As my opening thread a few days ago, in the Spring I hope to purchase my first ever Ducati. I will have a limited budget of just over £10k and looking to purchase 899 I have over the last 25 years only ever owned Japanese bikes, and from memory other than routine servicing, tyres, chains etc, I have only had to replace the odd bulb or two I have had my CBR 1000rr for 2.5 years and have covered just over 12000 miles in that time, and she has not missed a beat. Want I want to know is just how reliable are modern Ducati's, I have a couple of euro trips planned for June and September. each will be approximately 1500 miles, and I'm just a wee bit concerned about reliability. Please don't take offence to my questions, but being 'old school' I just remember how poor the reputation was many years ago (but like Skoda used to be) and I will be putting most if my savings into a purchase. With regard to the earlier 899, any particular issues/concerns that I should be aware of? Higher running costs than a Japanese super sports etc Colour choice still not decided upon, so despite earier comments I'm 'still out on that one' Any comments welcomed Happy new year to all
I've only had a Ducati's for the past 4 years (previous 30 odd years having had a variety of Jap sports bikes). My first was the 848 Evo Corse SE and that was a brilliant bike. Possibly the best bike I'd ever had up to that point. I then chopped that in for the 899 Panigale which is a fantastic road bike and leaps and bounds better than the 848 IMO. I have now also added the Scrambler Classic to the 899 and though that's a much more sedate ride it is brilliant in it's own way, for pootling about or blatting on less than perfect tarmac. And at the sake of tempting fate not once have I had a problem with any of them. So far. Touch wood. etc etc. Ducati build quality is, IMO, on par with Japanese build quality. It has to be or it wont survive in today's competitive market place.
If it helps, over the past five years I have done eight European trips on Ducatis, over 20,000 miles worth, and have never had the slightest reliability problem on any of them. Problems like the rear brake being ineffective or the fuel gauge not working don't interfere with the trip. There is some pure chance involved, for example I have also never had a tyre puncture in Europe and all my punctures have been in UK. Also this was on Multistradas, not Panigales. Still, it is wrong to suggest that Ducatis cannot be used reliably for long tours.
Hi, I have had two 'modern Ducatis' and a 748 from 2002. Tbh I would say they have all been pretty good, had an issue on the 848 caused by a £2 fuel pump relay, quickly sorted but that was it in 3k miles, and I have so far only done 1500 miles on the 899 but in literally all conditions and it hasn't missed a beat. Most importantly it's made me smile every time I rode it where as even with my Daytona, I would go out and be completely bored sometimes. The 899 shouldn't suffer from early model issues as it was released later than the 1199 so most issues worked out. Even the 1199 to my knowledge had barely any recalls compared to the 1098 from 2007 that had at least 2-3. Do it! Accept that it's not a mass produced jap bike and you will be fine, personally the 899 feels so well screwed together I think of it as reliable as anything else out there
Buy with confidence. Modern Ducatis are as good as anything on the market. Major servicing is a bit dearer than average but not cripplingly so. And nothing else has a power delivery that is anywhere close. Dive in, you won't regret it.
Done 23k on my 748, 14k on 1098, 11k on 998 plus another couple of thou on others since 2002 when I bought my first Duc. In that time I have only had one breakdown due to a relay failure. So one breakdown in around 14 years and 50k can't be considered too bad? I'm sure others on here will have done even better. Buy it, enjoy it and don't worry about it. ( Still got all 5 of them and intend to do many more trouble free miles )
I came from jap bikes to an 899. Mines been superb so far. Only picked it up in September but it's mega !
Any bike can go wrong. I spent many a happy mile on a 1098S in Europe without any issues once all of the early problems had been sorted (mine was one of the very first off the production line...) I also spent many a happy mile in Europe on a Honda CBR954RR Fireblade. An excellent bike. Until the generator burnt out in the middle of France...
My 1098 has never broken down on me, it did however break down whilst I left it unattended after riding somewhere parking it up for an hour and returning to a 'broken down bike', Ducati's are amazing.
Thanks guys for all your response's. I feel reassured that the Ducati today is far different from the Ducati of 20 years ago. The hunt starts in March.
