Sorry - newbie question. 1,000 miles and a year after my 5,000 mile 749R having a BIG service including belts, I'm planning on dropping it into a local Ducati independant for a service. I'm sure I've read that 'R's needed a belt change every year however I'm being told 2 years is OK (and the service manual seems to back this up). Dilema - don't like spending money for the sake of it vs. don't particularly fancy an engine re-built either if the belts wear/break.
Every 2 years! I've heard some talk about changing them every year but I think its complete rubbish! I took belts off my 749R that had been standing idle in a damp garage for more than three years, and they were in perfect condition, hadn't set into shape at all.
I thought the official statement was every year or 6000 miles for an R, but if they're in good nick why?
I can't remember what the perceived wisdom was when this subject was raised last time over on the other place. Having had a 749R and a 748R, I seem to remember that one was every year. TBH, I change mine every year on my track bikes and whatever the service schedule states on my road bikes. Hopefully Nelly will drop in on this thread: from memory, he had valid views on the subject last time.
When the bikes were launched, Ducati recommended belts every year. However, somewhere around 2007, Ducati issued a service update, and swapped to, bikes used on the road require belts every 2 years. If bikes are used on track, then belts every year. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the feedback guys. I've no reason to doubt what I'm being told by the guy I want to carry out the service, but remembered from when I was considering changing from an 'S' to an 'R' that the general view was once a year? once a year for track and every two for the road seems sensible though.
What's the definition of "track"? My R is used on approx 4 or 5 Trackdays per year, say 500 miles. How can this be worse on the belts than 10000 road miles? I'd be grateful if somebody could please provide a sensible technical answer. R
When it was explained to me, "track" meant the bike was used as a race bike only, a few track days a year would not qualify as track use. As such, race bikes need belts every year, while road and odd track day bikes every 2 years.
Thats right every 2 years or every 12000 miles. The belts do last longer, but who is going to take the chance ? if they snap its big trouble. Saying that the old 2 valve air-cooled motors, seem to last longer. I remember looking at a 600 monster some years ago, that was up for sale. The young man who owned it didnt have any ideal about Ducati having cam belts. He had owned the bike for 5 years and clocked up 20,000 miles.
On monster AK done well over 20k/5y of daily use. I was under impression that R bikes just like 999 one's have belts every 1y/6k miles but good to know.
Having just spent a fortune on my motor, I'm not going to take the risk for a few squids worth of belts
Change every couple of years on my 999r. Use it for track. Only do a few trackdays per year due to expatriation.
999 BP and S have always been every 2 years, and the R is the same as the 749r, every 2 years for road based bikes.
That may be right for modern models but the **9 range is 2 years or 6000 miles . Whichever comes first.
