Ducati Servicing

[haiax0]

Hello folks..

Recently put my Hypermotard down to Ducati glasvegas for its major service as I couldn't find anyone local who would commit to the full major service for my bike or have the required tools for all aspects of job.

The tard has maintained a full stealer service history since new so I felt it quite important to keep the book right for its big service (I am still reeling from the bill that followed, I cant even say the final invoiced amount out loud with out the baby jeebus weeping )

My thoughts now turn to next years basic service.. It is always nice to have a stealer stamp in the book for re-sale purposes but the cost of getting the bike down to Glasgow and the annual servicing will be near £500 when all is said and done.

Should I just give up on the pedigree history as the bike is out of warranty? service myself? put it to a non dealer for basic services? or try and club together with other owners to help drive a discount on servicing / bike couriers or do I just suck the cost up.. whats peoples thoughts.

[al]

The only people who care about full dealer servicing of a Ducati are Ducati Glasgow themselves and I guess other people who bleed Ducati red.

Having said that, even with a full service record what they will offer you as a trade in is pitifull. I got more from We Buy Any bike in January for mine than I was offered two years previously from Ducati Glasgow.

Good luck with which ever way you go.

I was a Ducati owner for 9 years but I wouldn't recommend the experience to anyone who anyone who likes value for money or quality of service.

Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian).

[haiax0]

Yeah I am not keen to put the bike back there ever. But I was a bit stuck for options on the major service as no one else seemed to want to touch them.

I made sure I had all the big ticket items covered inclusive of forks and engine timings, clutch oils, headstocks and wheel bearings etc. Which I am not comfortable to do myself. At least now I shouldn’t have to get after any of that for a long time.

Going forward I can service it myself or can take it to a local garage to keep the log book happy for the next potential buyer.

Do you know of any mechs handy on the Ducati’s that may be local?

Has your 9 year ownership put you off getting another Ducati or just putting one to Ducati Glasgow? I personally love the hyper and find it a great fit for me.

[al]

Has your 9 year ownership put you off getting another Ducati or just putting one to Ducati Glasgow? I personally love the hyper and find it a great fit for me.

When I bought my bike in 2009 the Ducati line-up were an affordable alternative to other makes at the time. The Yen was high etc. The bikes at that time had just features you need from a bike and no more.

Since then, I don't know if it is Audi's influence or just they way they want to go, the bikes have been focused on performance and the luxury end of the market so have gone in a direction I have no interest and could not afford even if I did.

I don't find the Ducati Scrambler astheically appealing so that pretty rules them off my radar completely.

A lot of manufacturers seem to think that we all need loads of engine maps, quick shifters & fancy instrument clusters. Whereas in reality most people with thos features find a setting they like and never use it again. I have tried a bike with a quick shifter but couldn't understand why it was there or how to use it as it felt awfull.

I'll take a bike with ABS and traction control but everything else seems to be there to compensate for making the bike too powerfull and unmanageable in the first place. Why give a bike 150+ phb then have to put electronics on it to protect the rider from all that power? You really have to have some problems in the trouser area if you realistically feel that you need or can make use of more than 80-ish bhp at the most.

Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian).

[haiax0]

I purposefully went for an older Ducati for some of the reasons you have highlighted. I do not need much from a bike and prefer the senses experience over the fancy gimmicks.. although I wont lie... a fuel gauge would have been a nice thing to have! I bought the bike for a song so the affordability bit was a no brainer over more modern and newer bikes, that and this was the only bike that ever really got my attention. (maybe punch drunk love)

Totally agree about the setting adjustments for 95% of riders out there, I certainly do not adjust mine more than once in a life time and I am not experienced enough to notice subtle differences. If it doesn't feel right off the bat then I am likely not to buy it in the first place and adjust it down the road.

I cant comment about BHP and trouser departments but I personally can have just as much fun on a pushbike or a moped as I can have in a car or a motorbike. But I can fully understand why people fall in love with over priced / premium products.. I am a sucker for the ugly duckling hence the tard isnt everyone's first choice, but is a whole load of fun.

I will continue my search for a good Ducati service tech at a reasonable rate. Maybe thats is the holy grail.

[al]

Shirlaws used to be a Ducati dealer back in the day so you could always try them. The engines haven't changed that much since then.

The key thing with the Ducati's is replacing the cam belts and tensioning them properly then adjusting the valve clearances periodically. For my Monster this had to be done every 2 years regardless of milage which started to annoy me.

Other than that, electronics aside, it is just another bike with the same mechanical components as any other bike so any competent mechanic should be able to service it.

Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian).

