Ducati Monster Forum

It has been forever since I been on this forum; since I went down in 2008 with a 848. I have a question for all. I need get my 7500 mile service my 2008 DUCATI 1098: AMS wants approximately $1600 [bang]. I don't really want to pay that much for a service! Please hit me up if anyone knows who do it for cheaper, thanks.

Buy the proper tools, take a Ducati 101 maintenance class at the local JC and make it a month long DIY project.


Or pay them to do it right. From personal experience... Just changing out the air filter is worth that much in headaches alone.

7500 mile should just be spark plugs, oil change, oil screen clean, air filter and valve check.  You can do all of that yourself  fairly cheaply. 

but if you need belts (2 year item) or any of those valves need to be changed I would take it to a shop and pay for it.

Okay, thanks for the info guys..

generally i adjust most to all of the valves the first time i see one, and i'd allow around 10 hours for that service.  it's probably up to its second belt change at least by now, so that sounds about right.  and it'll probably need the airbox removed and cleaned out.

Listen to Brad.  [thumbsup]

he 1098 is not an easy bike to work on. Just getting to the air filter is about an hour labor if you dont know what you are doing.

If you are saving money somewhere, you are not saving much at all.

Either man up and learn how to do it yourself over 2 weekends, or pay it someone who paid money to learn how to do it right.

Its not complicated, just A LOT of steps.

and 55 minutes when you do know.  [laugh]

after you've done a lot of them they're still a pitfa.  can't get the radiator cap off without pulling the air runners pretty much.

Reach out to any local Ducati riders and offer beer if they'll come watch over your shoulder while you do the basics.
Get a copy of LT's Repair manual for your model: http://www.desmotimes.com/ (http://www.desmotimes.com/)
Also go through his site and make a list of the tools you'll need and start buying them.
You can rent what you need here in the meantime: http://www.ducatitoolrental.com/ (http://www.ducatitoolrental.com/)
The Ducati Service manual if you can find one, maybe here: http://en.calameo.com/books/003605559aa15ef907658 (http://en.calameo.com/books/003605559aa15ef907658)
Be sure and take very detailed notes on all disassembly and lots of pictures.
Google the different procedures you're going to do and read as much as you can.
Time and patience are critical, don't try to do anything the first few times in less than 2 - 3 weekends.
If / when you get stuck, STOP!! Post your situation here and make sure you understand what you're doing.
We've all been where you are, a Ducati will bankrupt you if you don't do the basics yourself.

It helps if you remove all the plastics and bring the bike to them like that.  Saves a bit of labor anyway which might be good for a couple hundred bucks.

a couple of hundred bucks is two hours or so.  once you've done a few, that's total strip and reassemble time.

it's nice to have the sides and those annoying seat panels off tho.

I love 1098 series bikes for maintainability.  I find them easy to work on, especially compared to something like an RSV4 or 916 (my big hands don't do well in those little DesmoQuattro windows).  As Brad said, the first service is generally the one with the most valves adjusted.  We charge 6 hours for a minor service on a four valver (and generally lose a little time if it's the first time the valves are checked...but you win some and you lose some) and credit you 1/2 hour if you bring it in with ALL the fairings removed except for the seat section.  (both sides and the nose removed, that is)  At $75 per hour the service will set you back $450 plus parts.  We don't generally renew the valve cover gaskets on Testastretta bikes (they're rubber, so they reseal well), so just a set of belts, oil, filter, and drain gasket.  The entire service is in the ballpark of $700 tax included.

www.desertdesmo.com (http://)

I will have to do mine pretty soon, and with the spare time I have at hands these days, I think I will have to get a**-raped by bringing it in.
When I bought I did a quick check and wanted to do the belts right away. After removing a lot of stuff, I got stuck with the vertical belt cover and being unable to get to one screw which was right being the frame and the air hose which connects air box and crank case.
After little thinking, and the visual of my spare time fading off, and the garage filled with my 1098 parts, I said fsck it, and I reassembled everything :D

BTW, if there even a way to do the belts w/out removing the crank case air hose? If not, do you undo it from the case side, or air box side?

undo the hose at both ends and remove it.  that's one of the easier parts.

If I'm doing just belts I undo the breather end and pull the hose past the cover to get the cover out.  Use a ball-end allen to remove the screw you're worried over.

I am not in love with ball head sockets. I prefer these wherever possible:

(https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/images/prod/275/m/mot_10_piv_hea_hex_wre_set.jpg)

The problem is that you don't necessarily have a straight shot. I like the long Snap-On ball socket with the 3/8" drive. Very slick.

I am also a fan of replacing the V/C gaskets. I know the service techs don't like this because cleaning off all the old sealant is a pain. When the dealer guys did my services they did not change the gaskets. I kept wondering where a slight oil burning odor was coming from but could  never find a leak. Miles later when I did my own work I found the spark plug seal leaking slightly thus the oil odor. Did everything by the book & no more leak -- no more odor. If you don't get a leak then it's all good.

I love these, too, but they won't give you access to the screw behind the frame.  Sometimes a ball end is a necessary evil. 

I'm almost done with a 2003 999R Fila Edtion . . what a PITA to work on . . . even with OEM tools