Crazy thing someone told me today

[yotogi]

I honestly believe that most people who think that they have a bike with cheap maintenance cost just don't maintain their bikes.

If you put some real miles on your bike you end up spending about what per year?
- 2 sets of tires
- 1 valve adjustment (2 for us)
- 4 oil changes
- 2 "tune up" services
- 1/2 a chain and set of sprockets
- belt replacement (for us)

Not a lot of this increases the cost for us, but I just can't see many of the sportbike crowd I know doing this much work to properly maintain their bike.

[NoisyDante]

I wasn't sure what planet this guy had just arrived from. 

I was in the grocery store yesterday, carrying my helmet, and a guy asked what brand I rode.  I said a Ducati.  His reply was, "oh, not very fast then," and he sort of disappointedly put his head down and just walked away.   

What could he have possibly been expecting to hear?  A jet powered monkey navigated rocket?

[arai_speed]

I get nothing but compliments on my bike - never have I gotten weird comments like the ones posted here.

What I find really funny is what compels people to talk shit about someone's purchase.  It's not like I go around to other riders, ask them what they ride, then say "ohh sorry to hear that" WTF!

[Popeye the Sailor]

I honestly believe that most people who think that they have a bike with cheap maintenance cost just don't maintain their bikes.

If you put some real miles on your bike you end up spending about what per year?
- 2 sets of tires
- 1 valve adjustment (2 for us)
- 4 oil changes
- 2 "tune up" services
- 1/2 a chain and set of sprockets
- belt replacement (for us)

Not a lot of this increases the cost for us, but I just can't see many of the sportbike crowd I know doing this much work to properly maintain their bike.

No-real miles would be
- 8 rears and four fronts
- 4 valve adjustments
- 8 oil changes
Etc.

Which is why it's sold 

[ducducgooseme]

I notice you didnt put any $$ in there for cleaning of the bike either.   

[lethe]

I notice you didnt put any $$ in there for cleaning of the bike either.   

rain is free

[Popeye the Sailor]

I notice you didnt put any $$ in there for cleaning of the bike either.   

That thing of cleaner you sent me?












I huffed it 

[Speedbag]

If Ducati ever went to timing chains and valve springs I'd be the first one there waving cash for a new 4V bike.

Neither would diminish the sound or performance, maintenance intervals would improve, and the same basic layout would still be there for ease of maintenance when it does come around.

Valve spring metallurgy has evolved to the point that there is little benefit to the Desmo valvetrain over a proper sprung equivalent. Other than it being really cool to us enginerds. 

[DCXCV]

^^

but Springmodromic has no soul 

[Privateer]

If Ducati ever went to timing chains and valve springs I'd be the first one there waving cash for a new 4V bike.

I'd consider giving up a nut for a belt final drive, even tho I know some people around here would burn me at the stake for that thought.


I usually get the "oh, those are expensive!"  I then have to educate them a little bit, generally to no avail.  Everyone thinks I'm loaded because I ride a duc, when really all I did was scrape and save just to buy my low end monster.

[sbrguy]

No-real miles would be
- 8 rears and four fronts
- 4 valve adjustments
- 8 oil changes
Etc.

Which is why it's sold 

that is not "real miles", that is insane miles, what is that like 25-30k miles a year?  damn most people don't put that on their cars in 2 much less 3 years.

LOL

oh man getting rid of the desmodromic valves.. i'm not sure i think some of the sound of the bike would be lost if they went to springs, that mechanical sorta strange desmo valve sound is somewhat unique to ducati. 

but i agree if they got rid of the belt drive and went to the gear driven that would be good.. oh wait they do, but only on 80k dollar editions.

[Tedonlin150]

Desmodromic valve operation is what makes a Ducati a Ducati. I don't think the valve adjustments are that bad anyways. I get a lot of comments on how fast my bike must be when I tell them its a Ducati. It's a little depressing when I have to say, "Um, like a little over a hundred."

[somegirl]

that is not "real miles", that is insane miles, what is that like 25-30k miles a year?  damn most people don't put that on their cars in 2 much less 3 years.

It's not uncommon in California.

[ShiftSix]

I was told when the guy at a honda/suzuki dealer found out I had a monster that my bike is "nonsense" and the wheel base is too short and they handle like crap.  I should step up into a real bike their honda cbr600rr.

[muskrat]

I was told when the guy at a honda/suzuki dealer found out I had a monster that my bike is "nonsense" and the wheel base is too short and they handle like crap.  I should step up into a real bike their honda cbr600rr.

I never buy from someone who has to put down another product.  He didn't take an interest in your needs to match them accordingly.  I'd go in there as often as I could and shoot the shit with him as if though I was buying a bike and have him miss out on commissions to prove a point and then walk out.  Just saying...