Ducati Maintenance Costs?

[R1100RSpurist]

So, after seeing and reading alot about the two smallest Ducatis, the Multistrada 620 and to a lesser extent the 695, I am wondering about the alleged excessive desmodromic maintenance costs? How much work could a relatively competent wrench do at home?

[leikam]

You can do a lot if not all of the work yourself especially on the simpler engines. Having friends with the ducati-specific tools doesn't hurt. Also keep in mind that the valves are only tricky if they need adjustment. Checking them is very similar to checking any other valve design.

[T__]

So, after seeing and reading alot about the two smallest Ducatis, the Multistrada 620 and to a lesser extent the 695, I am wondering about the alleged excessive desmodromic maintenance costs? How much work could a relatively competent wrench do at home?

 

Owen, if you are persistent & an above average motorcycle mechanic you can do it all at home.. It isn’t easy & a lot of information is hard to come by.. The 2 valve desmo’s are relatively easy with the 3 valver’s being more difficult & the 4 valver’s being a pain in the a$$.. The smaller 2 valve bikes are actually quite easy..

 

It can take a little different tool collection that most people have with a fairly varied array of special tools called out.. In most cases you can make or modify something to do the job.. I have made a lot of special stuff since owning a Duc..

 

In my book it isn’t the actual technical difficulty it’s the perceived technical difficulty (usually propagated by Ducati dealers) that scares people away.. It is also very time intensive for a lot of normal maintenance.. There is also the short mileage maintenance intervals so if you ride a lot of miles you are doing major maintenance every month or two.. The 07 up Ducs have a longer mileage time between maintenance intervals so that also helps..

 

Due to the small cam belt pulleys on an interference type engine the cam belt replacement comes up very quickly (I do mine every year) .. Valve adjustment on those desmo multi rocker valves about takes a degree in math to figure out the opening, closing, & total valve shim package (I made up an Excel spread sheet to simplify the process) .. Then each & every one of the valve shims are pricy if you buy them separately (not the same between models either).. Not to mention it is SO easy to drop those fine little keepers into the engine.. But as mentioned not too bad IF they don’t require changing.. Once settled in with miles they seem to change less & less..

 

Balancing the TBI’s can be tricky & Ducati supposedly requires a special tool (like the MoDiTec) to set the TPS (it can be done at home with some ingenuity)..

 

The newer Ducati 4 valver’s are getting to be a real pain to work on as just replacing the cam belts is MAJOR PITA.. Because of the VERY critical belt tension required you can’t just use the allen wrench cheating method or the push to casting method.. The newer 4 valvers require using a microphone & special computer software to actually set the belt tension by plucking frequency (that’s right you tune them like a guitar string (this process is an all day affair at home)..

 

The new XX98 with the high performance engine I think requires engine removal to adjust the valves (I think every 7500 miles) & I believe the dealer hours to do the valve adjustment is about 12 hours (probably at 85-90 dollars an hour..

 

If you are a fairly competent mechanic on the bikes you have now,, HAVE THE TIME to do the work, & HAVE THE TIME TO research & learn you won’t have any problems.. They sure are not a learners bike as far as working on them though & parts can be very expensive..

 

In my book a Ducati motorcycle is like beautiful woman.. Great to be with & around but the maintenance costs can be high..

 

Hope I didn’t scare you away from the Duc line.. But if you own a Duc you are either good with a wrench or good with a credit card..

 

Twisty

[Matts_12GS]

As one who likes to think about buying a Duc, what kind of specific tools would I need?

[jfremder]

Would the new 848 require engine removal for a valve adjustment?

[T__]

As one who likes to think about buying a Duc, what kind of specific tools would I need?

 

Hunter, that really depends on the Duc you are thinking of getting..

 

Right off, the triple tree upper nut takes a special pin wrench to turn (if you need I have one made up)..

 

Cylinder head nuts take a special extender with a hex in it (conventional socket or wobble socket won’t fit)..

 

Working on the clutch basket or flywheel will require some sort of crankshaft holder (either clutch basket holder or stator holder wrench).. Some people put in gear with brakes on but in estimation that really stresses the drive train components way beyond design intent)..

 

Ducati uses a lot of socket head cap screws so if you want to torque things you will need a set of metric allen’s with a 3/8” socket attached..

 

Even changing the fork oil requires pulling the forks out & making up special tools to get the darn things apart & hold the spring up (no biggie as the tools are not difficult but a pain none the less)..

 

Fuel injection system work requires special equipment but in most cases it can be worked around.. Some of the injection settings are based on Co. measurement in the exhaust taken at special probe ports (can be worked around)..

 

It seems like I am always having to bend a wrench or weld a tool up to get to something..

