Ducati = bs?

[HotIce]

I'll offer my anecdotal evidence here.  I've owned my Ducati since new for almost 3 years now and I've put 14,000 miles on it during that time.  I owned my previous bike, a Suzuki, for 3.5 years and almost 17,000 miles.  I had zero problems with the Suzuki... and I mean ZERO!  Nothing other than routine maintenance (which was far less frequent and far less expensive).  The Ducati I own now I've had the rear wheel replaced as part of a recall, I had the stator replaced under warranty, I had the starter replaced under warranty, I had a cold stalling issue due to exhaust valves being too tight, I had a broken shifter return spring which I replaced myself and I've had the fuel tank replaced under warranty because of the ethanol fuel problem.
I have to ask, do you actually ride your bikes?  And what are these popular brands you're comparing your Ducatis to?  Me, I kind of miss my Suzuki.

I do use my bikes as daily driver, and daily here in CA means 330+ days a year.
I have owned Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki.
For the latter, my last was a 2001 Suzuki Bandit 1200 naked. Which was a champ, after they had to pull the head cover for a leak gasket (under warranty).
I own also what you claim to own, a 2012 1100 EVO, which yes, had to have a trip to the dealer for the rear wheel.
I hardly went b*tching around for neither the Bandit leak repair, nor for the Monster recall.

[minnesotamonster]

I'll play.

2001 monster 600. Bought used with 5k miles in 2007.

First summer I owned it the safety relay went out. ~$2 part at autozone.

Have put about 20k miles on since. Not one other issue.


2004 s4r. Bought in 2009 with 19k miles.

Have put on about 12k miles since. Where do I start...

Cush drives failed and ate away my eccentric hub at about 26k miles.

Regulator fried itself at 27k miles.

Clutch slave failed about the same time.

Moisture got into my gauges and caused all sorts of havoc. Immobilizer issues, bike wouldn't start etc. easy fix, pull gauges apart, let dry, clean, put back together. Scared to now ride bike in the rain.


So there you go. Two completely different experiences with the same manufacturer similar vintage bikes.

If I need reliability I'll take the 600. If I want to have some fun I'll take my chances with s4r. I love them both for different reasons.

[1.21GW]

Put a Shorai in at 48,600.
OEM Regulator/Rectifier dead at 49,200.
Coincidence?

You still have the Shorai in the bike?  I just bought a Shorai this winter and now you're making me nervous.

[Speeddog]

You still have the Shorai in the bike?  I just bought a Shorai this winter and now you're making me nervous.

I've undertaken a rather lackadaisical refurbishment on the S4, so the Shorai is still on the shelf along with lots of other bits.

It ran 3k miles just fine with the Shorai and new RR, after the original RR died.
<shrug>
I've replaced the failed bit and all seems OK.

[Skybarney]

8k on a 2013 M1100 - Only issue was the rear brake adjustment screw backing out and dragging the brake until it smoked.  More of a dealer setup issue than a Ducati problem.

[Ducatamount]

^^^
Same thing happened to my brother's S2R. Ruined hub, rear brake, caliper, rotor, axle, bearings.
He didn't notice it, hammerin' up the Mtn. and it was red hot & smoking.
$2500 repair
So... yeah... I would call this problem B.S. and a big Ducati fail.

I haven't had any problems (knock on wood) with my '01 900Sie  

[Skybarney]

Not a Ducati fail at all.  The stop screw was loose and backed out resulting in a brake drag.  All it cost was a new rotor and pads, that Ducati paid for under warranty. 

It was a dealer prep problem as that screw should have been really tight.  It was also my fault for not checking it sooner as I usually keep a tight watch on all nuts on bolts on every bike I have ever owned.    Big Twins take even more watching than a I-4 as stuff just rattles loose.

Either way I got no guff at fixing it and the turnaround was only about a week waiting for parts.   

You want to hear about a real PITA ask me about my 03 Firebolt sometime......  Snapped five drive belts in 20k 3 required an "upgraded" pulley system.  Three stators due to hard to find shorts.  The easy to find short was when the stock headlight bulbs melted through the housings....   

 

[WarrenJ]

So how does the reliability of new Monsters compare with new Ducati SBK's?

[Privateer]

You still have the Shorai in the bike?  I just bought a Shorai this winter and now you're making me nervous.

I've had a shorai since ~June 2011 and even after running it flat twice due to stator/rectifier problems it still starts up every day without a fuss.

[MendoDave]

I haven't been too nice to my 750 and it still works. I think the carbs need some work and the rear master failed, but that was an easy fix. I have about 20K on it and did the valves once. Its cool to look at. Most Jap bikes are just appliances. they work great but most of them aren't very exiting.

[d3vi@nt]

My experience was mild BS: '07 M695. Expanding tank replaced under warranty. Discolored and nasty looking heads due to lean running --apparently a known issue but nothing for it. Replaced slave and push rod o-rings due to 'leaking kickstand'. Dealer claimed there was a fault with the thermistor, so replaced that.

The other mild BS was due to what some call 'character': it ran way too lean and hot. Had to add a 14T sprocket and FatDuc just to make it more rideable. Still ran too hot for my comfort. No doubt an oil cooler, chip, and expensive exhaust would've solved those issues, but I just didn't want to invest the $$'s.  I sold the bike this week and miss it already.

My '99 ST2? It ran like crap below 4500 rpm, but fixed it all with a $45 DP chip. And the battery died once. 

[kokis]

mild BS
 

[kopfjäger]

i remember one guy who was having a go at everyone he found in the dealerhsip one day when a fuel pump relay (small siemens, occaissional known issue) on his ssie died.  wanted his money back and personal apologies from everyone for this grevious infliction of unreliabilty upon his poor self.  some people are just like that.

Ding ding ding.

[the_Journeyman]

The only failed part I've replaced on mine is the battery ground cable.  Cost me about $1.50 to repair.  Other than that, everything has been maintenance replacements. 

JM

[lawbreaker]

I stand corrected..

Fuel flange wiring took a steaming pile on me and left me stranded at work.

- which wasn't a big deal considering it was a great excuse to hit a few gastropubs and rack out at the office!-

Got it replaced for a hundred bucks and was back in business.

Considering i've had two actual "problems" with the bike in 57,000 miles since buying her new, I'll gladly take that without complaining. I love my bikes and everything about them, even their quirks.

Bottom line is : If you don't like what your riding, get rid of it and move on