Ducati

[Tev62]

local dealer in charlotte had plenty of stock a few weeks ago when i was there. Having had 3 750 monsters in my garage and my favorite, an 09 sport classic biposto, I -never- had reliability issues, also didnt find it hard to service myself, including belts or valve adjustments.

Only issue the sc had was a defective regulator, but i got a new one the 1st week i had it, was a known issue. had it 9 years, rode the snot out of it. sold it and havent really missed it...

but i do have a hankering for another carbureted 750 monster. None of the new stuff I looked at really appealed to me.

thats been pretty much my experience as well.

charging systems are known to be weak and aftermarket fixes are readily available

I dont really like any of their new bikes, very capable machines no doubt but the visual appeal is not there like it was with the earlier bikes. After the 1098/1198 you can keep up, the newer liquid cooled SuperSport was a major disappointment for me

This may be an issue that is more specifically related to Ducati dealers in the US. I have not found there is any such problem here in Switzerland.

As for reliability, it is true that Ducati does have a long-standing reputation for being a problem. Honestly, I can't say that was my experience. I had a 2000 Ducatis ST2 which is probably the best bike I ever had. I rode it all year round, in sun, in rain, and even in the snow a couple of times. In winter, on salty roads, I would give it a wash a bit more often, but there was never any rust or oxidization. I had it for four years and rode absolutely everywhere, and every day. For me, it was the perfect touring bike, and commuter to go to work each day. Maybe I just got lucky.

On the other hand, the Honda Varadero that I had just before, and traded in for the Ducati, was one of the worst bikes I have had. After one winter it looked terrible with oxidized metal parts all over. The engine was replaced after three months, and I regularly had small nagging problems with it. For that one, I think I just got unlucky.

Last year I was looking at getting a Ducati Scrambler 1100, but in the end, preferred the Triumph Scrambler 1200. But I really did like the Ducati Scrambler, and the dealer was very good all through my tests and other discussions. Before that, I had also been looking very closely at the Ducati Super Sport, which again I found amazing.

I certainly would not hesitate to get another Ducati someday if the right bike for me comes out.

Here in the US the used market is full of Ducati's....people put them up for sale usually right before they are due for a full service

The new V4S has a large valve service interval of 60,000km now and an oil change interval or 15,000km or two years. That will help a lot. It was a contender as a replacement for my Tiger 1200 but I just can't get over its horrendous MPG, reportedly around 26-30MPG (US) without thrashing the thing.

[GoldOxide_imp]

local dealer in charlotte had plenty of stock a few weeks ago when i was there. Having had 3 750 monsters in my garage and my favorite, an 09 sport classic biposto, I -never- had reliability issues, also didnt find it hard to service myself, including belts or valve adjustments.

Only issue the sc had was a defective regulator, but i got a new one the 1st week i had it, was a known issue. had it 9 years, rode the snot out of it. sold it and havent really missed it...

but i do have a hankering for another carbureted 750 monster. None of the new stuff I looked at really appealed to me.

thats been pretty much my experience as well.

charging systems are known to be weak and aftermarket fixes are readily available

I dont really like any of their new bikes, very capable machines no doubt but the visual appeal is not there like it was with the earlier bikes. After the 1098/1198 you can keep up, the newer liquid cooled SuperSport was a major disappointment for me

This may be an issue that is more specifically related to Ducati dealers in the US. I have not found there is any such problem here in Switzerland.

As for reliability, it is true that Ducati does have a long-standing reputation for being a problem. Honestly, I can't say that was my experience. I had a 2000 Ducatis ST2 which is probably the best bike I ever had. I rode it all year round, in sun, in rain, and even in the snow a couple of times. In winter, on salty roads, I would give it a wash a bit more often, but there was never any rust or oxidization. I had it for four years and rode absolutely everywhere, and every day. For me, it was the perfect touring bike, and commuter to go to work each day. Maybe I just got lucky.

On the other hand, the Honda Varadero that I had just before, and traded in for the Ducati, was one of the worst bikes I have had. After one winter it looked terrible with oxidized metal parts all over. The engine was replaced after three months, and I regularly had small nagging problems with it. For that one, I think I just got unlucky.

