Serious Safety Issue on a 2009 Monster 696

[Coffeebaron]

Curmudgeon i'll check that and let you know, it's an 11 reg, and it was the ducati owned demo for my area prior to my purchase.

incidentally how is the milleage on yours? if your past mine i'd be inclined to say you'll be fine

[Curmudgeon]

Curmudgeon i'll check that and let you know, it's an 11 reg, and it was the ducati owned demo for my area prior to my purchase.

incidentally how is the milleage on yours? if your past mine i'd be inclined to say you'll be fine

The production date was on one of the frame stickers. Perhaps yours were already removed. I saved mine on wax paper.

Only 2,500 miles as I have another bike as well and neither is primary transportation. Weather permitting, I'll catch you up before the summer is over. Only had it since August. Very curious about the cause of your issue, so I trust they'll come up with something "intelligent".

[cyberswine]

My 796 was an 02/11 build, coming on 7K klicks now.  Took the cover off the sprocket and did a complete inspection and clean, everything is good but the tolerance is minimal between the chain and the swingarm by design.  FWIW I can see where a slighty loose chain, or a stiff link, could start to gouge the cast aluminum.  Really don't know about the sprocket shifting on the shaft though.........

[Coffeebaron]

Well guys a little news, @ Curmudgeon- mine was also an 06/11 manufacture date, but based on what i'm due to type, don't feel overly concerned.

Just had a call from the mechanic at the dealers, the ducati technician came and looked at it, and felt that the damage was a result of an over-tightened chain....now i've had this bike for 5000 of it's 6k miles, and it has had the chain adjusted once...by the mechanic at the dealers at around 4k miles. The mechanic was trying to ask was it not difficult to push the bike around, not once has the monster been stiff or resistant to being walked, and I know what it's like to move a bike with a tight chain as I've owned plenty in the last 12 years of riding. The mechanic is going to report this back to Ducati and see where it goes from there.

  I honestly feel pretty let down by this, as I feel Ducati are trying to walk away from this being taken care of under warranty, and I was sold the bike with confident bolster that Ducati are very good with honouring warranty claims as they treat things on a case by case basis. I hope the mechanic comes back with some good news, as I would hate to have to start seeking any consumer/legal advice.

Incidentally the same dealer didn't have any facilities for tyre changes, and as such suggested I go to another place (recommended by the dealer) when I had to get my original tyre changed due to a puncture. I do wonder if there was some fault caused by the, with the chain.....but then again, it never felt tight, and I lubed and checked it every 2-3 days 

[junior varsity]

My 796 was an 02/11 build, coming on 7K klicks now.  Took the cover off the sprocket and did a complete inspection and clean, everything is good but the tolerance is minimal between the chain and the swingarm by design.  FWIW I can see where a slighty loose chain, or a stiff link, could start to gouge the cast aluminum.  Really don't know about the sprocket shifting on the shaft though.........

Historically a loose chain is better than a tight chain.  Not "sloppy loose" (though many people do run them this way).

[Curmudgeon]

Thanks for the update. You didn't actually tell us what damage the factory rep found. Did they not tell you what repairs were required?

After this noise, I did check my drive train the other evening. Everything is fine and my adjustment is 60mm - 62mm by-the-book. In fact, with this amount of slack I can push the chain up into light contact with the plastic guard/guide under the swing arm. At my first service I had a small amount of snatch adjusted out at 900 miles. It was a tiny amount of adjustment according to my dealer/mechanic/ex-racer/owner. Will keep an eye on it though and I'm VERY sensitive to the slightest change on my bikes.

Really surprised that Ducati would give a franchise to a dealer which can't even change boots on a bike! I doubt DNA would permit that as rubber is part of routine service.

Not familiar with your consumer laws there. Here you would have no issue since at no time did YOU make any adjustment to the drive train. The shop which changed your rear tire muddies the water a bit, but if they were acting as your dealer's "agent", I'd still presume you are off the hook.

Where is the next nearest dealer? I'd find a real specialist Ducati dealer if I were you!

[Coffeebaron]

Ahh, the consumer laws here are tricky, i've never had an easy time of warranty claims-for example, our couch when purchased had a broken spine, this was discovered on the day of dilivery and notified the next day-5 year gauruntee, and that took several calls including to the consumer watchdog for them to agree to replace it...

as for the what the rep found, i've not been fully explained past as stated the rep had seen this before on bikes running the chain too tight, the mechanic mentioned the retaining plate being worn. As the dealer is going to mention more about the issue of not having done any fettling myself to the bike, he left it at that for today.

I agree with what you say about the tyres, however I try to angle it I have only followed the advice of an authourised Ducati dealer here in th UK. I wish we had the consumer protection laws as you guys do in the states, corporations and dishonest merchants can get away with murder here!

Fortunatley I've been loaned a bike for the time being by the dealer- It's not a Duc, but the XT660X they've leant me has been surprisingly fun.