 

Cam belt adjustment takes special tools but again there are ways to cheat & get the adjustment close to specs.. (you want to drain your bank account just break a cam belt on a Ducati while it’s running) ..

 

Side cover pullers can be made or adapted from other puller you might have..

 

Water cooled Ducs can add some complexity due to pump & hoses, etc..

 

So far nothing I haven’t been able to work around it just takes more time & ingenuity..

 

Man BMW’s seem simple after working on a Duc..

 

Twisty

[BMW_Ken]

I have a 2002 748. I have done all my own maintenance including valve adjustments, rocker arm replacements, cam belt replacements, throttle body sych, and mixture adjustment. It was intimidating at first, but after you get into it, it is not that bad. There are some good resources available to aid you.

[JerryMather]

I've done most of my own maintenance on my 996 for years with the exception of the motor work, because I have a friend that has all the special tools and get this ......... works on Ducati's because it's relaxing to him.

I'm blessed to have such a deal and would never have racked up 50,000 miles on mine without him available to me.

[hopz]

With regard to the original question... I was selling my K1200RS and one potential buyer asked to meet me half way between his house and mine for a test ride. He said he was on a Ducati.

 

When I got there he was considerably late. He limped in running on one cylinder and making scary noises. He said not to worry as it happens, and he was going to take it to the dealer the following week. this had happened several times before. Something to do with the fuel injection system.

 

He rode my K12 and I took the Duc... what a miserable experience... but every few minutes the fuel thing dissapeared and the bike just bolted... Wow what quickness and power. I can see why people like them. I personally love them as objects of the art of motorcycles but living with one may be more energy consuming than the payout.

 

There is a good bit of anecdotal information on the web about the actual level of maintenance required. There is enough to scare me off especially if I was to have only one bike. But, if I had room and money, after all the other choices Ducati would be there. Realistically probably 4th or 5th down the list.

 

By the way, the potential buyer kept talking about how refined the K12RS was. He just could not get over the smoothness, power and especially the transmission. He turned out to not be the buyer I sold it too, but his comments made me reconsider selling. By the way- his feelings of refinement and smoothness were made about a 1997 K12RS, and this was in 2007.

[T__]

Bob, very well put..

 

 

I think you summed up a lot of Ducati owners (at least the older crowd).. Great bike to own IF it isn’t your only bike.. The maintenance issue isn’t too bad IF you don’t ride it a lot of miles a year as most of the intensive maintenance work can be combined into an off season do it all at once kind of thing..

 

I know in my case I keep the yearly mileage low enough to do the majors in the dead of winter so it is actually kind of relaxing & fun as there is no hurry to complete & something to do on a cold winter afternoons.. I usually winter store the Duc on my motorcycle lift table so all I have to do it hit the air valve & go to work..

 

Last winters project was to get a full 14volts to the headlights as Ducati seems to have a problem with circuit wire size & switch specifications (must not need to see very far at night in Italy) ..

 

Ducati’s dealer network sucks as there just isn’t many dealers around but you learn to deal with it..

 

Twisty

[too old to care]

I have had two Monsters (M900 and M750). The 900 had a dry clutch and the 750 had a wet clutch. Both bikes were two valve, air cooled. Great bikes and I found them easy to work on with most tools. I never had to do much other than adjust (actually check) valves and adjust the timing belt. The cost of ownership was actually less due to the lower insurance than my current bike, a F800S. Go figure.

[oiasghar]

I am on my 4th Ducati (M750, M900, ST3, Multistrada 1000DS). Maintenance cost are high. My 600 miles service on the 2 valve air-cooled Multi was about $650, 6K was $737. Quote for the 12K was $875 to $1000 (3 different dealers).

 

It is not rocket science. I did all the maintenance on my F650, Triumph Sprint ST and the R1150R, but have so far have not tackled the Duc. The Duc is parked for now while I enjoy the R1150R and save for the service. May be I will do it all myself in the end. I actually did enjoy taking the Monster 750 apart and putting it back together. I guess there is a first time for everything.

[Matts_12GS]

Thanks for the tips!

I have a lot of the tools mentioned, and have a bench grinder to make spanners like I did on my old Kaw. cruiser. I sure love the motor and the feel of the multistrada I rode last year and I have always liked the monster. I'm a pretty good mechanic, although I'm too lazy to go inside the cases. I'll do valves and the occaisional clutch replacement.

 

I even have a two Duc dealers nearby. Maybe it's not such a bad idea after all?

[flyboy]

I have a Multistrada 1000DS and do all of my own maintenance. Have had no problem so far, 8000 miles. I have bought a few special tools from Desmo Times. Very knowledgable person with a great book for maintenance. I also do my BMW maintenance on R1150RT. Both about the same. Valve adjustments take a little more time but are not that hard after you do them once.

