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.

[Liquidsilver]

Wow.   2005 model and 2007 model... with wellnuts securing the bodywork.  
 
I'm sorry, but I didn't get the 'fit and finish part' at all.   Nice character, fiery temperament, like an Italian mistress in my mind... but I'll end the threadjack here... cheers.

[canyonchaser]

Wow.   2005 model and 2007 model... with wellnuts securing the bodywork.  
 
I'm sorry, but I didn't get the 'fit and finish part' at all.   Nice character, fiery temperament, like an Italian mistress in my mind... but I'll end the threadjack here... cheers.

When the subject is "Ducati as Reliable as Suzuki" I don't think you can call this a threadjack...

Did you have the ST line?  Their bodywork was bloody awful - terrible design.   To base Ducati reliability on a single bad design is like saying all Toyota's are unreliable because they made the mistake of using an American vendor to supply their gas pedals. :P

dp

[LoVel]

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

and Slim Whitman sold more albums than Elvis.

[Liquidsilver]

Did you have the ST line?  Their bodywork was bloody awful - terrible design.   To base Ducati reliability on a single bad design is like saying all Toyota's are unreliable because they made the mistake of using an American vendor to supply their gas pedals. :P
 

 
I had an ST and a Monster.   Bodywork, fasteners, castings, ECUs, some of the machining looks like 1960's, and I could go on, but I'd like to stop bitching about Ducati... because I really love the raw character of the bikes.   I'm just raising a yelllow flag comparing the reliability of Ducati to that of a Jap factory like Suzuki.   I hear Ducatisti claim that Ducs are "just as reliable as Japs these days," and I have to chuckle to myself.   Is there any such thing as an impartial observer in the motorbike biz?  
 
A single bad design, in my opinion doesn't really make sense, because there are lots of single bad designs with all makes, in my opinion.
 
I have a close relationship with a Ducati dealer, where I see countless examples of... ahem... lots of character.   The service manager won't say it out loud, but the warranty service on Ducatis, compared to the other makes is nigh unto embarassing.
 
Will I buy another Ducati in the future, knowing that their spicy character comes with a cost of maintanence?   I'd bet on it.   Would it be the only bike in my garage?   I think not.
 
... and somehow, I haven't been able to blow up a motor in any other brand of bike... (and I had the service intervals strictly followed)_

[hugerider]

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

From what I understand, it is sometimes yellow. Rarely, but sometimes.

[canyonchaser]

 
I had an ST and a Monster.   Bodywork, fasteners, castings, ECUs, some of the machining looks like 1960's, and I could go on, but I'd like to stop bitching about Ducati... because I really love the raw character of the bikes.   I'm just raising a yelllow flag comparing the reliability of Ducati to that of a Jap factory like Suzuki.   I hear Ducatisti claim that Ducs are "just as reliable as Japs these days," and I have to chuckle to myself.   Is there any such thing as an impartial observer in the motorbike biz?  

I must concede we had a 99 Monster 900, that while it was reliable. It was an awful bike. Never handled right. Made bad power... I was thrilled to get rid of it.

And I think reliability is subjective.  Honda's are reliable, but they thrive on neglect. My buddy put 40k miles on a 900RR and after much pressure from me decided to finally adjust the valves for the first time.  Only one of the 16 valves was out of spec.  You could never get away with that on a Ducati.

dp

[Liquidsilver]

Yup... that's all I'm sayin...  
 
Raw, spicy and visceral is sometimes yearned for, when you're riding something that's too 'reliable,' too... IMO.  

[atadaskew]

My reliability experiences..

Best, no issues - Ducati St4s , Honda Valkyrie Interstate, Harley Dyna.
1 issue - Honda VFR (guess..), Honda Wing 1200 (same thing..), Kawi 1988 ZX10 (same thing!)
2 issues - Kawi KLR650, Ducati 800SS
3 or more issues - Honda Wing 1800, Suzuki TL1000s, Kawi GPZ 550

Too few miles on the Guzzi and Vespa to tell..

[canyonchaser]

My reliability experiences..

Best, no issues - Ducati St4s , Honda Valkyrie Interstate, Harley Dyna.
1 issue - Honda VFR (guess..), Honda Wing 1200 (same thing..), Kawi 1988 ZX10 (same thing!)
2 issues - Kawi KLR650, Ducati 800SS
3 or more issues - Honda Wing 1800, Suzuki TL1000s, Kawi GPZ 550

Too few miles on the Guzzi and Vespa to tell..

I had a TLS too. That thing was a rolling problem.  So there we have it.  A Ducati can be more reliable than a Suzuki

dp

[JonS]

When I bought my MTS, I was extremely concerned with the high tech electronics. Mostly because I had read that Ducatis weren't that reliable. It turned out that the only problems I had were the combination of tall gearing and the fuel injection set too lean. So I went down one tooth on the front sprocket and a mechanic spent a half hour adjusting the FI.  
Of course, none of the Japanese bikes had any issues when I first owned them, or much later on. The one  exception was a Yamaha dirt bike with the carb set very off. That one I could actually fix myself. Low tech is good.

[SpitfireTriple]

Will_Munny on Kevin Ash's review of the Honda VFR1200:

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

I'll translate that.

"I, Will_Munny, have just spent a pile of money buying a VFR1200 and can't stand to hear anyone criticise it.  No matter how experienced, knowledgeable or reasonable the critic, I don't want to hear him.

[DogBoy]

"I, Will_Munny, have just spent a pile of money buying a VFR1200 and can't stand to hear anyone criticise it.  No matter how experienced, knowledgeable or reasonable the critic, I don't want to hear him.

 


This reminds me of the our old ST.N's favorite bike polls.

[sammyseaman]

Will_Munny on Kevin Ash's review of the Honda VFR1200:

I'll translate that.

"I, Will_Munny, have just spent a pile of money buying a VFR1200 and can't stand to hear anyone criticise it.  No matter how experienced, knowledgeable or reasonable the critic, I don't want to hear him.

  The defense of the Honda faithful...... it never gets old  

[atadaskew]

I still want to know what the factual errors are.

[sammyseaman]

I still want to know what the factual errors are.