Ducati. Really.

[whynot]

Maybe take a look and ask questions at nedoc.org if you haven't already.

[PhilB]

My one big concern about buying a recent Ducati is the plastic tank issue. It hasn't really been solved. Ducati has been replacing tanks as needed, but it's the same tank, so the problem will likely just happen again. The only new Duc I would buy, due to this, would be the HyperMotard, because I'd replace that bike's tank with an aftermarket 6-gallon tank from CA Cycleworks anyway.

Other manufacturers have had the same problem with their plastic tanks, but haven't been hit as hard because none of them had committed their whole lineup to plastic tanks. Triumph reverted to steel tanks when the problem happened. Ducati is stuck pretty hard.

Other than that, they are good and solid bikes. I didn't check anything on your poll, as I bought mine more than 18 years ago. I have had very few problems with it, given the time and miles I have put on it; I have been very satisfied with the bike.

The only gripe I have had about Duc ownership is, as you mentioned, parts availability. This has always been a weak point, taking typically 3 to 5 weeks to get anything, and occasionally more than that.

PhilB

[R1]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

They sort of solved the issue. They no longer use the same plastic for the tanks. Only time will tell if the new stuff holds up to the ethanol.

You should look at the f800gs if you want a solo bike no questions asked. The Ducati does not sound like your type of bike. You will either end up like that 20 page thread of beating the brand to death or you'll get lucky.

[Chippertheripper]

MSG Kurt schmicky, I believe he was yapping about unloading his multi for a kook aid flavored bike.

[DucDave]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

They sort of solved the issue. They no longer use the same plastic for the tanks. Only time will tell if the new stuff holds up to the ethanol.

You should look at the f800gs if you want a solo bike no questions asked. The Ducati does not sound like your type of bike. You will either end up like that 20 page thread of beating the brand to death or you'll get lucky.

[RandyO]

Also looked at a Tiger 800 (nice but pretty close to the V-Strom)

if I were buying and adventure bike right now, the last bike I would buy would be the V-strom

400 watts of electrical power is just not enuf, the Tiger is on par with BMW when it comes to electricity

[#1 masshole]

2011 848EVO bought new from Seacoast. Not a single issue that wasn't self inflicted.

[rideitfast]

2010 848 bought new from Ducati Vermont. 14,000 miles and no problems other than the tank issue.

[PinHead]

Mine has a bit over 32k miles and no problems.
900ss

[markbvt]

You should look at the f800gs if you want a solo bike no questions asked.

Disagreed. The F800GS has had tons of quality control problems. Spend a little time on ADVrider and you'll encounter a litany of horror stories.

How 'bout the same poll for Triumph?

Regulator-rectifier failed in first 100 miles on my '10 Street Triple R 675. Check the forums. Some say there was a 40% failure rate, no recall, Triumph just let them fail in use, stranding riders. A friend with a Daytona 675 had his R-R catch fire. Mine just melted, fortunately, and I made it home.

I thought there actually was a recall. They switched to a MOSFET reg-rec unit that solved the problem. If the earlier bikes weren't actually recalled, the newer R-R units can at least be retrofitted to problem bikes.

The Tiger 800's R-R is the newer MOSFET type. I've never heard any reports of problems. The only issue that's come up is that a small number of bikes would sometimes stall at idle; that was solved by a fuel-injection map update.

--mark

[Wislon]

I frequently ask other riders, "Any troubles?" The answer is pretty much always, "No".
I especially ask Ducati riders I meet, because my wife went nuts and bought a used 2003 Duc ST4S in 2007. For me!
Even the Duc riders say, "Keep on top of routine checks and you're good"
I was pretty apprehensive at first, thinking I would suffer downtime & unobtainable parts. Well, I didn't need those parts yet! 18,000 miles on I've replaced the battery & seat. Soon to replace the admittedly lousy headlamp.
My point is, this thing is so well built! Starts instantly, idles with a purr, totally perfect fuelling, perfect gearbox, suspension adjusts to near perfection. Hauls & turns.
Valves, belts & tune-up by dealer. Oil, filters, tyre changes & fastener torque checking by me. That's it!
I've had 1960's Triumphs, '70's Honda, '80's Moto Guzzi (for 20 years) and this Duc is the best and least troublesome; quite the opposite of what I expected!
Duc sales are 'way up. All sorts of non mech-savvy owners these days. They're happy. The ADVrider is one of those disgruntled types who I think would bitch about anything. I think Ducati have only got better since 2003.
I can't think of any Ducati model that I would fear to buy today.

