Ducati Monster Forum

My new M1100 has been in the shop on and off for 11 weeks now with a problem the bike had when I picked it up new from Ducati.  Nice oil leak that sprays on the back tire, good stuff.  Anyone know of any good ways to motivate Ducati to fix this?  Customer services is running way to thin and it is impossible to get them on the phone.  Basically, constantly waiting on parts with noETA from Ducati.  I have tried the vehicle off road/urgent parts order route but it is a joke.  That mixed with stupid tech bulletins that are written to purposely confuse techs, so always waiting on new instruction.  I can't imagine I am the only one having massive problems with a new bike and would love to hear the horror stories and how you got it done.  About had it with Ducati, not a very well ran company.

As an aside, oil on rear tire is why I throw a rear hugger on my bikes - saw an engine shit the bed on a ride one time, and thought "hey, here's some cheap insurance that also increases the usable life of a rear shock..."

Waiting on parts is part of working with a *very* small manufacturer. I do much of the parts ordering at the shop I'm at, and never have difficulty getting hard parts, either as "expedited" or "VOR". The tech bulletins seem straightforward to all of us as well... What shop are you using? Without naming names, perhaps you might consider another shop.

When we do warranty engine work, the bikes are back on the road in less than a week (average), all done up correctly. We've completely rebuilt engines and had the bike on the dyno within two days of the customer dropping the bike off (a 999 earlier this summer).

Don't let this bad experience ruin ownership for you. The bikes are marvelous, it is unfortunate that you are having to deal with this, but it shall pass

Wow, I hate to hear your woes.  I've got a 1999 M750 with 34,000 miles and a 2000 Supersport 900 with 16,000 miles and the only things I've had to replace are common wear items or stuff damaged in a drop.  I've got nothing but a story or reliability ~

Do you know what parts you are waiting for?

JM

I broke a couple things wrenching wrong and it took forever to get them. They weren't essential, but important. I waited 5 months for neither of the two local shops to not get them before buying online w/ pro-italia. I had them in 3 weeks.

The internet is rad.

Speak with the Dealer and bring up the phrase "Magnuson-Moss". It's a federal law and trumps any state law, I believe. There is a time limit on how long the bike is allowed to remain out of service during it's warranty period before you can ask for a refund or a new bike.

Yup, that would be my next move.

Have not tried the Magna-Moss Laws; will give that a try, thanks.  Have already researched the lemon laws which they have broken for Ohio and could and will have this does not take care of it.  The only thing is that I have pumped so much money into getting this thing the way I want it would be a shame to go another route with a different manufacture.

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I want to actually ride this thing and hoping the motorcycle gods give me some love to get it on the road before it snows.

 Would like to get this fixed and reasonably together.  No other problems besides this but just taking forever and hard to motivate.  Mixed with terrible customer service and etc.  

Where's GLantern with his 1098 stories?

Write DNA a letter expressing your distaste with the matter. A member called swampduc had some recurring electrical issues with his 696 and did just that. A couple of weeks later he was on the road and happy  [thumbsup]

shit happens man.

talk to your dealer/D.N.A. about getting a new bike through lemon law and swapping your parts over.

I know John Burnsten, Ducati NA Customer Service to well.  Another set back with no time table to get this done.  Still waiting on a part and no manpower in the near term to get it done.  Looks like the season is over for me.  New bike and grand total of 1 month of riding.  [bang]  Ducati = you need two bikes.

You don't need two bikes.  [roll]  Don't let an unfortunate situation sour you already!

What is the part? You haven't said. Our shop or another may have it in stock. Stay optimistic - the Ducati community is great and we can all help out

It is a gasket sealant for the base and top of the head gasket.  Ducati is having issues with bikes leaking oil and put a teach bulletin on it.  Of course Ducati does not have any of the stuff.  They are trying to track it down through other manufactures but nothing yet.  I guess Suzuki uses the same stuff and they are going that route.  The other unfortunate problem is that no one knows how to use the stuff and waiting for training from Ducati.  They said they are sending someone one out but have not heard anything from Ducati.  Just a big waiting pattern.  Unfortunately, no other shop near my area.  I understood Ducati is a smaller bike company, just around 500 million, but they are having some growing pains.  Of all my experience with power sports, I have never seen such a cluster ......   The best case scenario is 12 to 13 weeks now.

