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

[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.