After owning 7* trouble free Ducati's I've had my first major issue, < 50 miles in to the ownership and on just the 2nd ride. Now I'm not going to moan and bitch about the bike/manufacturer/dealer, because as of yet they haven't had chance to resolve the issue. Plus, I'm a firm believer in how the resolution is managed as defining the bike/manufacturer/dealer, not the problem. Background: 3 miles in to putting 150 run-in miles on the bike, the dash totally failed, but the bike was ran. Turning the ignition off and on several times didn't resolve the issue, so I decided to return home and call the dealer. Once home I realised the lights, indicators and horn also didn't work). I also discovered drops of oil on the belly pan. Calling the dealer sales guy, he advised me to call Ducati Assistance and have the bike recovered to them. Ducati Assistance were very polite and helpful. They had an issue as their records listed the bike as 4 years old (not weeks old), which was probably due to having the registration number swapped to the new bike. I informed Ducati Assistance I wanted the bike returned to a specific dealer, which they said was OK. At that they had a recovery vehicle dispatched (AA) which arrived ~2.5 hours later. The AA guy was polite and professional, he tested the fuses and made sure the connectors he could get to were seated properly. That done and still no working dash he put the dealer in his tablet and loaded the bike up. I checked it was the dealer I wanted and he it was another deal, which was a nearer but not the one I'd requested. I wanted the bike checked over and fixed by the dealer I purchased from, and who'd taken my money, as I believe they would have a greater moral responsibility to fix the vehicle as I'm their client. Rather than a dealer who lost out on the deal. I think that's appropriate as the bike is less than 6 weeks old. After an hours stand off with the AA controller, who informed me that Ducati Assistance just recovers you the local authorised dealer, not one of your choice, he agreed to take the bike to my chosen dealer as the distance was almost identical. So now the bikes back at the dealer. I'll update later on Monday after the dealer has had a full day to inspect it.
It's my 3rd Pani and the other 2 were very good, so I'm hoping it's just a glitch. I phoned the dealer up earlier and they said "unfortunately you've hit us at a really busy time" adding they'd look at it today if there was time.
True, but doing it the way he has allows the bikes sprung weight to bounce freely - I thought it odd before you commented but then thought it might be a good method. What are your reservations?
Marking the gold stanchions, those straps can be abrasive, I wouldnt want the sprung weight springing around. This how I roll. Bar straps and rear straps, tight enough to not have the bike bouncing around. Its just had week on a travelling back from Brno strapped down in the same fashion.
Good points on the straps - I use the R & G ones that go round the clip on. Heard from the dealer this morning. They checked over the bike last night and plugged in the Ducati diagnostics system, however it needs the dash to work in order to tell them what's wrong, so they've emergency ordered a new dash and that should be there by tomorrow morning. They checked all the connectors as everything was seated. I found some oil on the bottom of the fairings, so they're looking in to that as well. Fingers crossed things are moving forward quickly.
Good luck with getting it fixed ... And it will be good to know the cause I recently broke down on my 916 (rectifier connector as it turned out) Called the AA, who insisted they send someone to fix rather than collect my bike ... I explained it probably wouldn't be repairable at the roadside, waited 2 hours for a non AA chap to arrive who agreed he couldn't get the bike going and suggested I call the AA again for a collection! 2 hours later they finally arrived .... Took about 45 mins to unload the trailer and attach the bike.
The dealer called to say all fixed. Cause of the electrical issues was the dash. The oil leek was coming from the clutch cover, which they've nipped up the bolts on. Heading over to collect it now. The dealer had staff working on it in the evenings to turn around in the shortest possible time. From bust on Sat afternoon to fixed Thurs afty, I'm pleased with their service. At all times they were polite and apologetic.
The dealer was Hyside. Peter & Scott were great, putting a huge effort in to turning around the bike ASAP, and hugely apologetic for a problem which wasn't of their making. As I put in the first post, I believe we distinguish ourselves by what we do when things go wrong, and the guys executed perfectly. I got a bee sting on the temple on the way back, that's still hurting :/
Thats really good to hear the service was quality and great you've got the bike back. We're heading down to boxhill for the Dianese ladies leather event tomorrow morning if you're interested? The vague plan is to go there for around 10-1100hrs so @MissPineapple can get some sexy leathers and then probably some pub good at Gomshall Mill close to Newlands corner and go for a ride somewhere for the afternoon.
Tomorrow, I'm off to the Cheltenham area ~ 8am then heading back ~4pm. If you're going to be around the Oxford area I could prob shift my return.