Well that sucks dick. For me personally your situation would compel me to jump off the Ducati train and ride something more reliable. The thing is there is no other bike I can think of that I like, so Ducati it is. It's either Ducati or no motorcycle at all, really. I've had some minor troubles with my bike as well, but I've learned that there are only a handful of dealers in this country at least that know what the make the beast with two backs it is that they are supposed to be doing. They all seem to have their heads lodged inside their rectums. Makes me feel like a gold-plated asshole to keep sucking on the kool-aid but when I'm done with this bike another Ducati I will ride. On principle I would normally say f-you. They're not the most competent, most well-made, or the cheapest but they are the sexiest, and they ride really nicely when they are dialed in properly which 90% of US dealers have no clue how to accomplish, and don't care to.
Whatever sealant that they are using, why don't they just use what the Kawayamahonzuki dealers are using? It's not like Ducatibond is proprietary secret stuff. All this heartache and pain over some goop. Probably a warranty red-tape thing. When that warranty's up get rid of the bike or learn how to fix it yourself. It's not a space shuttle. You are a better mechanic knowing nothing at all than most of those dealer idiots. Christ on a cracker this stuff gets me fired up.

This makes no sense at all.  I don't know what Ducati is recommending for a sealer in your case, but in the past the stuff was the same as Three Bond, Yamabond, etc.  Special training to use a sealer?  Maybe someone who is working in a dealer, a m comes to mind, can look up the service bulletin.  I would also call Mr. Burnsten back and ask to speak to someone in tech.  Chances are he is a public relations person.

I agree with Howie. A base gasket is a no brainer. Do they have a tech that is competent enough to do the work?  What are your options as far as finding a better dealer?  It sounds as if something else may be a factor.

From what they are telling me, you have to assemble the whole head, pistons and all, in six minutes after you get ready to put it back together.  Reading through it; it smells more of a man power issue on then a training thing.  It was secondary that they happened to be able to train the dealer possibly on how to do it while they were there.  That is Ducati tech advisor that is.  It all stinks a little.  It is all mute anyways until something happens.  The next closet dealer is about 2.5 to 3.5 hours away depending on traffic.  They do have a solid tech but besides waiting on parts, they are always back logged.  That to me is why they are sending a tech out there, because of the manpower issue but they want to get a hold of the part first.

good googely moogely, i will check on this today, but back in my jetski racing days, even the new guys new how to use sealant. it doesn't require any training - you clean, spread it on like peanut butter, squish the parts together, and bolt it up, done.

You would assume so but after this experience I am thinking anything is possible in the crazy world of competence.  I guess it is  [thumbsdown]; to there spreading abilities .

It gets worse; Ducati's Service Advisor that was coming out yesterday decided not to come because his closing went south or some BS.  13 weeks to get something repaired and counting.  I guess Murphy's Law is actual a Ducati Law which is,"what can go wrong will go wrong." [bang]

any 1100 service bulletin i could find is pretty trivial stuff... and we haven't had a single one behave like a problem child yet

Well got the bike back, the good news.  Service advisor from Ducati showed up and fixed the leak earlier this week.  They had to rip the bike apart and the rear brakes now work sporadically.  They said they did bleed them but obviously there is an air bubble.  It is an ABS module and I told me the ABS Pump is self bleeding.  Watch him vacuum bleed the rear line.  It goes from really tight to nothing at all.  I pump it 3 to 4 times and it is back.  Anyone ever work with the Ducati ABS and is this normal after a fresh bleed and does the air work it self out?

Oh my god.  Just get the bike back today.  Rode from the dealership to my house.  Go for a quick ride to see if the rear brake would work itself out, which it was working on and off.  Cruising along at 75 and the engine seized, rear tire locks up for a sec, then it felt like the rear brake was on, cars panicking around me, engage the clutch, swerve over to the emergency lane to avoid get drilled by the guy behind me, push it for a half mile to an off ramp, gets towed, change my underwear, and write this post.  The service advisor flew in and worked on this bike to assemble it and thinking they might have done something wrong.  This bike is a disaster to the Ducati name  [bang]. 

Geez, that is terrible.  Would it be time to demand a new one, It tried to kill you?  I'm a patient guy but.... >:(

I would think it is time to put this one to bed.  I kind of want my money back and not sure if I want another Ducati.  Bikes are dangerous enough with your brain always wondering if something bad is going to happen.  Just a bad experience.

That really sucks bro.

Your story is a first for me though, if thats any consolation (for the brand).

I wouldn't condemn the brand either.

I don't know who the dealer was, and I don't know who Ducati sent.

Your story is not a usual occurrence for the brand.

Keep us posted.  They should return your money or........lawyer up

Anything Italian is a bit more problematic than anything Japanese. We call that "character" I guess. Part of the issue is the Italian work ethic and culture. However, I have had more trouble with my newer BMW than my Ducati so who knows.

I think if you were to hang around forums for any make or model of bike for long enough, you'd be forced to conclude that absolutely everything was horribly unreliable and nothing but trouble. [laugh]

I'd try and not let this sour you to the whole Ducati marque. Definitely not the typical experience.

you know BMW stands for Break My Wallet right?  :-X

Bavarian Manure Wagon.  :D

All the Italian stuff like the voltage regulator and ignition modules :P

PM me.  I'd be happy to look into this with the dealer and contacts with DNA.