[Garandman]

Wislon, thanks, that's the kind of information I was looking for!

BTW my buddy has one of those - I really like it! If a nice one popped up used I'd look at one for sure.

MSG Kurt schmicky, I believe he was yapping about unloading his multi for a kook aid flavored bike.

Tell me more about Kook Aid: it seems popular in Cambridge.

[Falko]

Aprilia is supposed to bring out a new Caponord this year from what I hear, just sayin...

A friend of mine (I know, not first hand esperience) had an ST3 and it was a good bike for him, but he was religious about the maintenance. He sold it last year and bought a Futura for a change. He likes the not so popular Italian brand better...

[whynot]

I thought there actually was a recall. They switched to a MOSFET reg-rec unit that solved the problem. If the earlier bikes weren't actually recalled, the newer R-R units can at least be retrofitted to problem bikes.

The Tiger 800's R-R is the newer MOSFET type. I've never heard any reports of problems. The only issue that's come up is that a small number of bikes would sometimes stall at idle; that was solved by a fuel-injection map update.
--mark

Thanks, Mark, agree, Triumph's new RR has fixed the problem, but AFAIK, there was no recall, techs were adapting Yamaha MOSFET RRs, and Triumph released only service bulletins late in the process that at least one tech posted (leaked) to the forums.

My point was that you can ask this kind of question about any brand. Owner experience can relate to the design, manufacture, in-country distributor, dealer, individuals within the dealership, and last but not least, the owner his or her self.

(I was lucky that my selling dealer (Precision Triumph) was terrific in fixing the problem, really went out of their way. When it comes time for the 12K service, I'll not bother with the dealer 3 miles away, but go the 50 miles to Precision or to Great Bay. (Probably Great Bay and get lunch at Ray's or Petey's.)

Similarly when I decided that I needed a KLR, I didn't bother with the Kaw dealer 2 miles from my house, or the one 3 miles away, went instead to Nault's Windham (see Cliff in sales) 40 miles away.)

[markbvt]

My point was that you can ask this kind of question about any brand.

Absolutely. My Honda has been more problematic than either of my Triumphs -- actually needed its CDI unit replaced (a not-uncommon issue with XR650Ls).

So yeah, even the manufacturers with the greatest reputations for reliability aren't immune to the occasional problem.

--mark

[Talus]

Had a Monster S4R (2007) for a couple of years. No problems whatsoever. I just change bikes a lot. Go to Seacoast or Great Bay, otherwise, don't bother.

I wouldn't buy a quart of oil from Riverside.

[whynot]

I wouldn't buy a quart of oil from Riverside.

OK, ... but how do you really feel?

[Garandman]

I wouldn't buy a quart of oil from Riverside.

Perhaps everyone else here knows you and your motorcycling history, otherwise this post in and of itself is not particularly helpful.

So far 5 of 17 new buyers had a problem, 12 did not, so 70% had no problems. The used percentage is better: 9 of 11 had no problems.

[Chippertheripper]

Kook aid? There wasn't a bigger skeptic than myself. Them orange dudes, they build a quality machine. At least the thumpers and smokers.

Kurt wants a 950/990adv I think. He has a sweet ass mts1100. You may know him as Bbqer. MSG that fool.

[Talus]

Perhaps everyone else here knows you and your motorcycling history, otherwise this post in and of itself is not particularly helpful.

So far 5 of 17 new buyers had a problem, 12 did not, so 70% had no problems. The used percentage is better: 9 of 11 had no problems.

Sure.

I moved from Connecticut to Somerville in September 2009 to pursue my master's degree in Boston. I was new to bikes and I visited Riverside a few weeks in a row to look, learn, and possibly make a purchase. The owner shook my hand and I introduced myself. All seemed well. He explained that he would love to be my dealership, etc. I ended up buying a used bike but still bought a $500 Arai, gloves and other equipment from them. And still, I continued to stop in over the course of the Fall and throughout the winter to buy parts, equipment, and to check out their inventory. I assumed that's what "building a relationship" would entail...and eventually lead to a new bike purchase.

