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best and worst girlfriend

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6
New to ducati ya'll. bought an st4 two months ago, been in the shop on and off for 4 weeks total. I always ripped on ducati for service intervals and maintenance overall. then rode one, and of course would have sold a kidney to get it.

It is of course the best and worst girl i've ever had. great in bed and blows ass in all other categories.


As all of use here must be addicted to this brand in some way, why can't ducati - for the price be more reliable and have less maintenance(mbp collets?) if they can do it why can't ducati? when for example my st4 is vs. other machines the shootouts are fairly even- ducati with higher "Fun Factor" of course, but costs dearly at retail and after.

I have purchased a 99 st4 with pipes, chip, full 12k tune- it rocks
but hasn't done more than 60 miles without trouble. My dealer has been 100%
on the issue, but parts take longer than I'd expect also.

disappointed in the brand overall, but addicted to the sound and feel, especially 0-80 factor.

patiently
waiting for the bike to fixed yet again and hoping to be in order by spring.
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Re: best and worst girlfriend (desmodaddy)

What type of problems has it had?
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I dunno, on the reliabily... My 03 M620 was super reliable from day 1, never had any problems whatsoever with it.
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Re: (VoyagerDude)

Yeah, I think you'll find plenty of 2-valve owners with a different perspective...

60 miles at a time, though...I too would be interested to hear what kinds of problems you've been having.
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Re: (DesmoBob)

4 is bad, 2 is good mmm'kay?

*Pretty lucky 2 valve owner here.*
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Re: (VoyagerDude)

2-valves are FAR more reliable than the 4v'ers. Lots less crap to go wrong. Easier to work on. Occasionally, you'll find a 2v bike with assembly problems - but not as often as you hear about the 4v bikes with assembly and quality problems.
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Re: best and worst girlfriend (Tornado-rider)

so it's about the 2 valves huh?

first needed battery
next ride, rear cyl head gasket leaking-replaced
next ride, oil pressure switch spewing oil near filler area-crush washer
next ride, dead on hwy, something about flywheel retaining nut/clutch/flywheel- guess a common 916 problem. i've also heard of the oil switch too.

my post is due to the fact that no one who doesn't own a Duc understands any reason i should keep it!

Incidentally on dealer behalf- all repairs ahve been done free of charge so far, I paid 1/2 on battery. They have also given me loaners for a bunch of rides.
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Re: best and worst girlfriend (desmodaddy)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by desmodaddy »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so it's about the 2 valves huh?

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't think that's necessarily the case but each valve class seems to have it's own issues. With 4Vs you have flaking rockers, 2Vs don't. I have monster buddies however with other issues (mostly electrical as I recall).

My 01 ST4 has been excellent to me, no major problems to speak of. My 96 916 already had the stator pack up on me but has been otherwise well behaved.
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Re: best and worst girlfriend (doocatiboy)

after all these repairs is she worth sticking with? it seems as though must become reliable soon?
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Re: best and worst girlfriend (desmodaddy)

Are you nuts? Of course it's a keeper! Those occasional weaknesses are just the price of admission. You could get cheaper bikes but,that's just what they are.A dime a dozen,stick it out
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Re: best and worst girlfriend (ducxl)

thanks bro! that's what I needed.
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Re: best and worst girlfriend (desmodaddy)

I bought my used st4s and have had zero problems!(knock on wood) The other issue here is you bought a used bike. Do you know the history pror to you?
I know mine had an electrical issue but was resolved before my ownership.
Besides look at all the items you don't have to worry about now!
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Re: best and worst girlfriend (grinder96)

As with most Ducati's , It's an abusive , love hate relationship my friend.
I am currently dating a 04 999 , although I havent seen her in a month .
She's been shacking up with the service department for the past month , something about a blown #1 cylinder.


I too had the crap stock battery problem the first month , but I paid the full $120 for a Yuasa.
I have been stranded multiple times in 6 months , keep canyon dancers and tie downs in my truck at all times.
Other problems also but wont bother listing them, you get the idea , and thats on a brand new 2004 999.

It's an on going , never ending ,abusive sick relationship.
" But I love Her "

Not even Dr. Phil can help us.
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oh Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesus


The price of admission is dodgy relaibillity and massive delays in parts distribution?


