Duc Owners - Just How Reliable Are They?

[Busa@11K]

The 1098 looks like a sweet machine, and fairly affordable.

Sadly, I don't fit well on typical "sport" bikes.  I wonder what the 1098 ergos are like.  

They talk about the new ergos on the 1098 here ... doesn't sound like it's too radical.  Even the photos showing the bike being ridden, you can see it's not super nuts as far as bad ergos.

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/18december06_2007ducati1098.htm

This bike looks sweet, and I’m sure the performance is top notch ... might have to look seriously at one.  It would be a blast to ride for sure ... being that light, that powerful and that nimble.  

[Hickey]

From the tidbits I've read about the 1098, I'm guessing the ergos will be similar to superbikes by other makers.  So less extreme than past Ducati superbikes, perhaps on par with recent Yamaha R1 ergos.

As to reliability, I had a Monster 1000 that came from the factory with two small faults that my dealer straightened out easily.  It had a weak battery and a fuel line inside the tank had a small crack that reduced the pressure of the fuel system.  The bike gave me no other trouble at all.  Overall it was as reliable and trouble free as any of the Japanese bikes I'd had previously.

To those interested in the 1098 or in making a 1098 your first Ducati, take some time to browse here:
http://www.1098-forum.com/forums/index.php

Read through these threads if you aren't already familiar with Ducati bikes:
http://www.1098-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=555
http://www.1098-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=517

[2DFlyer]

You're thinking of the harley problems, since the front cylinder blocks the rear. The L twin gets sufficient cooling from air flow to the rear because the front is almost horizontal and out of the way. You just need slightly bigger tolerances on the cam belt since it runs slightly hotter.

Regarding reliability in general: from my experiences with the multi, they still have some work to do. Too many incidences of bad valve guides and cylinder scoring on the engine, plus other things like brake shudder, bad instrument clusters, bad castings (on the 600 anyway). Warranty coverage helps a lot, but its still a PITA to have to depend so much on your dealer. I'd wait for 2nd year on the 1098.

Even with the front cylinder laying down out of the way it just looked like the airbox, throttle bodies, and runners would impede air flow.  They must have it figured out but I just can see it.

Interesting thing about the brake shudder.  My ST3 started making noise at about 2500 miles.  The only thing I could figure is I was being to nice to the brakes.  A couple of hard stops quieted them right down.

[st2sam]

Hickey, you the man.
Thanks for the link for the 1098, nice, I'm going to register...........

[Busy Little Whiner]

The 1098 looks like a sweet machine, and fairly affordable.

Sadly, I don't fit well on typical "sport" bikes.  I wonder what the 1098 ergos are like.  

The Busy Little Shop can bring you joy Skipper... I'm good at making your bike fit you instead of you fitting
your bike... I specialize in custom bar risers and rear sets not to mention temper foam seats... together
they add up to the best ergo possible... I guarantee it... all it takes is money...








 

[jed]

I had a reliability issue today.  Left the house taking it easy, then started to get over 5k on the tac.  The motor lost power and would not maintain RPM no matter how much I opened it up, then died.  Pulled over and the bike started back up.  Made it another half mile and it did the same thing.  Then it would start and die repeatedly.  So I started pushing the bike back home.  It sucked.


























Turned out I ran out of gas at 153 miles.  Got the ECU set to full rich the last time I was at the dealer and forgot to take that into consideration.  Doh.  The bike is reliable, the owner not so much.

[JonS]

Great thread.    



I have only test ridden three Ducati's, so I don't have a lot of experience with them.  I guess I didn't realize that the desmo is something you can actually perceive in power liveliness.  That's interesting.

In one of Hickey's links above, Phil 1098 said:  

Wow, that's crazy.    Is that common?  I think it would scare the crap out of me.  

That would be a dry clutch. Personally, I love that sound.

[wvrider]

I've had my 02 ST2 for 4 years now and have 35k miles on it (it was a very slow year this year). The thing has been truly dead reliable other than some fuel injection stuttering my dealer could never resolve but that the Ducati performance chip did (I think that was about $40) and last year my fuel tank sprung a subtle leak at the seam at the rear where my Sargent seat tended to rub it...JB Weld solved that. Every other expense has been tires every 12k or so, two chains and sprocket sets (I changed gearing right away and then recently put fresh on due to chain stretch), exhaust, seat, bar risers, lights, top box, comfort fairing, peg lowering kit...you get the idea....The valves have only had 4 shims replaced the entire time not because it required it per Ducati specs but to keep it at the lower tolerance where it runs better. This bike has been great so the 2 valves come highly recommended as far as I am concerned. I even still have the stock clutch slave on it...My BMW RT had more issues (still very reliable just that it had a speedo go out).
All that said my next bike will probably not be a Duc. Im not a brand loyalist as much as a taster. I've been there and done that and am now trying to figure out the next flavor...it will be hard to leave the Ducati motor noise though....glorious...

Phil

[jed]

I did have one warranty issue -- leaking left fork oil seal.  Showa part, so not Ducati per se.  Dealer was very cool about the repair.  It showed up around 10k miles.

[Busa@11K]

Thanks for all the inputs guys.  The newer Ducs sound pretty reliable.

Also, the new bike warranty on Ducs is 2 years unlimited mileage ... so if anything is gonna pop up as factory flaw or defective it should certainly in that time period.  

[colt45]

Does anybody know how they get cooling air to the rear cylinder?  The motors wouldn't be reliable if they couldn't cool the back half but I can't see where the air flow goes.

The cylinders are offset; one doesn't block air flow to the other.  Plus, the front cylinder is low, visually about 20 deg. from Horizontal.  Only Harley builds an abomination with inline cylinders.  

Oh, Mine could be a Honda.  Stone reliable.

[Desmo Demon]

I've had three Ducatis that I bought new, and I really haven't had any serious issues that would make me not want to buy another one...

1) 1999 SS750:
2950 miles - couldn't withstand a 50 mph hit into the side of a mountain at a 60-degree angle....totaled.

2) 24k miles on a 1998 ST2 (the '98 has a one-year changing system with regulator/sator issues):
6k miles - three valve measurements needed adjustment
10.5k miles - stator and regulator changed under warranty; headlight fogged
12k miles - clutch slave leaked (replaced with OEM); one valve measurement needed adjustment
14k miles - regulator fried again (relocated and bought an Electrex unit)
18k miles - clutch slave leaked (bought an Evoluzione unit); replaced clutch actuator rod; skipped the 18k service
24k miles - two valve measurements needed adjustment

3) 10k miles on a 2002 748:
6k miles - 13 out of 16 valve shims needed replacement, 4 opening rockers replaced

[sagerat]

Riding buddy has a 620 Multi that he got last year.  Zero problems with it.  

[tankerman10]

I've had my ST4s for about 18 months now and did 10,000 trouble-free miles in the first year.  The problem with many Ducatis, especially in the UK, is that they're not used during the winter and only do about 1500 miles a year.  Like any mechanical device, they don't appreciate not being used.  Use them regularly, maintain them properly, and they're fine.

Yes, maintenance is expensive, but it's worth it for the joy of owning and riding a thoroughbred  

[Bad Dad]

28,000 miles on a 95 900SS. The usual's, clutch slave cyl. replaced with a Cycle Cat unit. valve shims done with a video and a couple of Duc. tools, new belts, like I said..the usual A couple of electrical gremlins, one of wich caused a race toward the setting sun as all lighting had went out! Like I used to tell my cousin on trips..What's the worst that could happen...It blows up an I through it in a rental car and head home

[ducsbill]

I have about 15Kmiles on my 2005 ST3.  It has been pretty much trouble free.  I've had the regular maintenance done by the dealer.  The costs haven't been out of line from what I expected.  Had what was eventually diagnosed as a bad oil pump replaced under warranty last spring.  The dealer tech (a good one) and the Ducati NA rep were both puzzled by the problem.  Apparently the DNA rep was in the shop the day the dealer tech had everything apart.
Bill W.

[cbsnbiker]

I think that, as a group, Duc owners are pretty flaky.  

[ducsbill]

I think that, as a group, Duc owners are pretty flaky.  

I think you're right!!!

[Dean Rose`]

The Busy Little Shop can bring you joy Skipper... I'm good at making your bike fit you instead of you fitting
your bike... I specialize in custom bar risers and rear sets not to mention temper foam seats... together
they add up to the best ergo possible... I guarantee it... all it takes is money...

Do you have a shop address or a web address I'm thinking about a Sport bike for myself.

[racerboy]

I've got about 6K miles on my '06 S4Rs and have ahd no problems except the battery.  Turns out that due to the immobilizer system, yuo really have to keep the battery on a tender (if you're not riding the bike).  We had a 72 degree day here in early january and I went to take the S4Rs out for a scoot and I got nothing.  Not even a click.    Other than that, the S4Rs and my wife's 695 have had no problems.  I had an '02 998 that was also trouble free, but I rarely rode that bike (only had 2K miles on it when I sold it).