Warranty and maintenance questions

[Duki09]

Anyone know for sure if the Ducati EXACT recommended schedule of maintenance is required for their factory warranty?
Instead of first 600 mile break in along with oil and filter change, what if you waited until 900 miles?

Instead of full service with valve and belt check at 7,500 miles, what if you waited until 8,500 miles?

What if you didn't ride often and don't end up putting 7,500 miles on your bike until after 16 months?   2 years?

Are you still required to get your Ducati serviced even though you haven't been riding it and not putting any wear and tear on it?  Oil change, I can see, but  getting your bike torn apart to get the valves and belt checked  when you may have just 5000 miles on it after over a year would seem too much.

[Howie]

There are no exact over recommended mileage intervals.  No need to worry about a few hundred over on the services.  A thousand miles?  That may be pushing it.  Many items, like timing belts , are mileage or time, whichever comes first. 

[Duki09]

Many items, like timing belts , are mileage or time, whichever comes first. 

Why would time be a concern for parts like a belt, valves, etc?  Do they wear out if the bike is not used that often for a few extra months beyond the maintenance schedule?
Oil velocity may go down even if the bike isn't used over time,  but parts like belts don't wear out.

[Langanobob]

Anyone know for sure if the Ducati EXACT recommended schedule of maintenance is required for their factory warranty?

I think this is  up to your  dealer.  A good one will try and take care of you if you slipped on your schedule.  A not so good one will not.  Also, not being a lawyer, but I think that a warranty problem would have to be directly related to missing the maintenance schedule.  For an imaginary example if the paint peels off your bike, this has nothing to do with whether your timing belts were changed on schedule so they should honor the warranty.  If a timing belt breaks and your valves get bent and you are behind on your belt change schedule, I think even a good dealer will be justified in not warrantying it.  But if you're only a little bit over, then I don't know - it seems like a good dealer may work with you on it.

About the time limitation on timing belts even if your bike is parked,  this is a point of contention for some of us.  The conventional wisdom is that they will take a set if stored for an extended period and will then break easily.  I personally don't buy it and have never heard of a case of this actually happening.  But the two year time limitation is written into the service schedule.

Also, about "getting your bike torn apart to get the valves and belts checked..." I think you are exaggerating here  as it really isn't that much of a job.  However, based on what some of the dealers charge for it, you would think they really are tearing your bike apart.

[ArguZ]

Well, we have 1000 km and 12.000 km intervals here in Europe.
I put 8500 on it last summer and I went down to Italy and back...
It felt like a lot, but it was far from 12.000 anyway.
But I kinda like the idea of giving it back to the dealer for winter storage, taking out all fluids, battery and doing a full service.
I got her back last month and it feels good, kinda like getting new bike.
There was some oil dust leaking from one valve cover and of course they fixed it under warranty.
I will do the same next winter, just to get the most from my warranty time..

[ducpainter]

Why would time be a concern for parts like a belt, valves, etc?  Do they wear out if the bike is not used that often for a few extra months beyond the maintenance schedule?
Oil velocity may go down even if the bike isn't used over time,  but parts like belts don't wear out.

The newer Kevlar belts actually get brittle, more like plastic than rubber, as they age.

When Ducati extended the service intervals from 6K miles to 7500 they increased the mileage interval on belts, but not the two year time interval.

[junior varsity]

The "tear-down" really isn't as complicated as you might think either. Its not that big of a deal to take off belt covers, or valve covers to check clearances, etc.

[herm]

my dealer was cool with going slightly over service intervals, after doing the first two on time.

i always seem to be doing mine early in order to avoid down time during riding season.

[MostroS2R]

I did the 1000km check and now have 8800km. Bike will be 2 years old in August.
I didn't do the 1 year service, totally forgot about it last summer but will be doing the 2 year service which include the belts.
My bad, hope I didn't harm anything.

[the_Journeyman]

My dealer hasn't serviced my Monster in nearly 20,000 miles. 



























Get a good manual & learn to do your own.  It's rewarding, fun, an excuse to have a few beers, and saves a ton of cash.

JM