This was not overtightened. We've just got a snap-on torque wrench set to 15Nm and held it the same distance as our bondus driver and no way was it done up that tight. The bolts were "lubed" with red thread lock. They were spun to closed using finger and thumb, then tightened with a 5" long "'L" shaped bondus. They were not eased up 1-2-1-2-1 I admit, nor was it done with a torque wrench. It was all we had at the tyre depot. We are aware of the potential for breaking these, so care was taken. To be honest I'm not into "blame claim", just deeply concerned that this fault could occur so easily. I will send the bits to Ducati, but I understand that FTR are a main Ohlins dealer, so any report could be slanted. After all why would you want to sour a relationship with such a good brand name partner over an out of warranty part? Further one side is 11mm thick at it's thinest point and the other 5.5mm (where the crack started), surely it would be better to make both sides the same thickness / strength? Note the on the n/s the pinch bolts were worrying loose, so we were not being ham fisted, more the other way.
as said repeatedly, this is not so much who did it, as how it came to happen. Out of interest does the 15 Nm torque figure stress that this is in conjunction with lubrication?
When i had my Tuono Factory, Griff at AP warned me of this problem. There seem to be various different suggestions as to the actual torque recommendation. ohlins forks
It's a weight thing, everyone wants the lightest bike, just like a racer, a Multistrada is actually lighter than a 916 to do that they have to save weight everywhere they can.
It was interesting to see Ohlins say that the Ducati spindles are very thin and can deform. With about 98% of the surface area wrapped by the fork leg that sounds a bit odd. Maybe I should make myself a titanium wheel spindle so I can have a slightly thicker wall on it for the same weight
Lets just clear this up. It’s got little to do with weight; as it would make just a few grams of difference. IMHO it’s to do with looks; The castings are different, left and right, so one could have more metal, if so designed. They already have different weights, as one has more metal machined out of it. With regard to overall shape they are identical albeit mirrored, with one minor exception (ABS sensor) mounting. The offside could easily be increased to the same overall wall thickness as the nearside, however one side would then appear (and be) bigger. This part is critical to the safe operation of the motorcycle, yet with two people with 60+ years and 300K miles on motorcycles, both with high engineering sympathy and intelligence could easily have killed someone. Something is clearly wrong here. Lesson from History Colin Chapman designed brilliant racing machines, but I wouldn’t travel across any of his bridges or on his train/plane! “Just strong enough” is not good enough for me and the loved ones who depend on me. Once this is fixed I’m going to make my self a real pain in the arse for these guys…come on…make it stronger.
Guess the only way you will know for sure is to get an independent inspection by a metallurgist. Anything else is pure speculation. A subsequent report in your favour would also go a long way in providing a case for reimbursement, if nothing else.
WHY WHY WHY..... I'm saying that it's really really easy to break. I'm not saying the metal was faulty, just the design! If an accident resulted from a wheel change in the USA I'm sure some legal type would crawl from under a rock, sting someone then sue the arse off Ohlins/Ducati for bad design. I'm not saying I followed the workshop proceedure, but instead did what many a motorcyclist does and removed /then refitted a wheel. Something you have may have to do when on tour; to find/fix a puncture. I'm not changing timing belts or reprogramming the ECU. For christ sake I didn't trust the tyre fitters as I thought (wrongly) that I knew better. Just 5.5mm thick of alloy is all that is holding that front wheel on the off side. Think about that next time, you and the missus leave the kids with the parents and head off to the South of France. There's twice as much on the near side! It needs to be stronger...thats my point...end of.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm........Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Sense of humour now found....no I'm saying it was a pot hole on the way back from Hastings last week. I think I'll sue the council, thank god, as I'm still alive when clearly he wanted me dead.
Thickness of material is not necessarily indicative to overall strength. Stand on top of a box of eggs with them all standing up and it will hold your weight just fine. Simply cause yours broke does not mean therefore design was root cause. Not trying to antagonise you as you don't need any more stress over the situation. Just needs to be looked at objectively and professionally before communicating out to the masses that they are all riding potential ticking time bombs.
I think you should be content with knowing you found it this way rather than via a big pothole in the middle of nowhere. Its not an isolated case. I've learned in life that its not worth getting to angry about these things, its wasted energy.
Yet another Multistrada failing ........ Glad I got rid of mine , time everybody wised up and admitted to the fact that these bikes are riddled with one problem after another , some of them potentially serious , If you do miles and weather on these bikes they will surely break , I rest my case .... they are rubbish
Hey Brian! Glad you're back! I see you're wavering about whether to get another Multi. Don't rush into though, think it through
Oz posted same issue on his 2010 Multi on a different forum , I think the bike was out of warranty but Ducati covered the cost of the part .
Bitter, bitter , all bikes has issues , alot of times the complaints end up on forums . No need to trash the bike .
Oh no, Brian's stalking the gaff, just waiting to pounce the moment he spots anything else that someone has a problem with. He's become obsessed - or posessed even. He'll never, ever give up. He's the new Michael Myers/Freddy Krueger. AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHH!! RUN!