During that period, the owner saw me every time I was there never took the time to learn my name. Keep in mind that I had been there dozens of times over the winter to oogle the bikes. What else can you do in the off season? In the Spring I brought a friend of mine to Riverside to look at bikes, he's an entrepreneur that has been interested in bikes for years but never took the plunge. He had $22k set aside for a brand new bike and all the equipment (yes, I know, buy a used bike for your first time, but he wanted a new bike. I couldn't talk him out of it, believe me, I tried.) He came all the way from Framingham. We pulled up in his Range Rover and as we walked into Riverside, the owner looked at me, looked at my Brazilian friend, who is 47, and turned back to his computer. Not even a hello. After 25 minutes, he hadn't even bothered coming over when my friend was sitting on bikes. No one else in the showroom. I went over to HIM and asked him to tell us a little about the bikes and he sputtered off a few words, while looking off into Union Square as the traffic passed by, completely uninterested in helping us out. With a little effort, he could have sold a $20K Diavel to my friend with a matching Dianese suit. It's the bike my friend was ready to buy.

I've been to that dealership dozens of times over the course of two years and they never took the time to have any conversation with me. Once they realized that they couldn't squeeze any money out of me right there at that moment, they lost interest and walked away. And here I am, 29 years old, educated, employed, and I have a love for motorcycles...am I not the ideal customer? Poor poor poor salesmanship.

Ah, and the wonderful service.

This Spring I went to start my Triumph and fuel came pouring out from under the tank onto the engine when I turned the ignition on. It happened just before I took the bike out to ride it, so I thought maybe a hose had cracked overnight. I called Riverside that day, Monday, to see if they could take a look at it. (I honestly didn't want to take it there after the previous experiences mentioned above, but they're the only Triumph dealer nearby, so I didn't really have a choice) The service manager said that they were busy, but that he could squeeze me in that week to have it up on the bench to take a look at it. I called on Thursday to see if they had a chance to take a look. "No, but we will have it on the lift first thing tomorrow morning." I called Friday about 4:30pm and asked what they found. The shop manager said that they didn't have a chance to look at it, but assured me that it would definitely be on the lift by the end of the day, so if they didn't get to it before they closed, it would be on the lift first thing Monday. The weekend went by, and I waited until Tuesday afternoon. No call, so I called them. Haven't had a chance, but will look at by the end of the week. The week goes by. Friday I call and the same manager that I've been talking to tells me that he will look at it on Monday. Monday afternoon I call and I get a different tech, because the shop manager was out for the day. He tells me that the reason my bike has been sitting is because Ducati has had a massive recall on the Multi because of all is electronic gizmos went bad. Apparently the steering lock is electronic(?) and it has been locking up while people have been riding the bike. So their shop has been overrun with Ducs....AND he leveled with me, saying that my bike is the last bike on the list. It will most likely be at least another week or maybe two before they can even put it up on a lift to take a look at it. Two weeks gone by already, with the probability of the bike sitting there untouched for better part of a month.

So I went down there a few minutes later with a trailer and brought it home.

And that's why I'd never do business with Riverside again.

[Garandman]

Talus, thanks, that puts it in perspective.

[TheIglu]

I bought a used KLR650. It needed air in the tires and a couple seals in the carb.

Small problems are one thing, big problems are another. Every bike has the potential to have little problems no matter how much people will tell you they are wonderful.

KLR needed a rear subframe bolt upgrade and the "doohicky" fix. Vmax needed the grounds cleaned up to get it idling smooth when hot. ZRX, well, has been completely trouble free. Every bike will have its quirks. Accept them and make the most out of whatever you decide to purchase.

Any of the big names won't lead you wrong. Ducati/Triumph/Jap, etc. Reliability is not something I've overly concerned with when looking at any new bike. They are all good.

Find something you like that does what you want it to do. Take care of it and you shouldn't have any issues.

[Kurlon]

I may know of a black Multi S going on the market, 9000 miles, Ducati extended warranty. If that's something that interests you let me know and once it goes for sale officially I'll get you the info.

[markbvt]

KLR needed a rear subframe bolt upgrade and the "doohicky" fix.

That's a great example, actually. Kawasaki built that bike unchanged for what, 20 years?, without ever addressing that well-known doohickey issue.

--mark

[a13x]

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=47304