Last year I was looking at getting a Ducati Scrambler 1100, but in the end, preferred the Triumph Scrambler 1200. But I really did like the Ducati Scrambler, and the dealer was very good all through my tests and other discussions. Before that, I had also been looking very closely at the Ducati Super Sport, which again I found amazing.

I certainly would not hesitate to get another Ducati someday if the right bike for me comes out.

Here in the US the used market is full of Ducati's....people put them up for sale usually right before they are due for a full service

The new V4S has a large valve service interval of 60,000km now and an oil change interval or 15,000km or two years. That will help a lot. It was a contender as a replacement for my Tiger 1200 but I just can't get over its horrendous MPG, reportedly around 26-30MPG (US) without thrashing the thing.

The new V4S has a large valve service interval of 60,000km now and an oil change interval or 15,000km or two years. That will help a lot. It was a contender as a replacement for my Tiger 1200 but I just can't get over its horrendous MPG, reportedly around 26-30MPG (US) without thrashing the thing.
Sweet ... and sour.

[1985CB450_imp]

local dealer in charlotte had plenty of stock a few weeks ago when i was there. Having had 3 750 monsters in my garage and my favorite, an 09 sport classic biposto, I -never- had reliability issues, also didnt find it hard to service myself, including belts or valve adjustments.

Only issue the sc had was a defective regulator, but i got a new one the 1st week i had it, was a known issue. had it 9 years, rode the snot out of it. sold it and havent really missed it...

but i do have a hankering for another carbureted 750 monster. None of the new stuff I looked at really appealed to me.

thats been pretty much my experience as well.

charging systems are known to be weak and aftermarket fixes are readily available

I dont really like any of their new bikes, very capable machines no doubt but the visual appeal is not there like it was with the earlier bikes. After the 1098/1198 you can keep up, the newer liquid cooled SuperSport was a major disappointment for me

This may be an issue that is more specifically related to Ducati dealers in the US. I have not found there is any such problem here in Switzerland.

As for reliability, it is true that Ducati does have a long-standing reputation for being a problem. Honestly, I can't say that was my experience. I had a 2000 Ducatis ST2 which is probably the best bike I ever had. I rode it all year round, in sun, in rain, and even in the snow a couple of times. In winter, on salty roads, I would give it a wash a bit more often, but there was never any rust or oxidization. I had it for four years and rode absolutely everywhere, and every day. For me, it was the perfect touring bike, and commuter to go to work each day. Maybe I just got lucky.

On the other hand, the Honda Varadero that I had just before, and traded in for the Ducati, was one of the worst bikes I have had. After one winter it looked terrible with oxidized metal parts all over. The engine was replaced after three months, and I regularly had small nagging problems with it. For that one, I think I just got unlucky.

Last year I was looking at getting a Ducati Scrambler 1100, but in the end, preferred the Triumph Scrambler 1200. But I really did like the Ducati Scrambler, and the dealer was very good all through my tests and other discussions. Before that, I had also been looking very closely at the Ducati Super Sport, which again I found amazing.

I certainly would not hesitate to get another Ducati someday if the right bike for me comes out.

Here in the US the used market is full of Ducati's....people put them up for sale usually right before they are due for a full service

The new V4S has a large valve service interval of 60,000km now and an oil change interval or 15,000km or two years. That will help a lot. It was a contender as a replacement for my Tiger 1200 but I just can't get over its horrendous MPG, reportedly around 26-30MPG (US) without thrashing the thing.

The new V4S has a large valve service interval of 60,000km now and an oil change interval or 15,000km or two years. That will help a lot. It was a contender as a replacement for my Tiger 1200 but I just can't get over its horrendous MPG, reportedly around 26-30MPG (US) without thrashing the thing.
When they came out with the panigale they really worked on getting the maintenance intervals lengthened.

The pre-pani rubber cam belt motors is where the service pain lies...the rubber cam belts time out regardless of mileage so beware the 10 yr old bike with 3000 miles...

I bought a Monster 1100 last year that had no service history. 2 valve air cooled desmo service was $800 but for me that was factored into the price of the bike along with the fresh rubber it needed. A full desmo service on the 4v liquid cooled superbikes is around $1500.