I think I will sit that ride out.
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Re: best and worst girlfriend (grinder96)

true- the ride was used. it did look as good as i could expect from a 99 with 10k. i did not know any of the history at all. nothing came up on VIN finder-which may be a good thing. in all honesty it was $6000 and tax with the 12k tune done early. i couldn't get anything close to this bike- ride, sound, fun factor, hard bags, so i did it.- and the dealer has fixed everything up to this point. also has pipes, chip, k&n- it sounds absolutely bad ass(when running) i also has two tone loud as hell horns installed


the saddest part is that i was well above the speed limit passing a guy with a harley sticker on his truck just as i lost power and had to veer onto the shoulder to get out "his" way!


the biggest problem is that i've come off a yamaha dirtbike and a bmw streetbike with 80K and no problems-sure maintenance(it burns gas) but no worries at all.

oh PS- 999duc during the last fixit, my dealer lent me a 999s to take home.
hoooooooooooot!!!!! the only trouble it that one it cannot go anywhere near slow...at all and it made my ride seem like a ducati garbage truck- seriously! but everytime i get the old girl back i'm in love again.-it's just that my triumph(new ones)buddies don't want to travel with me.-reliability good luck with the 999

OK... seriously though- dodgy reliability and bad parts distribution.

these are not inexpensive machines. it's like the harley myth, but ducati's kick ass. can no one beat the japanese... at all...-ever. isn't the new 999r or something supposed to catch the gixer(at three times the price?) even bmw wanted a Busa Beater, sorry guys not for that price


again what about the collets? MBP. why can't duacti make the valve intervals further apart? those guys did it!


Modified by desmodaddy at 6:14 PM 1/9/2005
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Re: (sp2pilot)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sp2pilot »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">massive delays in parts distribution?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Robert, you are clinging to the bad old days on this one. I had the misfortune to crash the 998 in September and I had a pretty good grocery list of parts. They were all in stock, except a couple of stickers, at DNA and I had them in a few days. The stickers came in from Italy in less than three weeks. I was surprised they have turned the parts distribution around like they have, but credit is due them.
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Re: best and worst girlfriend (desmodaddy)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by desmodaddy »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so it's about the 2 valves huh?

first needed battery
next ride, rear cyl head gasket leaking-replaced
next ride, oil pressure switch spewing oil near filler area-crush washer
next ride, dead on hwy, something about flywheel retaining nut/clutch/flywheel- guess a common 916 problem. i've also heard of the oil switch too.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

If I had your bike I would get rid of it without a doubt. What are you waiting for?
60 miles in two months is just unacceptable for a modern motorcycle.

I have ridden 32K on my '99 900SS and have had NO problems at all - not one. It's the most reliable bike I've owned in 30 years of riding. If it had been as troublesome as yours I wouldn't have kept it.

I don't really hold with the 'price of admission' nonsense - that attitude just lets Ducati off the hook, maybe it even encourages them. Perhaps that's why they are playing up the unreliability image with these latest 999 and Monster ads in CW, with the riders actually pushing the bikes! They have read this forum and know there are a number of people out there who wear it like a badge of honour!!
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Re: best and worst girlfriend (desmodaddy)

I have riden japanese bikes. yawwwn.... and BMWs (the only way to go cross country) but in my 26 years of riding (dirt included) nothing and I mean nothing feels like my Duc or has had the character or chrisma of my Ducati.

Yes they can be a little needy at times (that falls under character
) . Sometimes you will hear the occational bad luck story, but that is true with ALL makes. If you do your homework here you can head off most any potential problems before they arise. This site has been invaluable to me and the people here fantastic with any questions I have had. Use this place and read about your particular model and be proactive active with your maintenance.

When I bought my st4s with 10,000 miles on it i was in the same boat as you and didn't know the history of the bike (and got a swingin deal like you too
) on my way to my friends house the night I bought my bike it blew a gas line all over my leg. Thats a preventative maintance issue not a ducati issue. The truth is the head gasket and crush washer could have been the last mechanic that touched your bike.
If worst comes to worst you could easily sell it for what you bought it for (maybe more) and go buy yourself a VFR,GSXR,ZR or what ever generic bike that is parked outside of hooters

my
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Welcome to the Ducati ownership! I know how you feel been there as well.
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Re: (sp2pilot)

Amen Robert!! Iv'e been riding the wheels off my RC for 3 years now without so much as a hiccup...if I paid that kind of money for a 04 999 and had all those problems allready I would probably call an attorney and find out about the lemon law!!
Eric
01RC51
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