perhaps moving away from Ducks

[J5]

not on my hardley    My last cruiser had 78k on the clock.

good to hear

i wonder about ducati making longer intervals for valve service as a ,marketing point , its well known that the motors dont perform well at the wide end of clearance tolerance

Will there be issues with rocker chrome but will generally be out of warranty so they dont care about that ??

[DoubleEagle]

good to hear

i wonder about ducati making longer intervals for valve service as a ,marketing point , its well known that the motors dont perform well at the wide end of clearance tolerance

Will there be issues with rocker chrome but will generally be out of warranty so they dont care about that ??

J5,

 You make a good point . 

Dolph   

[fastwin]

I'm still wrapped up around the axle about the 2 year life span of the belts. Hell, I have a Sears riding mower at my farm that I bought in April 1995 that still has the original drive belt for the two mower blades!! It has seen rough use for almost 16 years!! Every time I fire it up and push the level to engage the blades I expect it to break... but it doesn't. Maybe we should get that company to make Ducati's cam drive belts. Does Goodyear make Harley's drive belts? I'm thinking I heard that somewhere. Some person/company would be doing Ducati owners everywhere a HUGE favor if they made some belts with some longevity built into them. Anybody listening? Hello...

[ducatiz]

I'm still wrapped up around the axle about the 2 year life span of the belts. Hell, I have a Sears riding mower at my farm that I bought in April 1995 that still has the original drive belt for the two mower blades!! It has seen rough use for almost 16 years!! Every time I fire it up and push the level to engage the blades I expect it to break... but it doesn't. Maybe we should get that company to make Ducati's cam drive belts. Does Goodyear make Harley's drive belts? I'm thinking I heard that somewhere. Some person/company would be doing Ducati owners everywhere a HUGE favor if they made some belts with some longevity built into them. Anybody listening? Hello...

I think the 2 year recommendation is more a pound of caution rather than reality.  I have an alazzurra with belts that are at least 10 years old -- look fine.  I have a set to replace them when I get a chance, but I doubt they are going anywhere soon.

[ducpainter]

I'm still wrapped up around the axle about the 2 year life span of the belts. Hell, I have a Sears riding mower at my farm that I bought in April 1995 that still has the original drive belt for the two mower blades!! It has seen rough use for almost 16 years!! Every time I fire it up and push the level to engage the blades I expect it to break... but it doesn't. Maybe we should get that company to make Ducati's cam drive belts. Does Goodyear make Harley's drive belts? I'm thinking I heard that somewhere. Some person/company would be doing Ducati owners everywhere a HUGE favor if they made some belts with some longevity built into them. Anybody listening? Hello...

Not exactly a fair comparison.

That said I run my belts longer than recommended...usually until they resemble plastic more than rubber.

[zooom]

you guys are funny...if you made a bike that never required maintenance...then the dealer would be out of business because of the way you generally try and haggle them down on a purchase price, so they would never make any money...and lets face it...we here in this discussion are in the minority as far as being aware of things maintenance wise.....most people ride em till they go "BANG" and then wonder WTF happened and why and sign over an absurd amount of money to fix it...

[ducatiz]

you guys are funny...if you made a bike that never required maintenance...then the dealer would be out of business because of the way you generally try and haggle them down on a purchase price, so they would never make any money...and lets face it...we here in this discussion are in the minority as far as being aware of things maintenance wise.....most people ride em till they go "BANG" and then wonder WTF happened and why and sign over an absurd amount of money to fix it...

If someone could make a no-maintenance bike, then they could sell it direct over the internet.  Minor stuff like oil could be done by anyone.  Major stuff would mean the bike gets picked up and shipped to a repair depot and then returned to your home.

It sounds like a great model.  Have a traveling truck go around the country with demo bikes. 

Of course, it all depends on the right maintenance-free capability and the right price point.

[fastwin]

you guys are funny...if you made a bike that never required maintenance...then the dealer would be out of business because of the way you generally try and haggle them down on a purchase price, so they would never make any money...and lets face it...we here in this discussion are in the minority as far as being aware of things maintenance wise.....most people ride em till they go "BANG" and then wonder WTF happened and why and sign over an absurd amount of money to fix it...

