OK, so problems WILL be over-represented in online fora, but I do suspect the percentage to be higher than 5%. Why? I'm on a number of the Porsche 911 forums, where the first generation of watercooled engines had some particularly common problems. And there is indeed a deal of first hand evidence, from owners and servicing specialists, but that's far outweighed by owners who haven't had a problem but who may be worried about it or who are reporting no issues. In defending a class action suit in the US, Porsche had to reveal the % of cars affected and it was (ISTR) about 3-4%. In the various Multistrada forums, I see a much higher proportion of reported problems to those either trying to find out or reporting complete satisfaction.
I'd be interested to see the contents of your letter. I am still getting over the disappointment with the poor quality of my bike. And wish I'd bought a GS.
I've read on another forum blokes banging on about the crap telelever front end, no feel etc, I did have to laugh, I've scratched in the Alps and the Pyrenees on one and me and my mates are no mugs, they are brilliant bikes if ridden properly. I just hope I don't regret my decision but I won't dwell on it, if it starts buggering about its going and sod the cost implication. So far so good though and I'm enjoying it, it's really impressed me so far, it's such a shame Ducati won't take these issues more seriously. Why not replace a couple of faulty bikes, return them to the factory and strip and test every component, they must be able to identify any faults then ? The dealers can't be helping, they don't get paid much for warranty work so they should be jumping up and down on our behalf as well as theirs.
The telelever front end is one of the things I wanted. After spending £600 on getting the front end rebuilt on my base model MTS do stop front end dive, but still have suspension movement I was left disappointed. The BMW front end IS a revelation. The GS proves you can have a soft set up but still retain top handling characteristics. When my MTS was set up soft it handled shite IMO. I did get it to handle good but at the expense of a nice ride.
Good choice. Had the 1st service on my 2016 R1200GS TE last Saturday, gets better every time I ride it. The only Ducati I'll consider in the future, will be an old classic one that you expect to be unreliable!
I wish I'd know this before I traded my bike this week but... I've recently been in touch with a UK Multi DVT rider who successfully got a replacement bike from Ducati after a year of trouble very similar to my own. My dealers repeatedly told me I wouldn't be able to get a replacement bike from Ducati and that the warranties were provided to sort issues such as mine. In my opinion my bike was never fit for purpose. The chap in question had gone through similar arguments with his dealer but then contacted the legal advice team at MCN... soon after Ducati replaced his bike for a brand new one of the same spec! I'm pretty sure that Ducati know that if anyone actually took them to court over a refusal to replace the bike they would have no leg to stand on. Imagine if all of us with problem bikes got together and sued them - unwanted headlines in motorcycle press and an inevitably big negative impact upon the prestige of the brand! from what I've learned you can still reject a bike in the UK even up to 6 years old! Don't believe your dealers if they tell you that you won't get a replacement bike, I did and I wish I hadn't:rage::rage::rage:
Agreed. I'm a great fan of Telelever and an even bigger one of the Hossack suspension on the K1300S - I just wish more bikes had them and one thing that would put me off buying a BMW would be if they switched to conventional forks - that's what's disappointed me about the R1200RS. IMHO, they don't lack feedback, it's just that it's a different feedback from tele forks and needs time to learn and understand. I see so much complaining (online and in person) about poor suspension on people's bikes and I can pretty much guarantee that, 90% of the time, it's poor setup (which isn't difficult) or poor riding technique.
+1 in praise of the front telelever suspension on 1150 RT, mine is 2001 vintage. You can grab a handful of front brake and it doesn't dive but the ride is plush. Picking my DVT up in 2weeks time, hope the skyhook is worth it as it has a lot to live up to.
