Colemans Ducati Tech

[karrotx]

 [moto]

 


Bike is back from Rafael (Colemans). Perfect! The problem? The throttle bodies weren't synced, the b screws were 3 1/2 turns out AND the main culprit - the chain. The chain had 3 links that were so stiff you could not bend them by hand. This caused the bike to jump teeth under hard acceleration or constant throttle. Man I'm so happy. Major +10 to Rafael and Colemans.

[Slide Panda]

Glad to hear you got it sorted finally.

Not sure what the root problem was with your poor experienced with the pond was - shame that you had such bade taste put in your mouth.

But, all that's over for now - time to ride!

[sbrguy]

first off you have to remember zoom and many other people here are ducpond "faithful" there is nothing you can say that will shake their faith in donnie and the ducpond and they will defend donnie and ducpond through thick and thin against all naysayers.  Its that simple, they may say "I'll be neutral with regard to ducpond if bad work is done" but that simply isn't true and we all know it.

with that in mind, zoom and a few others are "dupond regulars" as regulars they "may" get slightly better treatment at ducpond since they are "regulars" there, so you have to take into account that their experience may be slightly different than yours so that is where they may be coming from.  hey its the truth.

again this is all conjecture but remember being a "regular or local" at a shop does at times have certain advantages.  that's life and we all know it.

i have my bike worked on there, and they do a good job, never had a problem and i like them.

while i have never had a problem, i do not doubt that you may have had a problem, hey stuff happens.

though donnie is a "good guy" he is also a very very accomplished racer with an impressive racing resume and very very very accomplished mechanic with an equally impressive resume and training, which is why i wouldn't put it past a person that is very accomplished to "give an attitude to someone " if they feel their "competance is questioned".  Again stuff happens.

None of us except you and donnie know what transpired exacty, not me or zoom or anyone else can really say that you or donnie was wrong none of use was there and we are just using our best guess, and that is the truth of the situation.

good luck in what you choose to do next, and everyone else make your own decisions.

good luck all and ride safe.

[twolanefun]

You would be wrong on one point from a personal perpsective. I go to DucPond because they do good work and anytime that isn't the case I won't hesitate to look for other options. They are not perfect but they quickly correct any issues I've had and they have all be minor.

My experience with CPS goes back to 83', when they were Cycles Inc as I recall, and I have tested the waters with them any number of times over the years, Honda, BMW, Ducati all failed experiments. I think I understand their problem, with their location and overhead rate it is difficult to get a good tech for the salary they can afford - I could be wrong but it is the only thing that would explain why many of us have been waiting for a change for years.

You are right about one thing, I want a relationship with my dealer, I put effort into building that relationship and so far that has worked out for me. I try to frequent all the local shops, Victory and Ducati, and give them some of my business, I buy gear and other stuff from CPS and Battleys - been awhile for Battleys. I only buy stuff off the internet when it is something weird that the local dealers won't stock or the price difference is large enough to make a real difference, the people at CPS, Battleys, DucPond are part of our community, they pay state taxes, they have families all good reasons to support their business.

I'd like to see CPS succeed in the Service area, it is good for the brand, it helps the local economy, and maybe it will get more people out riding if they know they have some place close to get their bike serviced. - Gene

[skurvy]

been following this and thought I'd comment.

The main reason why I get my bike serviced at CPS is convenience and location. I bought my '06 Dark from them and have had all scheduled maintenance through them. No problems at all. Well except for the last one, they scratched up my painted belt covers but whatever, I can repaint them.

I've bought most of my gear from them--yeah a little pricey sometimes but I try to support the shops. (I used to work at Clinton Cycles a looooong time ago so i know what it's like). My service advisor is GREAT. Actually they're all ok with me, but my advisor is the man. He was able to get replacement fuel tank*s* for me since mine kept deforming.

Anyway, they've been good to me. Maybe I've just been lucky.

[zooom]

been following this and thought I'd comment.

