Flaking Paint

Wow, that's appallling. The attitude from Ducati UK about that is very poor too. That's just not good enough.

 

Yep. Almost Everyone since about 1990 has the odd bolt, paint Mismatch, powder coating or casing issue!

Afraid it's almost always been on a one for one basis with D-Uk. Especially on engine casings with Nakeds, monsters, streetfighters, hypermotards are especially vulnerable.

My '07 hyper gone around front cylinder head an generally underneath. My '05 monster, '08 848 (was also two Different colours left and right hand side!) all had it and my '95 748sp (seat unit and tank different yellows!) was one the worst I ever seen..

Flash in dark garage does Tend to make it look worse.....

 

Christ! that looks like melted plastic thats awful. My old Monster 600 was ridden in all weathers and didnt look that bad and you would have thought that paint technology would have moved on.

On another note the Marchesinis on my 996 flaked like buggery when the bike only had 8500 miles ion the clock, turns out there was no primer (which should have been etch primer) used on the bare alloy. Obviously not Ducati's fault per se but it doesnt do their reputation any good.

In my book they are still trying to build their reputation from the days of flaking chrome and poor electrics in the 70's - 80's.

 

Agreed. My Hyper is easily that bad - it does get ridden all year around in Scottish weather mind

 

On closer inspection I've got paint going on the water pump and cover...but only in a small area (lower side of water pump, and the area on the case where it meets)

The rest of the engine is totally unaffected (first load of ammo right there!), a few scruffy fasteners here and there but the bike still scrubs up like new.

I've got to pop down to the dealers this week so I'll raise the issue then.

 

In the case of cars, the 'anti-corrosion warranty' relates to the pressed steel bodywork, doors and sub-frames. You would not get much success trying to get the alloy crankcase or gearbox casing etc of a car replaced under warranty because they are looking corroded (although still fully functional). We seem to have higher expectations in the case of bikes, presumably because the engines are more visible, but those high expectations are sometimes disappointed.

 

The parts you mention are unprotected alloy - so no surprise they start looking rough, and as you say complaining about it would get you nowhere. But painted cam covers etc are a different matter, I've seen plenty replaced under warranty when they start flaking. There's been enough BMW boxer front covers replaced to set a precedent :tongue: Mine was one of them.

It's simply an issue of paint adherence - if you can't make it stick, don't paint it in the first place.

 

I went to RS Paints to get the engine paint matched up for my fuglystrada. They analysed the paint flakes I gave them and said it was a very thin, poor quality powder coat with no sign of any kind of primer. Bad workmanship, in other words. Sounds like not much has changed.

 

Funnily enough Andy, mine has all of the same issues. My front wheel spindle and swingarm bolts are looking rough, the caliper bolts are too but I replaced them with Ti when I switched to the M4s.

And yes, my Termi headers are a lovely shade of brown too. I'm intending to get them ceramic coated this winter while the bike is off the road.

 

Cheap fasteners - every bike you look at has 'em...

 

Oh font of all knowledge and information....mutley guru Andy, would you happen to know or have an email address for the md/ceo of Ducati uk?
Would anyone?

 

Will have to see if Zircotec's coatings hold up any better, but I can live with recoating from time to time if it means less maintenance in between.

The dealer has said they'll address the cover corrosion at service time, which is at least vaguely promising. Will be sorting the crap paint on the panels and wheels this winter. Fancy a new set of wheels but fear anything lighter than existing is going to see me in the hedge within 10 seconds - not sure I need it to steer any faster than it already does!

 

Bloody hell, Andy, I wouldn't call that bad at all. In fact I'd say it was normal. A few years back, when you paid a good premium for ducatis over the run-of-the-mill bikes, you'd be rightly up in arms about such carbuncles. But Ducatis are even par with most bikes on price now, and something has to give in the manufacturing process to allow that competitive price. I've seen far worse from Triumph and Honda. Perhaps I'm not being picky enough...

 

I don't think the exhaust is a Ducati issue as the MIVV I have on mine is just the same (although MIVV are Italian!) but more to do with the way stainless steel weathers.

 

Just heard from SMC that they have had the go ahead from Tony Cowley who I think is an area manager to replace my engine casing under warranty

 

I recall that Ducati stated that casing corrosion would no longer be covered under warranty about 4 years ago,because it was costing them a fortune on the air cooled motors, so if you are getting yours done, well done! that sets a president for others to claim also. It may well end up costing them a fortune.

 

Were it standard, perhaps. But that sort of finish on a £1500 aftermarket exhaust system isn't exactly brilliant (and after 2 years they look much worse than in Andy's pictures). The Arrow race system on my Speed Triple fared better despite having to endure winter abuse, and yet only cost a quarter of the price.