Ducati = high maintenance - rumour or truth?

[Drew]

Cheers Drew, but what happens should it lunch itself...i dont recall an MTA certificate hanging in your garage!

The lady says im allowed a new bike, so it just a matter of finding a goodie at a good price. As I said, im a cheap bastard.

After the factory warrantee runs out, no body will pay out if your bike shits itself anyway bro. The belts are so simple YOU could do them, and checking the clearances is a piece of piss. If they do need adjusting you can then take it to the shop, otherwise it's a waste of money.

Anyhoo, now that you've got Banana on side, find a bike you like and I know a guy...

[megageoff76]

Trouble is your guy doesn't do trade in's.

Dont know if i can be bothered selling privately...getting tyre kickers and answering the dumb questions you get on trademe.

[vifferman]

If you want to never ever have any issue ever, buy a Honda...

Hmmmm... not strictly correct.
I've had seven Hondas (or is it eight?), and the camchains and tensioners (on those that had them) were all crap. The R/Rs can also be crap, due to Honda fitting the wrong ones prior to about 2000.
I've done a lot of work on my current Honda, but apart from tyres, filters, fluids and brake pads, none of it was necessary.

I *do* have an itch for a Ducati though (to go with the Ducati keyring I bought in 1994...)

[Pumba]

The S4R is a WICKED piece of kit, our sponsor Kerry at www.ktlbikes.co.nz has a black one at the moment that I was gonna buy, but decided I dont need another bike, give him a yell.

Just klicked on the link and realised that the KTL bikes operates out of Motohaus (not down in that windy Wellington place). Considering they are two minutes (maybe, but only if I hit traffic) up the road I shall have to drop in on them.

They have a nice yellow one advertised as well

[avgas]

haha everybike is expensive. I just forked out well over $2.5K get a bike up to scratch without even touching the cosmetics.

[Morcs]

a TL will eat a 996 for breakfast and wont need an AA membership.

Enough said.

[marty]

a mate has had a 900 monster for about 3 years with no problems apart from a fuel guage that dont work, get one of these designed by the guy who designed the monster, made by MV Augusta, TL 1000 suzuki engine, lots more power,

geez mate - when was the last time you took that boat out?

[Usarka]

Women are high maintenance too but it doesn't stop us going back to ride the ones that look good and perform well.

[megageoff76]

Too true mate. But the downside is you lose half on a trade in.

[chubby]

Women are high maintenance too but it doesn't stop us going back to ride the ones that look good and perform well.

well put. Every manufacturer has a reputation for something. Most of it comes from past indiscretions that no longer exist. As I see it new bikes are built to a high standard, keep up routine maintenance and you have covered yourself for everything but the unexpected. Shit happens no matter the make or model. If it isn't new then there are other who have experienced them and they can pass on their knowledge.

Buying a bike is never based on logic. Its a passion (thats buying the bike, not which bike). Then look at what stirs your blood, what feels right to you and what'll give YOU pleasure.

I think you may have decided which bike you really want....

[Drew]

a TL will eat a 996 for breakfast and wont need an AA membership.

Enough said.

I'm all about the TL man, but it will get it's ass handed to it beyond any question by a 996. Even a drag race will see the Suzi come second.

[Morcs]

I'm all about the TL man, but it will get it's ass handed to it beyond any question by a 996. Even a drag race will see the Suzi come second.

Both are specified to doing 10.8 quarter miles.

I manage to do a 11.3 on the TL with potential to do 11 if I can put my best reaction times with my best starts.

[Eddieb]

Had my 888 (For sale, hint, hint) for 6 years. It left me on the side of the road once when I was having too much fun and ran out of petrol, can't blame the bike for that.

I went away on a FAST 3 day trip once with a VFR800, ST800? those honda tourer things the cops use sometimes, and a ZXR750.

The headlight vibrated out of alignment on the VFR, a mirror fell off the tourer and the remote reservoir rattled off the ZXR then it failed to start for a while. Nothing went wrong with the Duc, even after 36 hours of sitting in torrentail rain it started first push of the button.

I've ran an 11.7 on the 888, and I'm crap at launching.

[flame]

Cheers Drew, but what happens should it lunch itself...i dont recall an MTA certificate hanging in your garage!

The lady says im allowed a new bike, so it just a matter of finding a goodie at a good price. As I said, im a cheap bastard.

Got the sexy 999 sitting in our garage right now .....and a super good price of course

[DesmoJohnny]

Pumba
Had my S4R a couple of years now - no issues at all. See her here http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=154257377

Also had a 916 in 95 - the only issue with that was a starter relay.
Have owned 2 other monsters,one was a '94 and suffered from chaffed engine loom at the headstock.The other was a 97 and was hassle free, along with a 996 I had before the S4R.
The belts put the price of the 20k service up, and the 4 valve models have a few extra items to check at the services. Just had a 20k done and cost under $700 (Ducati mechanic - not a dealer)

If you can, go for the S4R, you won't regret it !