Never owned a Duc, but thinking about a Multistrada...

[Mr Sunshine]

 It's actually very accurate, and pretty simple for an audio guy like myself. 110hz for a Desmoquattro IIRC.

Um you are making a HUGE assumption if you set it up that way.  The assumption is that the belt is made in exactly the same way with the exact same materials.

Better to use a tension setting instead.

[M.Brane]

 

 

[Playinthestreet]

 

+ a whole bunch

[M.Brane]

Um you are making a HUGE assumption if you set it up that way.  The assumption is that the belt is made in exactly the same way with the exact same materials.

Better to use a tension setting instead.

 You've obviously never attempted to adjust a Ducati timing belt to exactly 110hz.

[Mr. Whippy]

 You've obviously never attempted to adjust a Ducati timing belt to exactly 110hz.

Correct. Starting with the previous gen Multi's, Monsters  etc, Ducati states that harmonic tensioning is the preferred method.

[mugwump58]

OK I'll bite. What would I need to have on hand to perform this operation?

signed
Non-audiophile

[Mikiel]

It's easy enough to do.  M.Brane and I use a program called CBMTool which you can download here free: http://www.kchall.plus.com/  Put that on your laptop, plug in a microphone (he has a nifty testing mic and a stand, but you could do this with any inexpensive tie-clip mic), and then pluck the belt like a guitar string.  This is much more accurate than the 5-mil allen wrench method or any spring tension tool I've tried, and it's the way Ducati recommends doing it now.  That said we did fabricate a custom wrench for the tensioner pulley on my 748.  That's not strictly necessary, but it makes it much easier to get the tension right and then tighten the locking nut without moving the tensioner pulley.

[Desmo Demon]

 Change your own belts, and save big $$$$. It's not that hard for anyone who has reasonable mechanical skill, and the required audio equipment. Valve adjustments are not as bad as most think, but then again you need to be reasonably skilled in tedious mechanical procedures, and be able to keep track of what you're doing. No interruptions can be tolerated. The parts/tools can be bought for less than the cost of having someone do it for you once so if you do it twice you've paid for it, and learned a valuable skill.

I've been doing all my own maintenance on my Ducs (and Duc-powered Bimota) for about ten years, now. After the purchase of a shim kit ($250-$300), a good set of allen wrenches ($30-$40), and a decent feeler guage set ($20-$25), a belt change and valve adjustment costs about $60 for a 2V bike and $140 for a 4V bike (a little cheaper for the older SBK engines) as this is just the cost of the belts. I also have been using the 5mm allen wrench or belt twist test for setting tension on my bikes without any issues. Over the years, I think I've done over 25 valve adjustments between my bikes and a few bikes of friends.

[maddjack]

Deforming plastic gas tanks (not covered under warranty)???

Are the Multis having this issue? I've just read about some Ducati models having issues and owners not happy with the factory response...

this is what I am waiting to hear about, truth or BS. Some places I hear about it ,. Whats the skinny owners??

[falcofred]

Actually there is a class action lawsuit that now forces Ducati to replace the defective fuel tanks.
Google it

[maddjack]

Ok , but have they done anything to the original design to fix the problem or is it you have to  sue when it screws up?Also if the original design was never improved how many replacements do you get before its your problem?

[M.Brane]

 The design is not the problem it's the ethanol that the government insists should be in our gasoline. This is not a problem anywhere else in the world.

[maddjack]

 The design is not the problem it's the ethanol that the government insists should be in our gasoline. This is not a problem anywhere else in the world.

Well gee if they are selling it here, don't you think they should allow for the ethanol??

[falconati]

I always seek out gas stations that sell premo without the ethanol.

[M.Brane]

Well gee if they are selling it here, don't you think they should allow for the ethanol??

 No, I don't. I DO think that our government, and the corn lobby should stop forcing us to burn food in our fuel tanks. Plastic fuel tanks are not the only thing that ethanol fuels destroy.

I always seek out gas stations that sell premo without the ethanol.

 I would too if that were an option here.

[jeepinbanditrider]

Rented a Multi while I was at a military required school in Cali.  Put 700 miles on it in two half days (was getting out of class around 10 or 11 everyday) and it was  joy to ride.  Very fun bike, wheelie machine for sure with all that torque.  Easy to thread though traffic (lane split).  

Honestly the sound alone with the Arrow pipes made me think of getting one   but then I looked at the maint. schedule and decided I rode too many miles to justify it.

[maddjack]

 No, I don't. I DO think that our government, and the corn lobby should stop forcing us to burn food in our fuel tanks. Plastic fuel tanks are not the only thing that ethanol fuels destroy.



 I would too if that were an option here.

So Ducati should sell ,machines which they know will have fuel tank problems??? You aren't even making sense.The gas is being sold regardless . politics , take that shit to PO.

[tomek]

 It's actually very accurate, and pretty simple for an audio guy like myself. 110hz for a Desmoquattro IIRC.

  This has to be some kind of joke ,,,,,,,,,,,, 5 bucks says that if you run that motor to the "redline"  ( yea , I know ) once or twice , perhaps bounce off rev limiter couple of times and that whole adjustment goes out of the window .

Now , E10 . It took Columbus 5-6 weeks to sail from Spain to America , Ethanol gasoline has been on the market for what ?   30 some years  ? Not enough time for that piece of info to travel all that way to Bologna ?

[OSJ]

Ive owned 3 Ducati's in the past 8 years, including a 1100 multi.  I'm not a mechanic, I don't have the correct tools, enough space, or the time and knowledge to do the required maintenance.  And to be honest that's not the enjoyment I get out of motorcycling...I would rather ride.

However I knew this going in, that's why I waited until bike # 19 before I purchased my first Duck...and when I knew I could afford the service.  The average motorcyclist needs to know this too.  Either be a great mechanic with lots of money invested in tools and know how to use them or put some money aside for service.

My first Ducati was a 800ss with very little problems, I traded it for the 1100 multi.  I missed my 800 so much I traded the Multi back for the SS 4 years later.  My problem with that Multi was tank swelling and dash that was not water proof (ECU is in the dash) Because I like to ride (which means also riding in the rain) I had several problems...the ducati faithful say the solution is to not ride in the rain.

The tank issue is the real reason I went back to a metal tank Ducati.  Tank swelling is NOT just a multi problem...1198, Monster, Sport Classics all have major issues.  My feeling is if Ducati wants to proffit off these machines here in the states than they dam well better sell a machine that can preform without the gas tanks swelling so bad you cant remove them from the frame...in less than 2 years!!!  There are some older style multi's that have 2 or 3 tanks on them.  What happens to that owner in 5 years when Ducati no longer has those tanks in stock??

Sorry you cant blame the fuel suppliers, government or anyone else for this.  There are plenty of other motorcycle manufactures that have figured out this problem, Ducati can't?  And they keep making bikes with plastic tanks??  

[Mikiel]

This has to be some kind of joke ,,,,,,,,,,,, 5 bucks says that if you run that motor to the "redline"  ( yea , I know ) once or twice , perhaps bounce off rev limiter couple of times and that whole adjustment goes out of the window .

I'll take that bet.  That photo was taken while adjusting the belts on my track bike, which has been bounced off the rev limiter more times than I can count.  Although I check the tension as part of my regular maintenance after each track day, I rarely need to adjust it.  This is the method Ducati recommends for setting belt tension.