Having just replaced the tyres on my V4S the past day or so a few things came to light which I thought I’d share as it’s unlikely either your dealer will check these at the annual inspection or whomever changes your tyres will check them or tell you about them. Firstly, the rear wheel bearings, the ones actually in the wheel, it doesn’t seem to apply so much to the one in the sprocket carrier. I genuinely thought mine were seized, especially as there have been quite a few stories across social media channels of people having to have them replaced. Neither side could be rotated at all. Gunge and road dirt builds up in there and they become stuck to the inner spacer. I found when I cleaned out this area with lubricant and a pick and cloth and gave them a gentle tap they freed off and rotated again. Secondly, the cush drive on the sprocket appears not to have been greased at all when assembled at the factory and there was some quite bad corrosion between the metal posts and the cush drive rubber metal tubes. Thirdly, the front axle also appears not to have been greased upon original assembly and now, after 12 months and 14K Km is irretrievably marked with corrosion. The surface of it is actually ribbed (like the external surface of outer fork legs) and thus it can’t just be rubbed down. I doubt my bike is alone in these matters and guess it will apply equally to the V4, V4S and Pikes Peak. From now on these will be annual checks on my bike by myself aside from the Dealer’s annual inspection.
You are dead right ..... those components should be greased from the get go . Could be any number of reasons - A. you were just unlucky , and got the one-in-a-thousand affected . B. there wasn't any grease within easy reach on that particular Friday afternoon C. further evidence that standards are continuing to slide at the factory
I think the bikes are made in batches & some xenophobia slips into the quality-control system of where the end destination is. Or prehaps some lazy basics are ignored but this isn't uncommon. If I was to be able to buy a new ducati, the wheels would be off straight away & inspected even at dealership rates with me inspecting them. Ducati uk should be getting involved from a delivery point overseeing random vehicles standard. The bikes are known to have been built by certain technicians, its all track & trace.. ..who'd not grease these moving parts!!
It’s been over 20 years since I last bought a brand new bike, until this one last year, but if I’m fortunate enough to be in a position to purchase a new one again I think I will do just that, wheels off and make sure both axles and bearings are greased sufficiently to retard the effects of damp Northern Europe climates.
Firstly, I don't mind a dirty bike mine needs a clean after a wet weekend ride. The question is what colour is your rear sprocket because mine is black and yours doesn't look like it is black at all? My V4S is a July 21 bike just wondering if they changed colour / supplier and if that makes any difference?
Interesting thread, thanks for bringing this to everyone’s attention. I’ll get my dealer to pop the wheels off and have a look, when they have my bike in soon.
Mine’s black its just covered in chain grease and road muck. If I go back in time to August last year when the bike was just delivered you can see it sparkling clean and black.
Bike is a V4S with 11K Miles on the clock. I had the rear wheel out today so that a new Road 6 could be fitted so was a good time to check the rear bearings. Lots of crud in the wheel bearings, worse on the brake side. The actual bearings are looking OK and have freed off with some help, a clean out and some lube. The rubber bushes in the chain side were very dry and a bit corroded, just a clean-up and lube. Spindle was Ok again clean and lube, worst parts were the Sprocket sleeve and the inner spacer on the brake side, both dry, corroded and marked, could be that they are doing their job in protecting the bearings, both will be changed very soon! Pt Nos are 71312051A and 713A361AA - items 15 and 16 on the parts diagram. Thanks to @West Cork Paul for the Heads up and definitely worth checking. The rear wheel spins much more freely now and next job is the front!
My sprocket inside & outside spacer and the brake side spacer. Dry and scored. As their just spacers they’re not on my replacement list yet.
Never use a Jet Wash on this bike or any other Spoken with my dealer and new rear bearings and spacers etc. will be ordered and fitted under warranty.
I’ve used a jet wash on all my bikes, never had a single issue. Just don’t point it where the bearings and sensitive parts are. Common sense really.
Had the rear wheel off today. Bikes done 7500 miles. Only seen rain twice. Gets washed after every run which is between 100 and 200 miles. There was no corrosion, or scores. the posts were a little dry but were like new. Nothing resembled West Cork Paul's photos.
Mine’s seen a fair bit of rain but no salt. Although I posted this in the MultiStrada section I would have thought it will apply to any new bike coming off the production line for Ducati will be using the same supplier for bearings on all models and applying little or no grease on all models. Yes I use a Karcher, on a soft setting and from a good distance. Blimey, Ducati even used a garage jet wash on the bikes in the original promotional video when the bike first came out. I don’t think it’s the fault of a jet wash more like dry assembly and possibly inferior (but cheaper) components compared to some others.
That was quick and a good response from the dealer. The fact they acted the way they did so promptly, plus numerous others have had theirs changed, makes me think Ducati know there’s an issue.
