Howdy,
Just my 25cents worth,
I home service about 25 friends and associates Ducaties and various othe brands.
I have had 3 Ducaties myself and currently own an 02 ST4s and an Aprilia SXV550, my sons share a KTM 50sx.
The Ducati's I look after are maimly early 90s to the latest 1098s.
I really dont see too much real engine wear due to good service intervals.
The belts are good for 20 to 25,000km with an adjustment at 10,000ks this is also good to check the tenisoner bearings at the same time. If the bike has been sitting for more than 14 to 16 months I would suggest a belt change for peice of mind.
The later 2 & 4 valve heads once bedded in at around 12,000km are really trouble free now days.
Best No1 service point is change the oil and filter and clean the internal mesh filter as often as you can afford, some guys I deal with have no issue with full fluid changes ever 1500km and I dont let my 996 engine go any further than 2000km, My SXV gets 10w60 full synthetic every track day, about 125km. it's the best engine insurance you can buy. The dry clutch models are kind to oil as there is no clutch friction plate material poulting the life blood, My 79 w123 merc gets all the good old oil and has just clicked over 700,000km with out so much as the head off.
No2 best service point (some may argue this ids the No1, more so for dirt or adventure bikes) change or clean the air filter , use good quality filter oil or spray oil on the good hi flow jobbies, also clean the airbox and runners while your in there, I'll do this after every ride in summer, well any ride over 150km and perhaps every 4th ride in winter.
Chains and sprockets last soooo much longer if they are not only lubed after every ride once again so 150 to 300km but also cleaned as well, watch those fingers around chains and sprockets. Everyone has their favourite lube and I tend to use a clean cloth that has been moistened with a little kerosine, moistened not dripping and finish with Maxima wax. On long wet rides as a tour you really should carry some lube to dress the chain every so often, and really try to keep the chain adjusted to the bikes specs. A really good set of sprockets and a modern x ring chain for the litre size bikes costs shite loads so it pays to make then last, we all know the v twins love to eat chains and sprockets.
The euros are using better and better electrics now days and aside fron the odd rectifier and shoddy conector problems things have got so much better.
What else is there on a weekly/ monthly basis? lube all pivot points, flush brake and clutch fluid twice a year, change brake pads when necessary, fork oil every 15000km, remove swing arm and grease all pivots 20,000km, wheel bearing repack, steering head bearing repack and torque 15,000km.
Keep the beasts clean and dry as much as possible, dont be shy with a good silicone spray and enjoy them.
As for the imported Ducati problem, I think it has been said but really they are all imported, the Jap imports as far as I have found have the very same parts listings and run the same power and engine and chassis specs as a fresh one from Italy. It will surly depend on how well they have been cared for from day one. Where are Honda, Suzuki, Kaw & Yam imported from??
Cheers
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