My bike is currently in for a service at Forza Italia. They found that, unfortunately, the radiator has a leak somewhere around the centre, no apparent stone damage or similar. The warranty expired 2/3/14. On the off chance I wrote to Ducati via the contact contact form on their website, saying that my bike was in for service at Forza, based at Silverstone circuit, you know, where Ducati UK are based. Imagine my surprise when in around an hour an Italian lady was on the phone asking me to forward my registration as the bike was still registered to the previous owner. She said that she would send an email confirming her request, and also forward my email to Ducati UK. The email was with me when I got off the phone. I was very impressed with the efficiency. Six days later I receive an email from Ducati UK saying take the bike to my Ducati authorised dealer for photos, copies of the full service history and reports, which will be submitted to the Ducati Area After Sales Manager for consideration. Now I wasn't hopeful, but SIX days, when Italy, the centre of everything Ducati, can respond within an hour! Additionally, what exactly do they do to a radiator during a Ducati authorised dealer service? Certainly less impressed since my query went from Ducati to Ducati UK.
I'd hang fire and see if they can change your radiator as an act of good will bearing in mind you're out of warranty
My radiator went the day before my bike went in for it's 2 year service (June 14), I thought I'd picked up a stone but Riders surprised me by getting it sorted under warranty & I got the bike back a week later. I thought it was early 848's that had dodgy radiators & it was all sorted for the Evo version?
My leak wasn't the normal top left by the bracket. According to Forza, what had happened was a cable had rubbed through very slightly at the rear. The good news is that a radiator firm at the circuit has repaired it at 'considerably' less cost than a re-core or a new one. The bad news is that a strange whine that Forza heard is more than likely the main bearings!! :Nailbiting: Watch this space...
That'll be Earls, next to Baines, I suspect. Good guys. (Once when I was told somewhere else that I was looking at a new oil cooler cos of a leak, John Baines looked sceptically at the cooler, nipped upstairs to have Earls pressure test it, and it transpired the cooler was fine and it was a faulty 20p washer on the connector.)
DUK are pretty good. I had to do the same, send photos etc but they paid for the radiator and I had to pay the labour. I was nearly a year out of warranty.
My leak was the top left bracket, On 1198, I ended up replacing with standard. I'd seen items on net and given details by a dealer, "Studio reinart" stay well clear, the Rad was a mess, returned it and got my money back
Working with Italy in August is an odissey... All here ara in vacation and seems closed. Btw, I had the same "problem" with my 848 radiator. And (I was out of warranty) they do all the work free because a recall from Ducati. The radiator is a defective piece on the 848, so they usually take care of it also after the warranty. (Ps: sorry for my english... I'm triyng to evolve it.. )
I don't have any experience of Ducati UK, but since my original complaint about difficulties registering my 998 Ducati HO have been right on the case. I Bought the bike in May from an authorised concessionaire in Germany and have since suffered a suspected head gasket failure. Ducati HO have basically organised the return and repair of the bike FOC and it's due to be transported first week in September. This is a twelve year old 998 BTW and all I had to do was copy them in with my correspondence with the German agent. Couldn't be more impressed!