I'll post more once I find out where I'll have to proceed.

[Curmudgeon]

You have all kinds of rights with vehicles in the UK, just can't recall the terminology. It's NOT like a sofa warranty. 

While remaining very friendly with your dealer principal and making nothing but positive noises about your fondness for the bike, but emphasising your disappointment with this defect, whisper in his ear that you may next persue the UK equivalent of our "lemon law". You haven't had the bike long after all. THAT should get him cranking to have Ducati pay up and fix the bike properly and quickly. The cost to him would be large if he fails, so he'd have every incentive to get Ducati hopping. I've been on the dealer end of this a few times.

Keep us posted!

BTW, I've a Morgan acquaintance in the Cotswolds who has for years bought and sold Ducatis. I know you're in the NW somewhere but he might know a really good dealer closer to your patch if you have no luck with the above. Worth a try possibly...

[Coffeebaron]

Hey guys, been a couple of days, but I've got some news...good news I would say

The dealer called me yesterday, and informed me that they had repaired my bike as a temp measure so I can use it, whilst they get the warranty replacement parts sorted with Ducati UK, as a swing arm will take a little while to order So today I go pick my moster up andawait the parts to arrive for the repairs. I was a little sceptical taking it repaired, but I believe it's genuine, just making sure I don't sign anything!

Curmudgeon, thanks for the offer of assistance, it's a good feeling to know how helpful the community is, even on the other side of the world

Incidentally, I sought a second opinion from another mechanic, who agreed with my thoughts that an over tightened chain would not produce the damage seen in the pics from my 796 and it was just the dealer stalling.

I'll look forward to hearing if the dealer had any more news to tell me today.

[Curmudgeon]

 

Sounds like good news there! I'd still be very curious as to the real cause of this failure. So see whose arm(s) you can twist to get to the bottom of this.

Best Wishes!

[Coffeebaron]

OK, not replied as to what the real verdict was on the damage done, but that will be as I've been unable to find that out yet lol. Turns out it may take some time for Ducati to get back with the replacement parts and verdict.

However this is now turning into somewhat inconsequential to me. I'm going to be swapping the 796 in for either an XT660X or XT660Z start of this next week, as after a weeks loan of a 660x, I realised how much more suitable for my daily ride this bike was. Tried a Tenere the other day, enjoyed, different to the X, and not 100% sure which I preferred, but know I'd be happy on either.

On an interesting note with the swingarm, I was considering trading it in at a non Duc dealer, and they actually said that after getting a mech to check it out, they would take it in and sell it even with the swingarm damaged as it is, as it isn't a safety issue or MOT failure.

[Curmudgeon]

Interesting. Given that your bike is your only ride, I can see how that might be the case. A 796 by comparison is more like an A10 Warthog.  You must have long legs?

On Friday I visited my local Triumph mechanic to have a couple of things done and another retired engineer / bike mechanic I know dropped by with his new, black KLR 650 with a large but tidy aftermarket windscreen. Looked a lot better than that XT, but that's MY taste.  He'd just returned from a 2,000 mile tour in four days and his had been fitted with his NAV and some other touring toys and some Avon Roadriders. You might want to look at one of those too? (I'd need a ladder!  )

When I bought my 796, what I was really looking for was a small, light ST. Unfortunately Ducati tried ST's already and they just didn't move. I looked at an F800ST which boiled down to an overpriced ST with buzzy engine and numerous issues. The 796 just blew it away for much less $$$ and better handling and better ABS and better ergonomics. Small wonder BMW doesn't sell many ST's over here! The Monster would be a perfect platform for a mini-ST IMO, but only if the fairing solution were developed in Ducati's wind tunnel. (I'm always amazed at how well the headlight / bikini fairing works on the 796 at 80 MPH vs my naked T-100 "standard".)

If you ever discover what Ducati found with you bike, I'd still like to know!

[Coffeebaron]

Haha, surprisingly I'm not too long legged, but I've a broad frame all the way down, so i think that gives me more stretch on tall bikes.

Yeah the 796 is an awesome bike, I've had a blast on it and can't sing the praises of it's handling characteristics enough. I may be getting it traded in at the dealer I purchased it from for the XT, so I could still try and keep an ear open as to the final verdict.
If I do find out you'll be the first to know!

It's a funny role that of the ST motorcycle, I still feel my VFR750 was the best bike i've owned for that purpose, comfort, speed and longevity in abundance, and an unshakable MPG figure regardless of how you ride. I've said if I could find a timewarp zero miler of the last of the 750's, i'd be pushed not to snap someones arm off for it.

[Curmudgeon]

Any update from your dealer on the cause of your problem? I figured they might be more forthcoming since you no longer own the bike?

[wannabfast]

i sort of want to say the rear wheel alignment was fudged on this one, with the dual sided swing arm, its important to have the axel going straight