Maintenance on Ducati

Hey Guys,
I'm interested in purchasing a bike again. I'm just wondering, since I've never owned a Ducati, how much would the maintenance on a Ducati 848 be? Also compare that to a 2007+ Yamaha R6? Any detailed explanation opinions would be appreciated. Is the maintenance on the 2 bikes going to be pretty close price or will it be completely different? Thank you in advance.

 

Send a PM to SManZ. He works on bikes and probably can answer your question.

 

The two couldn't be any further apart. Your maintenance costs on a Ducati will be higher. Spare parts will be a bit harder to find and more expensive as well.

On any pre-2007 Ducati, the desmodromic valves require adjustment every 6000mi. 2007+ models were updated and valve adjustment intervals increased to 7500mi. Figure about $400 for each valve adjustment, if you can't do it yourself (I don't do these).

The timing belt does also need to be changed. I believe the interval was 12,000-15,000mi and it can be done in conjunction with the valve adjustments to save on labor.

In contrast, most Yamaha sportbikes have a valve adjustment interval of 26,600mi, approximately four times as long as the Ducati and use a timing chain that does not have a maintenance requirement. Most riders don't hold onto a bike for this long. My '06 Yamaha FZ1 is coming up on its first valve adjusment and I bought this bike new.

Aside from the timing belt and valves, the basic maintenance requirements for both are pretty similar.

If you ride a lot, the maintenance costs are something to consider. If you don't ride very much at all, it might not matter as much. You can get a Japanese bike with similar or better ride experience as a Ducati, with less maintenance headache. You just miss out on the whole Ducati 'thing', whatever that may be.

To sum it up, I talked to a hardcore Ducati-ist and told him I'd never own one because of the heavy maintenance requirements. His response was "You're just not ready for a Ducati" They're good bikes - just know what you're getting into before you make that committment!

 

I'm going to agree with SmanZ on this. I own a 2007 R6 and plan to add an 848 Evo to my garage before too long. They both have their purpose and pros/cons. The R6 is 100% track duty right now and will probably stay that way.

 

Thank you very much. My friends told me it would pricey but they didn't know just how bad the maintenance will be. I might have to go with a japanese bike. I don't ride a lot but, when i do, i don't want to have to worry about maintenance. I had an 03 yamaha r6 so it would safe to assume that the 07+ models will probably have the same maintenance requirements.

 

Maintence on Ducs is not that bad. You have a 600 mile service, which is somewhere around $150. After that no more service until 7500. Also with the 848, you have the wet clutch setup. That reduces some of the maintenance costs compared to Ducati's with the dry clutch.
Having a Ducati is like no other bike out there. The sounds, looks, and feelings while riding it. The 848 is a great bike and so amazing to ride. To me, take the time and go ride the 848 and see if you like it. Hope some of this helps. Good luck.

 

+1 on the new 848 EVO.

Japanese sport bikes are like bikini models, hot and often loaded with aftermarket parts, but nothing you would want to go the distance with.

Chris 4x4 whant Triumph(s) do you currently have?

 

I've worked on a few Ducatis. They are enticing but just are practical for most people who put alot of miles on a bike. My dealership ended their dealership status with ducati, not because the bikes weren't selling but because it was such a headache to get parts! Simple things, such as an oil filter, would take weeks to arrive. And if you needed some sort of engine component or bodywork, forget about it. We had far too many complaints. The way they constantly change ownership creates alot of problems.

 

somebody has alotta time and money!

 

I have the bad habit of tearing my engines a part and rebuilding them, usually with larger bore pistons, valves etc. and I always look at things from cylinder count. It is so much easier and cheaper to work on 2 cylinders than 4 or even worse the 8 in my LS1.

 

Ducati's and other european bikes are generally not to much more expensive for basic maintinance (unless you have an MV Agusta). But repairs and repair parts for them can get pricey. You will shell out quite a bit more for parts on a Euro bike over a Japanese one. Here are my bikes:

 

I love and hate you all at the same time... you sir, have excellent taste

Lovin' the single exhaust on the Hyper

 

Thanks, its the Ducati Performance exhaust and it sounds great. The Hyper with that exhaust, the race cams and race ECU is a BEAST to say the least.

I want to put this exhaust on the hyper: