MTS1200 - How do you like it now?

[[email protected]]

I agree. I always use the rear brake in conjunction with the front every time I slow or stop. Was taught that way in M/C class as the proper way and I'm not one to change habits if they're working.

Yes, should always use some rear brake in conjunction with the fronts for maximum braking power.  

[Sport-Touring]

[Mr Sunshine]

Yes, should always use some rear brake in conjunction with the fronts for maximum braking power.  

Um if you can use your rear brake on this bike you aren't using the front enough.

[[email protected]]

Um if you can use your rear brake on this bike you aren't using the front enough.

They put rear brakes on a bike for a reason.    I can stop shorter and under better control by also using the rear brake with the fronts.  You just have to know how to combine them for each situation at hand to get the maximum braking performance out of the bike.

I wouldn't want a rear brake that is shit ... someday it will be needed and could result in a bad situation if not working properly.

[Mr Sunshine]

They put rear brakes on a bike for a reason.    I can stop shorter and under better control by also using the rear brake with the fronts.  You just have to know how to combine them for each situation at hand to get the maximum braking performance out of the bike.

I wouldn't want a rear brake that is shit ... someday it will be needed and could result in a bad situation if not working properly.

Backup.  That's all why it is there...backup.  

[Rincewind]

Anyone get the 15k service w/valve check or adjust done already, or have some hearsay about it?  Cost and/or labor hours involved?  Any other maintenance/service cost comments?

This month's Cycle World has like half-a-dozen MTS1200 one-page ads in near succession.  I guess it worked cause it made me think about it.  

[Mr Sunshine]

Anyone get the 15k service w/valve check or adjust done already, or have some hearsay about it?  Cost and/or labor hours involved?  Any other maintenance/service cost comments?

This month's Cycle World has like half-a-dozen MTS1200 one-page ads in near succession.  I guess it worked cause it made me think about it.  

Its going to be the same as the 1198's 15k service.  Belts and valves are the big hitters.  I figure it'll be $1200ish when I get there.

[falconati]

Whaaaaaaaaaaat.

Belts/valves on my ST3 was around $700...

[Mr Sunshine]

Whaaaaaaaaaaat.

Belts/valves on my ST3 was around $700...

Was that for your full 15k mile service?

[falconati]

That was for a 6k service plus belts.  Valve adjustments on my model were set to 6k intervals.

[Blondebaerde]

Mr. Busa, that is a timely mention of the rear brake going-bad thing.  Happened to me, too.  Didn't know it affected others, until this thread.

I forgot to mention this as a potentially-serious problem, since I hadn't really used the rear brake until navigating some treacherous downhill at Hoover Dam a couple months ago:  I went looking for rear brake, there wasn't any.  The world didn't end, but I was surprised and dismayed.  I don't want to get into the "which brakes to use," (front/rear combo and modulation) discussion, other than to agree that "when I need rear brake, it (cough) should function!"

Thought I'd let the dealer iron it out at the 7,500 mile service, probably in the spring.  I have no idea where this came from, and all appears externally well on the system.  Bummer, though.

Based on other's comments, and my prior experience, they probably went away on the trip I mentioned up-thread (2,500 miles in three days, American SW States, fall 2010), since I ran the bike for hours on end in 100+ degree temps.  Strange the rear brake never came back, though.  Back in the day (Y2K), the clutch went bad on my Aprilia Mille for potentially similar reasons (boiled fluid), on very long rides or even long track days.  Solution for the Aprilia was an aftermarket slave cylinder.  For the Duck, well, we'll see since it's under warranty.  And, assuming that is the problem.

(Or I could just bleed the system myself, call it good, and move on.  I'm more into solving issues than curing symptoms, however).

Sounds like fodder for a service recall to me  

[UFO]

Not too happy today....as posted on ducati.ms.

----------------------------

Went out to take a quick Christmas day spin since it's not raining and the roads are relatively dry.

Started fine. Warmed up fine. Turn on the heated grips, snick it in to first gear and head up our long driveway. Pull in the clutch at the top of the driveway....bike dies and never comes back.

Push it back down the driveway. Bike won't wake up, red ring just flashes at me in a mocking and taunting manner. Pop off the cover at the front of the tank and try to get the bike to wake up that way. Nothing. Let it sit for awhile, try again. Nothing.

Checked/tested all the fuses (left panel and under seat). Nothing.

Bike just continues to flash at me but will not wake up. Not real happy right now. I'm not having a lot of confidence in taking this bike on any long adventures based on fueling, basically no rear brake, stalling, and bike just deciding to hibernate and never come back.

Keep in mind this bike is well maintained, lives in a garage under sheets when it's not on the road, and is usually connected to a Battery Tender.

Any ideas?

[tomek]

 I don`t want to sound obnoxious but ,,,,,,,,, have you tried to test battery or  connectors  ?

 Bikes like yours with sophisticated electronics/electrics don`t tolerate much of the  voltage drop in the system before ECU just cancels the party . Motorcycle when idling is not really charging the battery.

You could have just discharged the battery. (by idling and then switching on the heated grips)

Anyhow,that is where I would start.

[Mr Sunshine]

With the red ring just flashing are you sure you weren't playing an Xbox360?

Dude that sucks. Wonder what it is.

[Diablo Rojo]

Have you tried touching the 2 battery cables together.  I have heard this resets the Comp and the bike will wake up once done.

[UFO]

Have you tried touching the 2 battery cables together.  I have heard this resets the Comp and the bike will wake up once done.

No go.

And the battery should be fine.  It's always on a tender and the bike fired right up...but I'll officially check the voltage just to be sure.  You'd think the bike should show some sign of life (but may not turn over) even with a low voltage.

Check that.  Bike has been back on the tender again for about 6 hours and the bike woke up again when I toggle it up.  There must be some software check that won't wake up the computer unless the battery voltage is above a certain level.  Maybe the battery is shitting out on me even tho it's always on a tender.  I think the reason it cut out on me at the top of the driveway was just the cold conditions and the crappy fueling   .  But cut out, battery voltage was low, so computer said "No way, I'm staying asleep."

If true then Ducati should add some code that displays some error in the info display area when you try to fire up the computer with a low voltage.

[tomek]

Have you tried touching the 2 battery cables together.  I have heard this resets the Comp and the bike will wake up once done.

 May God have a Mercy on you   , modern bikes ( and cars also ) have rather fragile electronics, you can easily burn some components  ,,,,,,,,,,,


I would check out the battery,specifically how it reacts ( voltage ) to the load without engine running.

Second would be checking the voltage in the system vs rpm.  

[GTS_Rider]

Bummer, about missing your opportunity for a Christmas day ride...  

No real clue about why the computer would not wake up, but if I had to guess, it was not lack of battery power. Just for reference, I've had mine since late May and it has never seen a battery tender. It usually gets ridden at least once a week, but have gone more than a couple two week stretches with no battery tender and still got it started. A couple times, just barely, and there was a text message in the window telling me the battery was low, but still got it started. Heck, even when the battery is at full charge, it still 'sounds like' there's barely enough juice in it to kick over those big 1200-twin pistons...

Just say'in, if there was enough juice to start the thing, there was certainly enough juice to run the computer after a stall. Though, 'sudden battery failure' is not un-heard of... Best of luck to you for running that one down. At least the problem presented itself in the Winter riding months...








 

[vulcanbill]

Not too happy today...

Any ideas?

Yep.  Auction!!!

No help w/ your bike situation but your post made me remember that driveway from the VFR vids.  Then I remembered the rest of your property and the house at the end of that driveway.  

Then I remembered that I hate you.  

Good luck with your bike, though.  

[atadaskew]

Though, 'sudden battery failure' is not un-heard of...

Ducs' computers need a minimum voltage level for them to run the motor.  If your battery is not putting out enough, your bike is not going anywhere.   That final start could have been the nail in its coffin..
You may have a bum battery, no matter that you kept it on the tender.  I'd replace the battery.  Then claim the old one under the warranty when you see it now runs.

[UFO]

Well, bike is being hauled to the shop on Thursday.
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Death #2 happened today.

As I said previously the bike seems to wake from it's slumber about 7 hours after the first death. So today I tried again.

Battery voltage before I left (using multimeter) = 13.20 V (bike not running, no tender attached)

Fire up the bike, gear up, leave the house. About 1/8 of a mile down the road the bike just shuts down. No signs of life other than the Red Ring of Mocking.

Push the bike home (first time I've ever had to do this BTW ) and check the battery voltage, 13.18 V.

Battery appears to be fine, and it still doesn't explain why the bike just commits suicide right underneath me.  It's gotta be a sensor, or ECU problem, or some other electrical gremlin.  Thank god for 2 year warranties.