Love it...hate it !

Bodie · #1 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 03:23 AM

Hey guys,

Well, 6000km later, few things in life have brought me more pleasure than my HM ! However, having said that, it has not been without it's issues!!!

Picture standing outside your favorite local haute with a patio FULL of people. showing off your new Ducati. He wants to hear how it sounds, no problem....I am standing on the right side of the bike, turn the key on ( it's in neutral as the green light is on ), hit the start button and the bike starts in gear an leaps forward, dragging me and my buddy who leaps to save us all....ending up on a pile on the pavement while people from the cafe rush out to help !!!! Holy @#$^ ( this is the second time this has happened).

Too make things worse, my local dealer has advised that "no error" has been logged on the computer to indicate a malfunction...( my fault ?), this despite the fact that I have experienced an EXVL 23.2 ( exhaust valve error ) over a dozen times and it has not been logged either !

Now lets not even begin to talk about the poor fit of the travel accessories. The tank bra falls off the front of the bike, tank bag has already had a ratchet break off, and the tail rack and bag are of similar poor fit / install and quality.

Bottom line, it's like being married to the hottest supermodel on the planet...but she cheats !

Love to get some attention on the desmo blog, any pointers?

..bring it on !

Bodie

Monstaman · #2 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 03:39 AM

...starting to sound like my MH900e!!

My buddy who owns a tard also has the green light on but NOT in neural thing going on, he nearly owned a new car because his leaped forward, saved just prior to contact.

I will wait for series two on the tard, you guys can sort the lurgies on this one.

... good luck

GAMBLER · #3 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 03:50 AM

who cares about the little green light

NEVER START A BIKE WITHOUT PULLING IN THE CLUTCH

ever.

ccolwell · #4 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 12:13 PM

LOL. My '96 has a neutral light that works like that. I believe that's never start a Ducati w/o the clutch lever in.

aces anugal · #5 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 01:08 PM

Well, that sucks - for sure! I'm a motorcycle salesman, and every time I deliver a bike to a customer(every day), I tell them to NEVER trust a neutral light on ANY bike. ALWAYS assume that the machine's in gear when starting. It'll save a lot of embarrassment and money. By the way, I sell Jap bikes, but I do have a deposit on my third Duck - a Hypermoto S. Glad to hear you OK, and now you bike has some cool scratches and scrapes!!

Monstaman · #6 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 09:56 PM

I have to admit I ALWAYS leave my bike in first gear parked (the handbrake as such), so I religously do the count and click thing to find neutral then turn the bike on, never had a neutral light problem yet but it is in the back of my mind that is for sure.

That being said you expect a new bike to live up to new bike status eh and not have such a stupid problem that can cause damage and $$$$.

GAMBLER · #7 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monstaman

I have to admit I ALWAYS leave my bike in first gear parked (the handbrake as such), so I religously do the count and click thing to find neutral then turn the bike on, never had a neutral light problem yet but it is in the back of my mind that is for sure.

That being said you expect a new bike to live up to new bike status eh and not have such a stupid problem that can cause damage and $$$$.

don't think it's a Ducati thing... my zx6 would get false neutrals all the time when riding, never when starting the bike - but you never know

stand on the kick stand side of the bike, pull the clutch & front brake while thumb'n the starter - release the clutch, then the brake (if it's in a gear it will jerk & stall out) - let the oil warm a bit then, giver a few revs to impress the adoring crowd

DELL · #8 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 02:43 PM

Never trust the Green light gremlin. It only means the green light works. Sorry to hear about the mishap.

sqd8r · #9 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007, 08:40 PM

Sounds like the supermodel has a bad case of the clap.

Shortermemory · #10 (**permalink**) 09-24-2007, 01:20 PM

Must be a newbie! How embarrassing, it's like taking your hot wife/GF to a party and she immediately goes upstairs with the host and his buddy. Use your head next time!

Bodie · #11 (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 05:57 AM

I am truley sorry for those who have replied with similar comments as this, accepting incompetancy as a predictable occurance. I have been riding for nearly 4 decades and have NEVER not trusted the neutral light, and it has NEVER failed until now...with what is presumed to be the finest manufacturer of motorcyles in the world ! If I lay down $20k, I surely expect that the @#$ bike will start up just as elegantly as the salesman showed me it would in the showroom. Best check where YOUR wife has been "shortmemory", or have you " lost track"?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shortermemory

Must be a newbie! How embarrassing, it's like taking your hot wife/GF to a party and she immediately goes upstairs with the host and his buddy. Use your head next time!

aces anugal · #12 (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 01:46 PM

Wow. You've been lucky for the last 40 years. I've been riding for 30 years, owned 40 bikes, I sell 'em for a living, raced for 4 years, and I still NEVER trust the neutral light. Again, you've been lucky. Until now. But it's ok; lesson learned. Everyday on a bike is supposed to be a learning experience.

Cafe_Racer · #13 (**permalink**) 09-27-2007, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GAMBLER

who cares about the little green light

NEVER START A BIKE WITHOUT PULLING IN THE CLUTCH

ever.

NEVER TRUST A NEUTRAL LIGHT.

Seriously. Who taught you to ride?

GAMBLER · #14 (**permalink**) 09-27-2007, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cafe_Racer

NEVER TRUST A NEUTRAL LIGHT.

Seriously. Who taught you to ride?

your sister

PSk · #15 (**permalink**) 09-27-2007, 02:25 AM

My very humble Suzuki GN250 has never ever given a false neutral light yet ... but yes I will admit to a few false neutrals while riding but I've always blamed myself for that.

Every morning I start her with the side stand down and the neutral light shining green ... choke out and hit the go button. Then I put on my left glove and jump on and go. Done that for 30,000 km's

I do though always park her in gear at the work end of the trip and thus jump on find neutral (via the light) and then start. At home in the shed she is left in neutral.

Sounds like any New Zealander could wire up a working neutral light better than the whole Ducati design/engineering team ... sorry have to agree, lovely bikes but this is pathetic.
Pete

injected · #16 (**permalink**) 09-27-2007, 11:30 AM

Pulling the clutch in before you start is also kinder on the starter motor, as it doesn't have to turn the gearbox. Same in manual trans cars. Just good practice.

Cafe_Racer · #17 (**permalink**) 09-27-2007, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GAMBLER

your sister

She's faster than you.

GAMBLER · #18 (**permalink**) 09-27-2007, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cafe_Racer

She's faster than you.

indeed

PSk · #19 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by injected

Pulling the clutch in before you start is also kinder on the starter motor, as it doesn't have to turn the gearbox. Same in manual trans cars. Just good practice.

Unless you own a MGB (car) as the clutch release bearing is a carbon thrust type and will kill the starter.

But I see your point, although never done it ... you also would be pushing the crank (on most cars) hard forward with the clutch in ... hmmm.
Pete