ducati multistrada servicing

Benhur · Post by **Benhur** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 1:53 pm

Hi All,

am thinking of buying a ducati multistrada....nice shape, fast and light.

However I would like to have your general inputs in terms of servicing. please note that I am bound to do most if not all of my servicing...I dont trust local techs much, and moreover there are some jobs like valve clearances etc which just get ignored, and I dont like that

1. how easy is it to service a ducati multistrada compared to my Transalp XL650v and my FJR1300 (these are my other two bikes, and I do everything I can on those)
2. does one need special tools/laptops/ecu leads etc
3. anyhwere I can get my hands on a service manual (technical) so that i can make up my own mind...I have not even bought the bike yet, so a web based version or something similar would be useful

thanks

R.

Mike101 · Post by **Mike101** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 2:08 pm

I might be wrong but i thought the words easy..ducati and service should never be in the same sentance.

Mike

bimota · Post by **bimota** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 2:41 pm

best of luck with that.

scubabiker · Post by **scubabiker** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 2:47 pm

is it the range of ducatis where you need to buy a ducati tool kit? i know there was some new ducati where to just service it, you need to buy a 20 grand tool kit. not sure on the model though (i work in the motorcycle trade)

AndyB · Post by **AndyB** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 2:54 pm

Forget it. I've got a 2012 Multistrada and even the dealers can't get rid of an ECU fault on it. I work on all my other bikes but because of the warranty issues that surround the Multistrada there's no way I'd try to save a couple of hundred £££ on service bills to be hit with a £1200 one for a new instrument panel when it suffers from burn out on some of the pixels. Cylinder heads porous? That'll be another couple of grand please (thumbs)

You'll also need to spend about £50 on a socket for the front & rear wheel nuts because most tyre dealers don't have one and the last thing you want is a puncture and wherever you get recovered to can't get the wheel out :pinch:

They're brilliant bikes to ride but without full dealer service history nobody will go near it when you come to sell it.

waynecoluk · Post by **waynecoluk** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 3:29 pm

One thing about my Multistarada was it was relatively cheap to get it serviced. No more expensive than a Jap bike. My mate has just had his KTM 990 adventure serviced for £430 which is what I was quoted roughly for my 15000 mile service on the Multistrada.
My local bike mechanics here in great yarmouth won't touch any Ducati due to the tools etc you need.
Plus to be honest from someone who has just had one blow up on him, I wouldn't bother buying one. As Andy says great bikes but not worth the additional headaches that comes with them.

Benhur · Post by **Benhur** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 4:24 pm

Wow....many thanks for such a drastic eye opener.....Japanese it is then

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

AndyB · Post by **AndyB** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 4:36 pm

It depends on if you're buying one with manufacturers warranty on it. The problems that can and do arise with Multistradas are well documented and if they've been resolved a 3-4 year old bike will still be a good buy. If you're loking at one of the first 1200s pm me and I'll give you a heads up on what to check for.

As Wayne says; the service costs aren't stupidly high but it's important that certain things are done at the right time and you need specialist tools to do them. That doesn't mean you won't find a smaller independent dealer who will do them but that's the same with any bike. I always took my BMW to an independent who was 30% cheaper than the main dealer when it needed jobs doing that I don't have the tools for and he'd stamp the book for me saying everything was done if I showed him receipts for the normal consumables.

Heff · Post by **Heff** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 5:23 pm

A friend of mine has a Ducati 1098 Tricolor, which recently suffered a wee bit of a mechanical failure.......Luckily it's being repaired under an extended warranty :blink:

It's still at the dealers and they are having a major headache as they cant get a replacement engine :blink:

The engine is having to be made up at Ducati.........And the price

Wait for it

£14,000 :blink: :blink: :blink: :blink: :blink: :blink: :blink: :blink: :blink: :blink:

Thats more than he paid for the whole bike

tetley · Post by **tetley** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 6:36 pm

I have an early MTS 1200 and yes, I went through the trauma of the initial recalls, but since then its been absolutely great. Super performance, great brakes and handling, crap luggage!

There are "bad uns" out there from all manufacturers. Just look out for the ongoing "my GS broke down" threads.

So contrary to other contributors to this thread I would recommend an MTS.

NB: I use an independent Ducati service agent, Cornerspeed in Mansfield, highly recommended for price and service.

C