The main reason why I get my bike serviced at CPS is convenience and location. I bought my '06 Dark from them and have had all scheduled maintenance through them. No problems at all. Well except for the last one, they scratched up my painted belt covers but whatever, I can repaint them.

I've bought most of my gear from them--yeah a little pricey sometimes but I try to support the shops. (I used to work at Clinton Cycles a looooong time ago so i know what it's like). My service advisor is GREAT. Actually they're all ok with me, but my advisor is the man. He was able to get replacement fuel tank*s* for me since mine kept deforming.

Anyway, they've been good to me. Maybe I've just been lucky.

I think that is the key with any service, it boils down to the advisor. Most times you don't really get to talk with or deal with the tech. It seems that is the major difference in this particular circumstance with Rafael, but I wouldn't count on that regularly. The more time, generally speaking, a tech takes to talk to and deal with a customer, the less time he gets to spend wrenching and when that occurs more and more the wrenching suffers. A service advisor is key in a scenario as the proper conveyance of detail both ways between the tech and the customer. The tech can turn the hours without rushing to make sure things get done to make up time, and the advisor can liason with the parts department and the consumer to make sure all needs are met for each task. When the advisor is the weak link, all parts of the chain suffer. Often times in this area, an advisor is either twiddling his thumbs looking to suppliment what he isn't making (like in the winter time), or he is swamped with everyone's flood of needs at once. That is a common problem in the area with such a hot/cold-riding/nonriding season of more enthusiast motorcyclists in this area. The lack of regularity makes for inconsistancy in the whole process, as it is a seasonal activity for enjoyment when people can do it, and not as a need for everyday like with their cars.

[Lucumon]

Does anyone know what happened to Raffaele? I had my bike in Coleman Powersports recently and a "Jeff Dunn" was the tech to work on my bike... any reason why the change?  Raf on vacation?  Left the place?  Thoughts on Jeff as a tech?

[TitanMonsterS4R]

Does anyone know what happened to Raffaele? I had my bike in Coleman Powersports recently and a "Jeff Dunn" was the tech to work on my bike... any reason why the change?  Raf on vacation?  Left the place?  Thoughts on Jeff as a tech?

Will be interested to know if he's still there or not.

[TitanMonsterS4R]

Does anyone know what happened to Raffaele? I had my bike in Coleman Powersports recently and a "Jeff Dunn" was the tech to work on my bike... any reason why the change?  Raf on vacation?  Left the place?  Thoughts on Jeff as a tech?

Gave Coleman a ring to see if he was there as I was considering using them for some winter stuff. Rafi is gone and has been replaced by Ducati tech Josh.....

[twolanefun]

This continues to be a problem in our area across multiple brands, I don't hear about it as much in other parts of the country. HD is an exception I think simply because there are more shops, I don't know for sure. - Gene

[obsidian gt]

Unfortunately Raffaele completely quit the industry.  Quite a loss for us as far as I'm concerned.  Now I don't know where to go!

[ducati culture]

I am missing Mr italy as well. 
The 748 went in with a cam shaft oil leak ( BADLY) and came back the same way.  Supposely they put the push rod in backwards hence breaking the seal.  WTH!!!  That was my first time taking it to coleman for service.    They did make it right and fixed the bike even  gave me a loaner. Yes I asked  So Aim a little iffy on colemans in falls church at he moment regarding the duc.  I will give them perhaps another shot with the enduro not to certain on the duc though. 

[The Mad King Pepe']

I am on a roll! 

[ducatiz]

Unfortunately Raffaele completely quit the industry.  Quite a loss for us as far as I'm concerned.  Now I don't know where to go!

nobody "quits the industry" unless he won the lottery.. wtf?

[obsidian gt]

nobody "quits the industry" unless he won the lottery.. wtf?

Yeah, I'm not quite sure...I thought it didn't add up either, but that's what the service manager told me.  I'm personally wondering if some other shop snagged him and they're not telling us because they don't want all his previous customers leaving.