Cheers bradders, let us know when and if your heading to the cafe in Llandovery sometime, we can compare notes
Hi Lgresh, I've had the same problem. Had loads of issues with my first multistrada DVT, Had fuel sender, immobiliser, exhaust sensor and then the exhaust blew up all in three months. I do 200 miles a day commute and need something reliable so this wasn't cutting it. It was embarrassing that this new bike had broken down more times in 4000 miles than my F800 GS that had 130,000 miles! I spoke with Ducati UK and then with my dealer and as such quoted under the consumer rights act that they either give me my money back or a replacement. I was really tempted to the money and never go back to Ducati but decided to give them one more chance so had a replacement. I've had it a week put 1000 miles on it, no problems so far. Swat up on your rights. If you think you've got a lemon reject it as you purchased a motorbike not an excuse to go to the garage every couple of weeks! Regards Ed
Just a quick update... I've now managed 770 miles on the GS Adventure and have had no issues at all. I'm really enjoying the confidence to go places that it inspires and am happy with my decision to trade my multi for a bike that actually works! It is rather telling that in a whole year I only managed, and not for want of trying, 4000 miles on the Multi and yet I've done 770 on the beamer in less than a week! Well done BMW and how embarrassing Ducati?
Splitforit I don't for one minute blame you for moving on after the problems you experienced and I would have done the same. But just for the sake of some balance. In 40 years of riding the only bike I know of between myself and all my mates that had to come home on a trailer despite two attempts to fix it by the biggest dealer in Spain was a BMW :grimacing:. I also happen to know someone else who eventually shamed BMW into replacing his K1200 after a year with a brand new K1300 only by posting video clips on You Tube and elsewhere showing it constantly stalling in traffic in dangerous situations. Again no-one from BMW seemed able to fix it. As part of the deal he had to sign a legal letter agreeing to remove all the clips and any defamatory comments. I'd still contemplate an S1000XR though because I don't think these experiences are typical of the brand, in the same way I don't think your experience is typical of all Ducati's. Enjoy your GS .
You are I take your point pl2112. I've got 2 friends with 4 Ducati bikes between them (2 DVT multis a street fighter and a panni 1198). One of the multis' had the date time error but apart from that they have had no issues. I think my problem is not so much with the bikes but with the expectation of the dealers and manufacturers that you should put up with a Friday night/Monday morning bike (lets face it, all manufacturers make them) despite paying the same as all those happy people riding around on a reliable bike. Having a warranty to address the issues is all well and good providing you: a. Have a job that allows you to take time off for frequent visits to the dealers to drop off and collect. b. Manage to get all of your bikes issues resolved within the warranty period. c. Are prepared to lose money paid for ferries, eurostar, motorail etc when your bike breaks just before (or during) your touring holiday. d. Don't rely on your bike for routine transport (work etc). e. Don't mind waiting weeks to get your bike a slot in the dealers workshop because they are too busy to fit you in. If you have a bike that is constantly having issue after issue and this is preventing you from using it as well as causing constant inconvenience, then the dealers should be replacing the bike for one that works. Most people are riding theirs happily but if you are one of the unfortunate few and you paid just as much of your hard earned as everyone else - they should exchange your bike. Some manufacturers are better at this side of customer care than others and sadly mine and a few other multi riders experience of Ducati customer care is not what we deserve given the premium we paid to ride these bikes. The vast majority of Ducati riders will be overjoyed with their purchase - the bikes have amazing performance and most will suffer no more trouble than can be reasonably expected from a new machine. The fact that the odd few problem bikes aren't replaced, after a reasonable stab at getting them fixed fails, is all the more intolerable given that they cost as much as a good car. Even more so when you count the financial cost of selling a 1 or 2 year old bike to get back funds to buy something, hopefully, more reliable. Of course, you won't get the full 'Ducati experience' until you buy a lemon from them and I hope that never happens:thumbsup:
I agree with what you said also I've also owned a GS for a time , the people suggesting the telelever suspension being the same as the mts and being as fast around the twisties are clearly talking bollocks imho It's night and day It's a bit like the People with GS's that say they passed a sports bike. A decent rider on a decent sports bike would leave an MTS all day and it would leave a GS a lot sooner. At reasonable speeds they are all pretty similar Was out with a guy over the Alps last week on a huge K1300gt and it was surprisingly quick , but when it came to pushing it a bit more , the Ducati could pull away And that is what I paid for. Now if you'd excuse me I'm off to get my new fork seals and disks replaced
