miles I've had the bike.  With that said can I expect to get 50,000 or even 100,000 miles if I continue to do the usual oil, belt and valve maintenance?  I know there are a lot of factors playing a role but just assume best case scenario.

Has anyone seen 100,000 miles or more on a 2v duc?
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: Slide Panda on August 30, 2010, 04:33:15 AM
If you keep them up, they can go a long time. I've got almost 31k miles on my 900 and it hasn't skipped a beat. IZ had in excess of 60K on his 620 and there's a few others who have done even more - though the names escape me.
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: junior varsity on August 30, 2010, 05:13:49 AM
Unlimited mileage.

Yeah, you may need to do a top-end rebuild at some point, but these air cooled bikes are pretty robust.
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: 64duc on August 30, 2010, 05:42:42 AM
Quote from: yuu on August 30, 2010, 04:33:15 AM
If you keep them up, they can go a long time. I've got almost 31k miles on my 900 and it hasn't skipped a beat. IZ had in excess of 60K on his 620 and there's a few others who have done even more - though the names escape me.

  Seems like I remember hearing Scott Nelson has somewhere north of 120,000.
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: Turf on August 30, 2010, 06:12:47 AM
i've got just about 60k on my monster buddy of mine has an st2 with 112k
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: Düb Lüv on August 30, 2010, 06:23:35 AM
Quote from: jonnymtb on August 30, 2010, 02:57:22 AM
I'm pretty new to the Ducati (May 2010) scene and wanted to know what kind of life expectancy 2v Ducati's have.  I will be ticking over 30,000 miles on my commute home from work.  I haven't had any issues over the past 3,000 miles I've had the bike.  With that said can I expect to get 50,000 or even 100,000 miles if I continue to do the usual oil, belt and valve maintenance?  I know there are a lot of factors playing a role but just assume best case scenario.

Has anyone seen 100,000 miles or more on a 2v duc?

what bike did you end up picking up?
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: Triple J on August 30, 2010, 07:35:00 AM
PhilB has well over 120,000 miles on his Monster. The motors can last if taken care of.
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: Speeddog on August 30, 2010, 08:07:58 AM
bigiain's probably over 170k miles on his '99 750 by now.
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: duccarlos on August 30, 2010, 08:31:34 AM
Quote from: Triple J on August 30, 2010, 07:35:00 AM
PhilB has well over 120,000 miles on his Monster. The motors can last if taken care of.

He's almost at the 200K mark. He rode his bike from SD to Ohio and is currently riding it up there. I believe he went to MotoGP over the weekend. Not sure since I haven't seen many pics.
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: jonnymtb on August 30, 2010, 08:52:26 AM
Quote from: Düb Lüv on August 30, 2010, 06:23:35 AM
what bike did you end up picking up?

2000 M900i.e.  Had 26k on it when I got it.  I did the valve shims, belts, oil, tires, and fuel filters before I started riding her.
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: Triple J on August 30, 2010, 10:08:08 AM
Quote from: duccarlos on August 30, 2010, 08:31:34 AM
He's almost at the 200K mark. He rode his bike from SD to Ohio and is currently riding it up there. I believe he went to MotoGP over the weekend. Not sure since I haven't seen many pics.

[thumbsup] [thumbsup] [bow_down]
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: ScottRNelson on August 30, 2010, 11:57:43 AM
Quote from: 64duc on August 30, 2010, 05:42:42 AM
  Seems like I remember hearing Scott Nelson has somewhere north of 120,000.
38,000 plus.  And that's the most I've ever had on a bike.  Sorry, I'm not that big of a long distance rider.
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: 64duc on August 30, 2010, 01:34:18 PM
Quote from: ScottRNelson on August 30, 2010, 11:57:43 AM
38,000 plus.  And that's the most I've ever had on a bike.  Sorry, I'm not that big of a long distance rider.

  Must have been PhilB. It was over on the other board several years ago.
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: ScottRNelson on August 30, 2010, 01:38:17 PM
Quote from: 64duc on August 30, 2010, 01:34:18 PM
  Must have been PhilB. It was over on the other board several years ago.
I seem to remember Phil put a lot of miles on his bike.  I only ride for fun, no commuting, and have limited time to ride, so I'm lucky to get over 5000 miles in a year.  And that's often spread over multiple bikes.
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: the_Journeyman on August 30, 2010, 04:03:13 PM
I've got nearly 35,000 on my 1999 M750 and it still runs well, just rich.  I need to replace my emulsification tubes, BUT the motor itself is fine ~

JM
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: jonnymtb on August 31, 2010, 01:02:07 AM
Quote from: a m on August 30, 2010, 05:13:49 AM
Unlimited mileage.

Yeah, you may need to do a top-end rebuild at some point, but these air cooled bikes are pretty robust.

What is involved in a top-end rebuild?  Rockers, cam, valves, valve stem seals?

When do I know the top-end needs to be rebuilt?
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: junior varsity on August 31, 2010, 04:37:25 AM
your mechanic will let you know when you are having leaks here or there when they are playing about during a valve job. or you'll report crap performance and they'll find out its got low compression somewhere and do some problem solving.
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: erkishhorde on August 31, 2010, 09:56:26 AM
Nearly 80k on my '95 m900 now. Bought it with 17k in 2002. Sadly it's been mostly super slap from LA to San Luis Obispo.
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: duccarlos on August 31, 2010, 10:16:26 AM
PhilB was at Indy this weekend. So if anyone saw a beat up looking Monster, it was probably Phil's
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: Povidius on August 31, 2010, 06:16:07 PM
I wonder if my 696 will hit 100,000miles.  I'll let you guys know in about 5 -7 years.  [thumbsup]

Any tips besides changing the oil/filter often and getting the scheduled maintenance done?
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: Speeddog on August 31, 2010, 07:05:05 PM
Quote from: Povidius on August 31, 2010, 06:16:07 PM
I wonder if my 696 will hit 100,000miles.  I'll let you guys know in about 5 -7 years.  [thumbsup]

Any tips besides changing the oil/filter often and getting the scheduled maintenance done?

Don't crash it.  :P

Keep it indoors as much as possible.
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: junior varsity on September 01, 2010, 04:34:04 AM
fresh tires? omitting that one is a great way to find yourself in the weeds.
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: jonnymtb on September 01, 2010, 05:09:18 AM
Quote from: a m on August 31, 2010, 04:37:25 AM
your mechanic will let you know when you are having leaks here or there when they are playing about during a valve job. or you'll report crap performance and they'll find out its got low compression somewhere and do some problem solving.

Seeing as I'm the mechanic I guess I have some tools to acquire.  I wish I could trust my dealer but the reviews for that place are terrible.  Not one positive review.  Unfortunately they just aren't about selling happiness and I am not about to get married to these guys over something I could learn on my own.  I'm dreading the day I have to rely on them for service.
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: WetDuc on September 01, 2010, 06:25:49 AM
I'm with you johnny.  I really don't ever want to rely on the dealer for service.  I'm not a terrible mechanic, but I do need to keep learning.


Other than ca-cycleworks, what kind of other resources are out there for learning Ducati service?  At a certain point, it almost seems worth it to just go to the mechanics school for ducs.
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: ScottRNelson on September 01, 2010, 06:32:53 AM
Quote from: iamhybris on September 01, 2010, 06:25:49 AM
Other than ca-cycleworks, what kind of other resources are out there for learning Ducati service?
http://desmotimes.com/ (http://desmotimes.com/)

Buy the maintenance guide, join the message board for any questions you might have.  LT Snyer is very good about helping with anything you don't understand.
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: junior varsity on September 01, 2010, 01:28:31 PM
+1.
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: 1KDS on September 01, 2010, 02:37:31 PM
Some info here
http://www.ducatitech.com/ (http://www.ducatitech.com/)
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: BlackKat on September 01, 2010, 03:32:38 PM
I recently met Phil at my local Duc shop here in Akron, I think they did a spot of service and it was 189k. Thats amazing, because based on what the tech told me, he has by no means babied that bike!
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: junior varsity on September 01, 2010, 04:05:58 PM
I've always thought babying a motor maybe worse for it than running it "thoroughly". By no means do I mean to say that one should bounce off the rev limiter in every gear...
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: Speeddog on September 01, 2010, 05:15:47 PM
Quote from: duccarlos on August 31, 2010, 10:16:26 AM
PhilB was at Indy this weekend. So if anyone saw a beat up looking Monster, it was probably Phil's

Photo from Indy.
Pretty sure this is Phil B.'s ride:
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2010/motogp/indy/fan1/9d.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2010/motogp/indy/fan1/9d.htm)
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: ScottRNelson on September 01, 2010, 05:41:35 PM
Quote from: Speeddog on September 01, 2010, 05:15:47 PM
Photo from Indy.
Pretty sure this is Phil B.'s ride:
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2010/motogp/indy/fan1/9d.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2010/motogp/indy/fan1/9d.htm)
What I find amazing about that photo is that the reflector is still on the fork leg.  I seem to remember that it had some pretty good stickers on the tank.  Too bad they don't show up in that photo.
Title: Re: Engine life expectancy
Post by: duccarlos on September 02, 2010, 03:49:04 AM
Quote from: Speeddog on September 01, 2010, 05:15:47 PM
Photo from Indy.
Pretty sure this is Phil B.'s ride:
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2010/motogp/indy/fan1/9d.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2010/motogp/indy/fan1/9d.htm)

Yep. That is Phil's. That bike has definitely not been babied.