Well talked with Ducati and sent them a letter, lets see what they do.  I would go with a new bike but had it with this one.  If Ducati does the right thing I understand these are complex machines and will have problems.  This is just getting out of control.  The whole season was a mess of watching my friends ride.  Sometimes you just get a lemon.  Had a Volve that if you looked at it, something would go wrong.

with whom did you speak and to whom was the letter sent?

Thats a fine offer from Statler  [clap]  [clap]

An offer which if I were in your unfortunate position howiroll I'd gladly accept. 

Man... I love this place.....

Major bummer and somewhat surprised. 02' M900 38K miles no issues, not one. 04' ST3 36K miles, 2 recalls solved in under 2 weeks, 06 S2R1000, 19K miles, timing belt bearings - weird, repaired in a week, plastic tank - replaced, was a real cluster f... but taken care of. I can't help but feel the dealer isn't doing enough, for sure there is some staff turmoil right now at DNA, but that would be an excuse, not a solution. Keep pushing and send a link of this thread to Customer Service. - Gene

Statler thanks and any info would be greatly appreciated.

In a waiting pattern to see what Ducati can do, hopefully they will get back to me today been a couple days of them trying to figure something out.

Add me to the list of disgruntled owners. Going on 4 weeks now with my 2009 696 Monster in the shop for a gas tank that has warped where the fuel pump connects and it leaks fuel everywhere. First told it would be a 2 week wait for the tank. Now, yesterday, told it is on back order with not estimate of when it might show up. Dealer tells me to try and call DNA and make some noise. Seems like that should be their job. What really gripes me is that they have THREE 2009 Monsters still sitting on their showroom floor and refuse to swap out a tank for me off of one of them. I really like the bike and have had no problems before this. This reinforces my belief that a person should really own two motorcycles. Especially if one is a Ducati.

Tell your dealer they need to post a vehicle out of service or Vehicle of the road request I believe it is called VOR.  It is supposed to speed up the process.  I would contact DNA also, they can help.  We swapped a part on my bike from a showroom bike.  Just need a little pressure from Ducati.

Well my time here might be ending.  Ducati can’t find a new bike to give me another one and the 2011 are not going to come out for another 6 to 9 months.  They are changing them up a bit (traction control, into one pipe on the bottom, and a new look).  Looks like I am getting my money back and thanks for Ducati doing the right thing.  Kind of sucks but realistically I will have to buy another brand to have a bike for next season.  These seasons was a wash and want to be ready to go for next.

Just got a call last night and looks like they might have found a bike.  Hopefully, this will be a winner.

man, i really hope you have everything sorted out. The big bore air-cooled monsters are typically the least finicky, and thoroughly designed, well-thought out monsters. I now have 3 of the air cooled 900s, and the 1100 is a refinement and later iteration thereon. The motors are robust, and the chassis is fantastic.

Go into this with a fresh outlook, and with optimism - give the bike a fighting chance to make you happy.

Love the bike and I am crossing my fingers that I am not .00001% that gets hit with failures twice.  We should be fine and hopefully this one will make it happen.  Can't wait to finally get thumping again and get all my goods onto the bike.  Should look good when it is all complete and be a good twistie bike.

Well 6 weeks now and I am still waiting on a gas tank for my 2009 696 Monster. None of my emails have gotten anything done. Area rep just says tank is made in Serbia and Ducati's hands are tied. Bullschitt. Ducati, you can kiss my azz. When I finally do get a tank I am selling the bike and I will never buy another new Ducati. They will never get another penny directly from me.

You can always go the lemon law route, if you break 30 days in most states you are good to go.  It takes a couple months to happen.  Have you tried DNA customer service , CustomerService@ducati.com ?  I have had the same frustration with finding parts.  Tends to be Ducati's most troubling area of business and the hardest part of ownership.  Have you tried getting your dealer to post a vehicle off the road or urgent request, forgot the name?  Sometimes they will grab one from the factory floor.  Otherwise I would set a time line a and plan with your dealer and Ducati and get a lawyer to start the process by sending a letter to this fact.  It is usually the first step anyways to start the lemon law process.  Just not sure about the laws for the state you are in.  Hang in there and push on Ducati and they will do the correct thing.

God this company is frustrating.  The new bike is sitting at the dealership but Ducati has gone dead on me for a week and a half.  Can't get anything out of them.  The total time without a bike is now at somewhere around 3 months out of 5 months of ownership.  Frustrating  [bang] and about had it again, they are just that slow moving when this should be a priority.

That sucks "howiroll".  Hope u get the bike asap.  Did u end up getting black one?

My tank finally came in 8 weeks after the bike went in the shop. I am going to pick it up today. Whoo hoo, thanks for nothing Ducati. If I ever buy another Duc it will be used as I am never going to directly spend another penny with that worthless organization.