Ducati Monster S4Rs - ** To All Fellow Ducati Monster S4Rs owners:

[Modena]

Too All,

Fellow Ducati Monster  S4Rs owners:

 I  bought an new 2007 Ducati Monster S4Rs from an local dealer and the bike only as 17 miles on the bike. The  bike sat in their warehouse while I made monthly pmts on the bike. Now, all an sudden the dealer calls me up to say while the were prepping the bike they seem to have found an puddle of oil under the bike and over all the engine that they NEVER saw before until now and they have to replace the valve cover gasket.
*** Should I be very alarmed on why this has happened?....an would there be any other problems that I should be thinking about.

I'm extremely concerned if I should request to get my money back from this company because I don't understand why all an sudden a bike with only 17 miles would cause this to happen.

Thank you for your support and most importantly happy & safe riding !!
 ducatini@sbcglobal.net

[mostrobelle]

Can someone tell me what I'm reading here?  Is the letter from you or Ducatini?  Are you asking us a question or simply posting up for everyone's benefit?  Did the letter-writer ask for his/her money back and get a denial on that request?  Was the problem fixed?  A leaking valve cover ain't no big deal... the gasket could have simply been missing or a little skewed when put on. 

<---------confuzzled.   

[Modena]

I just found out that someone else also has the same name that I was using as an email. I'm fixing the problem as I type this meno

Best Regards

[Desmostro]

*Gaskets can go dry and crack if a bike has been prepped then sits for years. This can be a major problem as it could be with all the gaskets on the bike.

HOWEVER, this is certain bikes and not others.
I don't know about the S4RS.

*Also, if it wasn't put into "storage condition" drained etc. gas and oil that's sat in a tank for over a year can turn to lacquer and coat everything in the engine - major pain. You do not want to start it with old oil and gas.
*Tires sitting with the bike's weight on them for a year, will go oblong. When you ride you will feel a big bumpity bump.

I would accept the bike contingent upon these issues fixed and it running well.
Otherwise be prepared for a project. ie, changing all the rubber, gaskets and fluids.  Hope you got a good price.

[mostrobelle]

Is the valve cover gasket on an S4RS rubber or it is metal like it is on my bike?  If the latter then that would preclude the notion that all the gaskets were bad.  S/he also says that the bike is "new" but we don't know how long it's been sitting.  I assumed it was "new" as in "fresh out of the crate".  Your point is a good one though--even new bikes can get a little stale on the shelf.  We don't know enough from the first post to tell. 

[Desmostro]

2007 , 17 miles. It's about 2.5 years old no matter how you slice it, but,

 good point -

In the crate since 2007? Or used twice, parked for 2.5 years?

Hattar was selling a number of crated SINCE 2007 bikes last year. Full 3 year warranty. Really good deals. 
Some were however, 2006, 2007 used a couple of times for demo's at races etc and had 20 - 30 miles on them. 
In this case, there is a dubious history because who knows how they were stored.

If you get the full warranty then wtf? Do it. If it leaks - have them replace every gasket that leaks.
Git that Sheit in WRITING - with dates - as in WARRANTY UNTIL 2011 or 30,000K.