[haiax0]

I did try Shirlaws (for info) and there where things they could and couldn't do. Belt replacement no problem and valve clearances could be measured but not adjusted. I do not believe they could service forks either. This might have been mainly down to lack of tools (which was stated that they where not willing to stock)

I think they also commented they dont have any trained techs but did elude to previously having them.

When I inquired about start faults both Shirlaws and Ecosse said they would not touch the bike and recommended instead to take it to Glasgow.. It turned out to be some corrosion on the terminals in the end so not really sure Aberdeen techs could not of had a look over it in the first place..

I have since been recommended Jopps Lane and Fired up motorcycles in Aberdeen though but I have not been in by or spoken to them as yet.

[al]

Beware of shiny things!

Thses kind of things cement the idea in my mind that the Suzuki V-Strom is the best value road biased adventure 1000+cc bike on the market at the moment both in terms of purchase price and cost of ownership.

Just my own opinion by the way.

Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian).

[haiax0]

I know a few owners who also swear by the v-Strom, it’s certainly a very appealing all rounder indeed.

My motorbiking has been dialled back this past few years due to life commitments so I need less of an all rounder and more of a weekend offender. The tard was allways a dream bike for me but ofcourse is a one trick pony and not with out its issues for some owners (kinda like me)

Really looking forward to some warmer days next year!

[Coully]

Weighing in on the Big Mans Wanger side, feeling a bit the same . Sold my VFR 800 to get a K1200s that's cost me a few quid at John Clark so far, coupled to the fact that apparently both the bike techs have left there now (accurate as of 21st Dec). Having spoken to Ecosse, whom I've built up rapport with over the years , mechanically they can work on it, but electronically no. So now left in a similar boat. Down to dundee or up to Inverness for Beemer stuff, (although have a family friend in lossie whom uses a lad in Elgin, and he's got an RnineT ).
Just my tuppence worth
Dunc

[haiax0]

A very real reality for most with even a dash of bike exotica outwith the main Aberdeen dealers new bikes catalogues, I am glad I have an older bike that I am happy to work on myself but for things over and above my skill set I will have to pay hand over fist with a main stealership down the road.

More than unimpressed with some of the local bike dealers stand off approach to bikes not being under there umbrella and shutting you down over the phone with comments like 'we do not service them, try Glasgow etc' / we dont have the tools and we wont be getting them in either / we dont know the settings for that.

I just thought a good bike mech would be able to get there hands on most bikes and work there magic no bother, but if the dealer lacks the enthusiasm to book them in then what hope have I got of avoiding a main dealer hundreds of miles away.

[Coully]

I should add Ecosse were happy to do the mechanical stuff, just if anything needed done diagnostically. But yes, it's grim up north eh!

[haiax0]

Yeah I did have that from one dealer only, but soon found the limitiations verbally - Although If I got to speak with the mech then maybe it would have been a differing story.

[Gazza]

Hello folks..

Recently put my Hypermotard down to Ducati glasvegas for its major service as I couldn't find anyone local who would commit to the full major service for my bike or have the required tools for all aspects of job.

The tard has maintained a full stealer service history since new so I felt it quite important to keep the book right for its big service (I am still reeling from the bill that followed, I cant even say the final invoiced amount out loud with out the baby jeebus weeping )

My thoughts now turn to next years basic service.. It is always nice to have a stealer stamp in the book for re-sale purposes but the cost of getting the bike down to Glasgow and the annual servicing will be near £500 when all is said and done.

Should I just give up on the pedigree history as the bike is out of warranty? service myself? put it to a non dealer for basic services? or try and club together with other owners to help drive a discount on servicing / bike couriers or do I just suck the cost up.. whats peoples thoughts.

There used to be a guy called Kenny Mcwhadmcallit, who was an ex-Shirlaws mechanic and very good with Ducatis. He always did my 916 and 998 from a small garage in Forest Ave Lane. No idea what happened to him, but maybe someone on here can help?

[al]

Kenny McShane?

The place on Forest Ave Lane closed down a long time ago (Aberdeen Motorcycle Service Centre). I belive he was involved with Alba Moto/Moto Meccanica at the arches before they also closed (now where Shirlaws Suzuki is located).

Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian).

[Gazza]

Kenny McShane?

That's the man. Anybody know where he is?

[The Rossi Kid]

Shirlaws have serviced Pixie's 1098s since new in 2007. No problems at all! Serviced every year as required. Sometimes he supplies the belts himself as he can sometimes get them cheaper from dealers down south. Regarding the forks (his are the Ohlins ones), he can either have them removed by Shirlaws and sent South for a quick turn around or Bob @ ERS Racing (Knockhill) can deal with them either there or mobile if he's up in the area.