[1985CB450_imp]

Hers a shot of my '92 SuperSport



I bought her from the original owner about 20 years ago. She already had a set of Keihin FCR's and an aluminum flywheel, I did the full exhaust, Ohlins, and forged alum wheels. The wheels made for an amazing transformation as they dropped 11 lbs of unsprung weight off an already light motorcycle.

If you have the inclination and have not ridden one of the carbed SS bikes of this era (1991-98) you owe it to yourself to do so. They are not powerhouses by any means, its all in the balance and they are wonderfully balanced machines - light, narrow and lithe with the raw mechanical feel that's missing from most modern bikes.

one selling point when i sold the SC was i had just done the service a few mos. prior to putting it up, had the pics of me doing it in the ad to prove it w the measurements listed, etc, and the parts receipts (plus i had the old belts & idlers). It sold very quickly, and I'm sure that was a big reason.

Yes service records are a must on the rubber cam belt bikes.

I love the SC line, I was looking hard at the 1000S when it first came out. I did not like the spoke wheels and they are very heavy so a mandatory wheel swap was in order. In addition I could not get comfortable sitting on the bike. The muffler mount/pax peg bracket caused my heels to splay out awkwardly when riding so I quickly lost interest...

Looking back......I shoulda pulled the trigger regardless

[GoldOxide_imp]

that supersport was sweet. I def need another ducati in my life at some point.

mine had the aluminum spoked wheels, the steel ones were just... stupid IMHO. I'll be honest, id prefer spokes on the CB1100, just my preference, spoked rims and aluminum hoops.

The pic is my actual bike, friend of mine used it to take some pics for a photo contest.

Hmmm, nice m in sc.

[PowerDubs_imp]

M in sc- I know nothing about Ducati other than the older ones looked and sounded fantastic!

Never ridden one, in fact never seen one in real life. Other than I went to a guys house that had a yellow one that looked close to the old 916 style that he bought brand new and never rode just put it on display in his living room. No joke.

I guess if I had “f u money” I possibly would do the same thing because as we all know bikes are a pittance in comparison to other hobbies like cars or fancy houses or fancy artwork etc.

What year and model was the one you show? Because to my uneducated eyes it looks like something they had back around 2008, Paul smart?

The allure of those old duc bikes is part of the reason that I am seriously considering purchasing a new 2022 Aprilia Turano 660 factory version. All sorts of horror stories on oil leaks and coolant leaks and reliability with ECU failures, but they are lightweight, sound good, and supposed to be comfortable and very fun to ride.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[apex1_imp]

I have had my 2005 Multistrada S for about 15 years, and I still really like the bike. The full Ohlins suspension lives up to all the hype. I do all my own service and valve adjustments are a pain, as much because of how much must come off the bike to get to them as because of how time consuming it is to do the actual adjustments. As far as the belts go, they are only about $50 each and they are not at all difficult to replace. Even though my bike has "just" a 1,000 cc air cooled 2 valve motor, it would leave my CB1100EX for dead, and the motor is smoother as well.

[1985CB450_imp]

I was looking hard at the Paul Smarts back when they were new, they were around $13k IIRC...now they sell for about $30k

Its pretty interesting when you compare the 1000DS L-twin to the 1140cc I-4 in the CB1100 as they pretty much make identical power - 86 hp at 7800 rpm and 65 ft lbs of tq at 5000 rpm.

The big L-twin Ducati's are pretty tractable down low especially if left stock but light weight flywheel and clutch assemblies are very common mods and this kills the extreme low end but more than makes up for it once above 4000 rpm. The 1100 EVO I had was the final development of that 2v air cooled platform and Ducati claimed 100 hp at 7500 rpm and 76 ft lbs at 6000 rpm by shaving 2 lbs off the crank and 2 lbs off the flywheel of the standard 1100, upping CR to 11.3-1, and increasing cam lift/duration. It made for a pretty rowdy powerplant, 4000 rpm was the minimum for steady cruise, any lower and you were lugging the motor and it would let you know...

Anyway, my point was the powerplants between the Honda and Ducati are pretty evenly matched numbers wise but there is just no getting around the Honda's heft...