Ducati as reliable as Suzuki! VFR comments and more on Ashonbikes .

[atadaskew]

Interesting reading, check out the comments where Kevin Ash is interacting with 'civilians'

He mentions to hold on to your 'old' VFRs and especially Blackbirds..


http://www.ashonbikes.com/content/honda-vfr1200f#comment-1319

Ducati reliability these days is on a par with Suzuki's, according to warranty return figures, with just Yamaha, Honda and Kawasaki in front, while ironically seeing as you're looking at the GT, BMW's is well below average - I had some problems with mine, and I wasn't alone. BMW's durability and finish has been very poor in recent years too, though they're finally improving their corrosion resistance. BMW dealers are very good, although Ducati's aren't so bad now either.

I wouldn't buy a Benelli, they're far too unreliable and nowhere near as sophisticated as Ducatis.

[Will_Munny]

After all the factual errors in the pseudo-journalist hack "review" I didn't bother to read the prattling comments.  

[scottzilla]

Who is Kevin Ash?

[chornbe]

After all the factual errors in the pseudo-journalist hack "review" I didn't bother to read the prattling comments.  

BUT HE'S ENGLAND'S MOST RESPECTED BIKE REVIEWER!!!  

[atadaskew]

What factual errors?

[chornbe]

Yeah, I don't know about errors in his facts. I agree with his assessment of the luggage.

I maintain this is a bike (vfr) remains a bike with an identity crisis.

[tomek]

Ducati more reliable then BMW ?    

I think the end is near.



 

[David Morrow]

The last time I looked into buying a Duc, I found things like recurring rotor warping was a common issue. And the dealers wouldn't replace them after the first occurrence. These were first owners of low mileage bikes.

I suppose one way to lie with statistics is to refuse to fix your product.

I quit looking for a Duc quite early in the process.

[scottzilla]

The long term tester F800GS Motorcyclist bike left them stranded twice.  All within 6000 miles.  It was fixed under warranty so it's no big deal.
Not bad for a $10,000 EX500.

[David Morrow]

What factual errors?

You didn't find the buzz in your sensitive parts as interesting or in different way ?  

[Liquidsilver]

I don't remember Suzuki in the article.  
 
I thought the article was fairly comprehensive and practical, compared to most motojournalism.   I guess there are a lot of writing experts with higher criticism than I can offer.  
 
I like the looks of the bike.   The fuel range is a deal-breaker.  I already have a bike that requires too many fuel stops.
 

 
That bike would need ROCKET power, too, to make me interested.
 
 
I also have personal stories of Ducati reliablility.   Love the bike, love the 'character,' not willing to live with the drama anymore, though.
 
  
 

[McHack]

First is the size: compared with modern superbikes it’s a big machine, and for most people, all the better for that. But it’s a fair stretch to the bars, something of a surprise, then when you move the bike you notice it’s nowhere near as light as a sports bike.

Ok,  I sat on these things more than once this past Saturday.    1)  a fair reach to the bars?  This is the most upright sporting position I've seen.   I literally sat on a ZX14 right after, & the position of the VFR is MUCH more tolerable.    2)   Weight,  noticable only when rocking front to back...  side to side,  you wont notice it,  unless your really looking for nits to pick.

[shah269]

I also have personal stories of Ducati reliablility.   Love the bike, love the 'character,' not willing to live with the drama anymore, though.

Wow...that 848 is looking less sexy every day!  

[atadaskew]

I don't remember Suzuki in the article.  
 
 

Ash talks about it in the comments string.  That's actually where the interesting stuff is, the review of the bike is pretty much what others have already mentioned.
I wanted to only post a link to the comments which basically states the state of the sport touring market, but they are attached to the review.
Posted on: February 03, 2010, 10:25:24 am

Wow...that 848 is looking less sexy every day!  

Dood, it's your time now.  Stop fretting, hike up your skirt and man up.

[desertxxrider]

 The MCN readers poll      http://www.swinton.co.uk/motor/motorcycle/SpecialistBikeNews/Article.aspx?a=19595419

[canyonchaser]

I gotta put a plug in for you Ducati haters. I have three 2-valve duc's in the garage, two Multistrada's that see a lot of miles every year, and I can say, straight faced, that they have been every bit as reliable as any other bike I've owned. And if we want to talk about empirical personal experience, they've actually been some of the most reliable bikes I've owned, significantly more reliable than my wifes Superhawk.

Adding all the problems I've had on my high-mileage Ducati's they've suffered nothing more severe than one blown fuse, one leaky fork seal and one bad battery.  Three of my friends have the same bike, and they've suffered with a speedo-that keeps defaulting back to KM's and a loose exhaust plug that made the bike run poorly.

Now, if we were to talk about maintenance, then its a different subject. I adjust the valves every winter, the dry clutches need to be re-tightened every few years and belts need to be replaced as often.

But, unreliable, they are not.

dp

[David Morrow]

I gotta put a plug in for you Ducati haters.

< major snippage >

But, unreliable, they are not.
dp

Good to hear. Maybe I'll open my mind again to a Duc. The comments are appreciated.

[Liquidsilver]

But, unreliable, they are not.

 
Respectfully, I hope I'm not classified as a Ducati hater, because I don't hate them...
 
I just said I had personal stories of Ducati reliability.   Out of the dozen or so bikes I've owned, the only two that had me calling my wife to bring the trailer were, not HD, Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha, Triumph... but Ducati and Ducati.   I loved the bikes, but with leaving me stranded by the road - I have a two strikes and you're out policy.   I tend to ride the piss out of bikes, yes... but still - YMMV of course.
 
 
 
 

[Rogue]

But, unreliable, they are not.

dp

I'm wondering....is the Cool-Aid red or black with Ducatis?  

[DogBoy]

Its important to remember that the Ducati of the 1990's was a much different company than Ducati is today. They're manufacturing, assembly and quality control has become much more sophisticated new Ducatis are more reliable as a result. Each new model is a leap foward from the one it replaces in terms of fit, finish and qc.