My annual service is due in February. I’m currently at 14,500 miles on a 2016 DVT and I’m going to be due for a Desmo service at 18,000 miles. I had a service last year at 8,400 and P&H recently did some warranty work and checked the bike I’m probably not going to be using it regularly (3 daily commutes a week to London) until March and then I’m going to be away for about a month. I'm away to Europe in mid June, so would get it done before that. I've got an extended warranty. What’s the best option for this as I don’t really want to have to pay for 2 services so close together. Shall I just get the demo service done early as part of the annual service? Quotes are: Annual service is £235 inc VAT Desmo service is £1012 inc VAT (gulp)
Depending on the month the bike was made, I would be using an independent, as 235 quid for an oil change, and a grand are both equally ridiculous. So, if it's out of warranty ? I am horrified how much main dealer service prices have risen over the last 5 years. I had an annual oil service 5 years ago at £160 main dealer, now at main stealer's, £250, a 60% increase ?? 2 hours for a an oil change ?? Come on !!! It's not just the £80 an hour, its the dragged out till 2 hours bit that pisses me off, there is no way that annual is 2 hours. So, IMO, independant....Rant over EDIT, sorry , just seen extended warranty, oh well, swallow it up and cough up then PS. Desmo early with annual seems the way forward, be interested to see if that gets priced at 235+1012 ??
I have had to ask the same question on my Multistrada, my 1098R and Carole’s Diavel. After due consideration, all 3 had their desmo service early. Andy
Regardless of warranty, I’d still go main dealer. Ducati UK do sometimes help out with defects after warranties run out, but only if they are happy with the service history. My 1299S went pop 2 weeks after a 7,500 mile service completed a month or so after the warranty ran out. Ducati UK and my dealer (Aylesbury) helped out with parts and labour respectively and saved me the thick end of £10k. That wouldn’t have happened if I had gone elsewhere for that last service...
Under the latest schedules, the annual can be done independently of the desmo. Get the annual done, then wait til the 18k clicks up. The warranty is dependant on the service schedule being followed
Chris, I had the same problem, except my bike was just out of warranty. My annual service was due in October last year with the bike also at 16,500 miles. I called Snells and talked to Tom, the boss. He said forget the annual as it's winter and not many miles will be added, then get the Desmo service before my summer continental jaunts. He said Ducati were quite sympathetic with post warranty defects, as @Jolley mentioned, so a main dealer history can help there.
Chris, inspired by your post I've researched Desmo service costs. Snells quoted me £850 - £900 depending on parts like shims. Beats P&H, probably as Snells hourly rate is less at £78 incl. An independent - Ducati South London in Walton on Thames - quote £768 incl. I'm waiting on a reply from another independent, Ducati Pro Team, in Strood, Kent, who quote a rate of £54 incl.
I can vouch for this, my DVT's warranty ran out in October last year and at 30k miles it recently developed a leak from the rh side of the radiator where the mounting bracket bolts to it, Italia Moto put in a goodwill claim to Ducati UK, they needed a copy of all the service stamps and they have accepted the claim, which is fortunate as a new rad is £800+ . Sadly they won't cover the labour which is about £80, or for the replacement of the rh fork seal which is also leaking .
Having had a goodwill claim on my cylinder heads in the past on my old Multi (which Ducati paid) I'd only use a main dealer. I'll ask them to match prices and probably go for the Desmo service a bit early.
Nothing to stop you removing bodywork etc prior to taking bike in. I did this when I had belts changed. In doing so you've removed 1 1/2 - 2 hours labour.
Why not have an oil change (if that’s interim) and do yourself then have the big service when you return and wrap the, officially in te book at that time?
Why not have an oil change (if that’s interim) and do yourself then have the big service when you return and wrap the, officially in te book at that time?
Peace of mind is what it's all about for me, together with a good relationship with your dealer. Outside of warranty I'd perhaps choose an independent, depending on bike, mileage, potential faults, service history if a second hand bike etc but in warranty it's main dealer for me.
I'm gradually working up to doing my DVT service. The bike is stripped down. I made a tool to remove that side vertical cylinder plug. I have measured the clearances only on the vertical head so far and all are too large. I shall have my trailer soon. The plan is to do as much as I can, which might actually be the whole service, and then get it checked by an expert by trailering it stripped down. I give you an indication how determined i am not to pay anything like £1000 for a service.... i haven't used the bike for a year and I put that £1000 towards a nearly new Harley Fat Bob 114. I like to have something to show for my money.
