Maintenance Interval question

[Nomad]

I bought my bike w/o service records from the previous owner (overpaid for it too, I'm an idiot) he told me it had been worked on by someone from a dealership that owed him money, so no records, blah blah.  Anyhow, I got it right at 18k miles, just thought to call the dealership and ask around, nobody there has any idea what this guy is talking about.
     The bike seems to run great, 1996 M900.  My mechanical experience is about zero, but I have the Haynes manual and the right tools for all the service that needs to be done.
     My question is, if the bike seems to run well, would it be okay to ride it until the end of the season, then do the 18k service myself over the winter.  Or do I need to just do the service ASAP so I don't screw anything up on the bike?  I've already changed the oil just on general principle, and it does have a new clutch, witch this guy said the same person that did the service installed, so MAYBE the service was actually done, but I can't find any proof of it.
    As of right now the bike is still being shipped to me, so will be a few more weeks before I can ride it this year, so will probably be 3 or 4 months of riding this year.
Any thoughts would be much appreciated, thanks!

[Ddan]

I'd at least change the belts.

[Howie]

Fluids too. 

[lwszabo]

I would do the 18,000 mile service. A dealership will be aroud 800-1000 but you know it will be done right. with you posting your mechanical exp is zero you may want to go that route first, and learn as you go (belts / valves are a little harder than a oil change, but its your bike its a great way to learn!!!)

[nomadwarmachine]

If the service was done, the valves should be within spec, and it takes no time to check the valve clearances.  If they are severely out of spec, that's a good sign that the service was: (1) not done; or (2) done incorrectly.

[The Bearded Duc]

Why don't you take it to the dealer and have them test ride it. They should be able to tell you a lot about the bike and how it feels by riding it, if they charge you for that it shouldn't cost that much. A lot less than the 18k service itself, and piece of mind knowing you'll make it through the season is priceless.

[ScottRNelson]

If the cam belts have been on there for more than three years, or two years if it wasn't ridden, you're taking a big chance riding it.  They get hard spots when they sit where they bend tightly around a roller.  Then they tend to break at the hard spot in the belt.  The faster you run the engine, the bigger chance you're taking.  When the belts break, you're almost guaranteed to have valve to piston contact.

Get the belts changed just to be sure.

[koko64]

+1

If there is a mechanic you trust, have them check the bike to see if your belts valves and service siuation are ok. The fact that there are no records for the last service and the unusual story as to why, is suspicious.

It's ok to have trust issues when buying.

Maybe you could ask that dealer if the story stacks up, I would.

Two years ago I picked up a 1995 M900 from an importer who claimed the bike was fully serviced. It had very old belts when I checked them. You could see the hardening on the area around the pulleys they were that old!

My gut feeling said I would have to replace them.

[Nomad]

+1

If there is a mechanic you trust, have them check the bike to see if your belts valves and service siuation are ok. The fact that there are no records for the last service and the unusual story as to why, is suspicious.

It's ok to have trust issues when buying.

Maybe you could ask that dealer if the story stacks up, I would.

Two years ago I picked up a 1995 M900 from an importer who claimed the bike was fully serviced. It had very old belts when I checked them. You could see the hardening on the area around the pulleys they were that old!

My gut feeling said I would have to replace them.

Yeah, I asked teh dealer and they have never heard of the guy.  Unfortunately the reason I can't take it to a mechanic is that I recently moved to Germany, don't speak the language, and live in the middle of nowhere.  I don't know where a motorcycle store is, let alone a ducati one.

However, it sounds like the belts are the biggest issue from what people have said here.  I talked to the mechanic at the dealership near where I bought the bike, he is a level 2 certified Ducati mechanic (no idea what that means, but sounds good) he said Duc's stay in tune better than most people think, but that he would recommend checking the belts, other than that as long as it starts and seems to run well it should be okay to ride the rest of the season.

[koko64]

Glad to hear you have found a mechanic to check them.

Hope you do well in Germany.

Cheers.