Great bike and lots of fun to ride.

[hANNAbONE]

sCARED me away...

[jfremder]

sCARED me away...

 

After reading these replies, I now appreciate the simplicity of my R1150RT's whizzy brakes. I think it scared me away from a future 848 purchase too...That new low maintenance CBR1000RR is looking better by the minute

[Matts_12GS]

I wish I could buy a Honda, they make some great bikes. I've ridden lots of them wanting to like them and just can't find a way to do it.

 

They're almost too good a product, and to me they have refined away the visceral thing that attracts me to a bike. I think maybe that's why I'm intrigued by the Duc. It's not necessarily a better bike, but it represents somewhat of a challenge I guess in knowing that maintenance will be more involved, etc. The fact that I haven't bought one yet tells me common sense and laziness are still at least moderately in tact!

They sure are pretty though.

[T__]

I wish I could buy a Honda, they make some great bikes. I've ridden lots of them wanting to like them and just can't find a way to do it.

 

They're almost too good a product, and to me they have refined away the visceral thing that attracts me to a bike. I think maybe that's why I'm intrigued by the Duc. It's not necessarily a better bike, but it represents somewhat of a challenge I guess in knowing that maintenance will be more involved, etc. The fact that I haven't bought one yet tells me common sense and laziness are still at least moderately in tact!

They sure are pretty though.

 

 

Matt, by all means get a Duc when you can find the right one.. Every rider needs to own one at least once in their life.._

 

_They are fast (not the fastest compared to some but plenty fast) ,, handle pretty darn good (handle better than most riders can use),, look spectacular out in the sun light,, sound like no other bike with a good set of mufflers,, pretty well accepted in all the rider groups,, lots of fun to ride,, get decent fuel mileage,, great long winded power band,, don’t seem break many expensive things (unless you fall),, the ladies love them,, & it seems everywhere you go someone drools over it..

 

Sure they are maintenance pigs,, require a little more special attention than a lot of modern bikes,, don’t have a real stellar dealer network.. But with a little effort they are fun to be with..

 

In my book the way to live with a Ducati is not to have it as your primary bike.. Keep the miles it travels a year to a minimum, just ride it when you want to go out after work or a Saturday morning & have a blast.. Get it geared correctly & pull the front wheel up with the throttle as you exit a tight sweeper,,, or dive deeply into a corner as you flick it around to hit a perfect apex.. One thing that makes the Duc’s so good is about everything on the suspension is adjustable so you can set to your riding style & road conditions then ride it like you stole it!

 

Twisty

[hopz]

I understand and agree with everything Twisty1 said but...

have you looked at the prices!... Forget the bikes, the T-shirts and jackets are just out of this world unreasonable.

 

It must be the fashion statement factor.

[Matts_12GS]

Forget the bikes, the T-shirts and jackets are just out of this world unreasonable.

 

It must be the fashion statement factor.

 

Reminds me of a tshirt I saw a woman wearing at Biketoberfest as we were walking around the Ducati/Triumph dealership... "Kiss French, ride Italian" If the shirts are that expensive, I'd hate to think what she had invested in the "huge tracts of land" it covered!

 

I had a shot at a multistrada this year for a pretty darn good price and I didn't take it as it would be close to my primary bike. I think that while I like having a bike I could go coast to coast on, I am getting more and more OK with the idea of tossing a hypermotard or a KTM950SM or Super Duke in the truck and getting to the mountains that way to flog on it.

 

Has the Harley been in my garage too long?

[JerryMather]

One thing that makes the Duc’s so good is about everything on the suspension is adjustable so you can set to your riding style & road conditions then ride it like you stole it!

 

Twisty

 

+1 .... That's what I like to do with mine.

[pbbeck]

Check out these videos:

 

 

It will give you an idea of how complex a desmo valve adjustment is.

[JerryMather]

You can buy a DVD to help you with doing either the 2 or 4 valve heads.

DVD

[T__]

Check out these videos:

 

 

It will give you an idea of how complex a desmo valve adjustment is.

 

 

Paul, I gotta laugh on that valve adj video.. He has the cyl head off the bike & on the bench_ not fighting to do that work real tight & up behind the radiator on the water cooled engine or up under the frame on the rear cylinder.. The cam belt is removed so he can turn the cam at his will.. Doesn’t show micing the upper shim.. Makes it look simple doesn’t he? Give him a 4 valve water cooled with the engine in the frame & all 8 valves needing opening & closing shims & collars done..

 

Twisty

[Todd_Z1]

Ducati just fell off the list for me.

 

Cheers!