Ducati reliability?

[Oli]

Yes i understand this has probably been answered somewhere but cant seem to find it ne where. You always hear about the reliability of all the jap bikes and usually the lack of reliability for anything else in comparison. Is it really as big a deal as everyone makes out??? A lot of it comes down to maintenance and such, as i wouldnt be able to afford a brand new bike it would between approx 1998-2004 looking at the prices of most bikes in general. So bascially what are the running cost like in comparison to jap bikes of a similar year and maintenance record.
Cheers.

[crazyhorse]

Probably not - although when they breakdown, they breakdown. And you often need to wait a while to get parts - and when you get them, they are costly. Hardest thing too, is finding someone who is familiar with working on them. But good luck, if you intend to buy one. Its like everything, you either like them, or you don't

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

So bascially what are the running cost like in comparison to jap bikes of a similar year and maintenance record.
Cheers.

Most Ducati's it is recommended that you change the belts every 20,000km. Other than that I have found it pretty much the same as my last bike which was a VTR...

[p.dath]

The other downer is Italian bikes figure highly in ACC trauma statistics. So it's either the kind of people that ride Italian bikes - or something to do with the bikes.

[The Stranger:Me]

P
And you often need to wait a while to get parts.

All brands seem to be the same in this regard.
Even with a bike a ubiquitous as the Hayabusa you wait and wait and wait for parts.
It's called just-in-time supply. Just in time for fooken christmans that is.

[miSTa]

Yes i understand this has probably been answered somewhere but cant seem to find it ne where. You always hear about the reliability of all the jap bikes and usually the lack of reliability for anything else in comparison. Is it really as big a deal as everyone makes out??? A lot of it comes down to maintenance and such, as i wouldnt be able to afford a brand new bike it would between approx 1998-2004 looking at the prices of most bikes in general. So bascially what are the running cost like in comparison to jap bikes of a similar year and maintenance record.
Cheers.

No problems with finding someone to work on here in Chch, Duane of Duanes Bikes and Skis is the man. Very good with his prices, not excessively more than for a Japper. Belts are the biggest cost but no big drama.

Apart from a wheel bearing crapping out on me at Danseys Pass last year my Ducati has been as reliable as any other bike I've owned. Now done 35,000km in the last two years.

Probably not - although when they breakdown, they breakdown. And you often need to wait a while to get parts - and when you get them, they are costly. Hardest thing too, is finding someone who is familiar with working on them. But good luck, if you intend to buy one. Its like everything, you either like them, or you don't

No problem with getting parts and I've find the prices of everyday items (apart from belts) to be comparable to Japanese equivalents.

The other downer is Italian bikes figure highly in ACC trauma statistics. So it's either the kind of people that ride Italian bikes - or something to do with the bikes.

Or its BS statistics...

[NZsarge]

All brands seem to be the same in this regard.
Even with a bike a ubiquitous as the Hayabusa you wait and wait and wait for parts.
It's called just-in-time supply. Just in time for fooken christmans that is.

I recall a conversation with a friend of mine who until recently was in the parts game and it was his opinion that of the four Japanese brands as a rule of thumb parts for Suzuki's usually took longest to arrive while Yamaha parts usually had the shortest lead time.

[The Stranger:Me]

I recall a conversation with a friend of mine who until recently was in the parts game and it was his opinion that of the four Japanese brands as a rule of thumb parts for Suzuki's usually took longest to arrive while Yamaha parts usually had the shortest lead time.

Actually, now that you mention it, any parts for my Yamahas that I have wanted have been a few days ex Australia. But it has only been bits and pieces (bolts, genuine brake pads, and bar ends).

[YellowDog]

The newer Ducati bikes are very good.

I'd rather have a 2004 model with heaps of Ks than a 1998 one with low Ks.

[pete376403]

re yamaha parts availability; while this is only a one off and not representative of the brand in general - got a piston for a 22 year old FZR1000 ex japan in 11 days (even better than the quoted 14 days). I was pretty impressed with that.

OTOH, parts (side panel & mirror) for a 2008 KLR were also two weeks ex Japan. Seems like nothing is stocked here anymore. Ducati are probably no better or worse than that

[Winston001]

You are right - this question gets asked every couple of months. The answer is older Ducatis - which probably means pre-1997 (but others here will know better) - require more regular and loving attention.

But Ducati had to compete with Japanese reliability, new quality Triumphs etc so lifted their game. The age range you are looking at will produce a good reliable bike.

I'm years past putting up with an unreliable bike. If the Duc was troublesome, it would go. Instead my ST4 produces an enormous grin factor and even just seeing it sitting in the gargre (is that the correct KB spelling??) produces a smile.

[johan]

Whenever I order Ducati parts from the US of A, they parts arrive NZ in 3-4 days then sits in customs for another 4 days before I receive a letter from them to pay fees..... Very annoying... No wonder the economy is slow.

[Oli]

hmm very interesting, also another question. What kms would you expect to get out of a total life time again considering good maintinance and between the years of 1998-2004? And is it safe too say that buying another bike just for commuting to save the the ducati is common practice.

cheers

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

hmm very interesting, also another question. What kms would you expect to get out of a total life time again considering good maintinance and between the years of 1998-2004? And is it safe too say that buying another bike just for commuting to save the the ducati is common practice.

cheers

anywhere between 1km to 1 million km???? you can't answer that question I mean whats the life of a motorbike... to many factors... when do you call it the end of the life... how much maintenance, how much money, you could technically keep it going as long as you want for as many kms as you want...

how many times do you want to do the belts, the rings bearings, or do you mean when will it go bang?

Most mordern bikes if you can 't get 80-100,000 km before it needs a major overhaul then something is wrong

[NZsarge]

Actually, now that you mention it, any parts for my Yamahas that I have wanted have been a few days ex Australia. But it has only been bits and pieces (bolts, genuine brake pads, and bar ends).

re yamaha parts availability; while this is only a one off and not representative of the brand in general - got a piston for a 22 year old FZR1000 ex japan in 11 days (even better than the quoted 14 days). I was pretty impressed with that.

OTOH, parts (side panel & mirror) for a 2008 KLR were also two weeks ex Japan. Seems like nothing is stocked here anymore. Ducati are probably no better or worse than that

Yeah, it ofcourse depends on the parts being in stock in Japan or Oz etc..
When I binned the FZ1 all parts were present with 2 weeks of being ordered and as usual there were odd parts required. Guys in the shop said that was par for the course for Yamaha parts but other Japanese manufacturer's sometimes not so good, sighting particularly Suzuki.