I'm not so much grumbling about maintenance in general. Repairs, preventative maintenance, etc. are a given. It's the 2 year deal on belts that pins me. And I, like ducatiz, have gone over. My 2005 999 still has the originals. It's not the miles it's the age. But the thought of bouncing the valves off the pistons is naturally worrisome. My wife would have a cow right now if I took both the 999 and Monster in for work that they need... finance wise. I guess my real issue is I'm not riding them because of all that right now and I want to. [moto] It's just a personal problem. I miss riding them.

[ducatiz]

I'm not so much grumbling about maintenance in general. Repairs, preventative maintenance, etc. are a given. It's the 2 year deal on belts that pins me. And I, like ducatiz, have gone over. My 2005 999 still has the originals. It's not the miles it's the age. But the thought of bouncing the valves off the pistons is naturally worrisome. My wife would have a cow right now if I took both the 999 and Monster in for work that they need... finance wise. I guess my real issue is I'm not riding them because of all that right now and I want to. [moto] It's just a personal problem. I miss riding them.

Change the belts yourself.  It's pretty easy.  Chris has videos on youtube on how to do it.

[fastwin]

That thought has crossed my mind. I'd probably screw it up and end up with valve-piston interface!

[Triple J]

Guzzi's are cool bikes IMO. Not the lightest or fastest...but super cool and very fun to ride.   They sound amazing as well.  

I had a Griso 1100 that I sold to get my 990 SMT (wanted more of an all-arounder). I missed the Guzzi though, so I just picked up a used 2008 1200 Sport (technically, it's my wife's  ). $5.5K OTD with 6 months still remaing on the warranty. Can't beat that. It's a fun, and good looking bike.

The Guzzi ownership experience depends on the quality of your dealer (as with most bikes). Luckily we have a very good one in Seattle.   Maintenance is definitely cheaper, and easier to do yourself (at least some of it).

[Speedbag]

I'm not so much grumbling about maintenance in general. Repairs, preventative maintenance, etc. are a given. It's the 2 year deal on belts that pins me. And I, like ducatiz, have gone over. My 2005 999 still has the originals. It's not the miles it's the age. But the thought of bouncing the valves off the pistons is naturally worrisome. My wife would have a cow right now if I took both the 999 and Monster in for work that they need... finance wise. I guess my real issue is I'm not riding them because of all that right now and I want to. [moto] It's just a personal problem. I miss riding them.

+1

Even though I do my own maintenance, the seemingly constant fiddling (and attendant cost of the parts) is the primary reason I no longer have a Duc. That and the fact that I really want a 4V.....

If they can really get the service intervals to 15K across the board I find them more appealing again.....

[muskrat]

I have one for you guys 
My good'ole Roadstar had 78k on the drive belt and one of my friends with the same bike with over 150K which needed replacing at that time.  Now that's what I call longevity and peace of mind.  Just saying.....

[J5]

If someone could make a no-maintenance bike, then they could sell it direct over the internet.  Minor stuff like oil could be done by anyone.  Major stuff would mean the bike gets picked up and shipped to a repair depot and then returned to your home.

It sounds like a great model.  Have a traveling truck go around the country with demo bikes. 

Of course, it all depends on the right maintenance-free capability and the right price point.

i thought they made the cucciolo buy it at the shop fit it yourself and away you go

they still make royal enfields that anyone can fix with a shifter and a screwdriver

[fastwin]

I have one for you guys 
My good'ole Roadstar had 78k on the drive belt and one of my friends with the same bike with over 150K which needed replacing at that time.  Now that's what I call longevity and peace of mind.  Just saying.....

That's what the make the beast with two backs I'm talking about!! Come on Ducati. Surely you can find a belt manufacturer that can do better than a two year lifespan!! Again, I refer to my Sears riding mower at the farm! Going on 16 years on the same mower deck drive belt???!!! They can do better on the service intervals and the damn belts. They just don't want to.