My 848 Corse SE is nearing it's 1st service milage and I'm wondering what my options are. My nearest dealer is Riders Cardiff but are there any official ducati workshops that aren't also dealers nearby? My recent 1st service experience with a suzuki dealer makes me not want to go that route again, but I need to maintain my warranty. My instinct tells me that a workshop-only company will do a better job than the service dpt. of a dealer. Probably cheaper too. I don't mind travelling a few hours (maybe 2 max, each way).
What can realistically go wrong? It's only an oil change in reality. Worst case scenrio is they damage your bike, but any dealer worth their salt would address this. If it helps, my SF1098S was in for it's 1st service today. I left £145 lighter for what was really 4 litres of oil and a filter. But the dealership are spot on, reliable and helpful. Plus no niggling worries about the warranty. It does gaul a little, but you just have to bite the bullet with a new bike.
Well, the suzuki dealer didn't fill the oil to the correct level... so that's 1 thing that can go wrong. Off the top of my head they might not bother to thoroughly check and torque all the bolts. Anything to cut corners really.
Like I said, I'm looking for alternatives to dealers - official Ducati workshops. Eg I found this one, but they're not too near me. Ducati Servicing and Tuning Specialists - GTEC Performance
Don't miss the first service, it will invalidate the warranty. Yes its pretty much just a fluid change and general check. Id give Riders in Cardiff a try. That way you will find out if they are good before having a major service done
Book yourself in at Ducati Coventry. Newport to Coventry via the Fosse Way. Amazing route. What better way!!
@matt: all three services need to be at official ducati dealers during the warranty period, which I wasn't fully aware of. I was planningto go indy after first service. "Three service coupons must be used to ensure continued validity of the conventional warranty Ducati offers consumers: at 1,000 km (or six months), 12,000 km (or 12 months) and 24,000 km (or 24 months), to be performed by any official Ducati workshop. In the case of the Hypermotard, Hypermotard SP and Hyperstrada bikes, starting with model year 2013, service coupons are for 1,000 km (or six months), 15,000 km (or 12 months) and 30,000 km (or 24 months). The warranty will be forfeited if the bike is repaired or overhauled by an unauthorised workshop, or if non-original parts are used;" @markm: There's an idea
The Ducati warranrty requirements sound fishy to me, so I just did a quick google and found the following which I assume also applies to bikes: "If you have a new car or a car that has a valid manufacturer's warranty, you don’t have to go to one main dealer for car servicing. The British government passed legislation in 2003 called 'Block Exemption'. This allows independent car service centres to service cars under warranty, without invalidating the manufacturer's warranty. This means that a car owner is not bound to take his or her car to one main dealer for servicing. However you must make sure that the service centre has the capability to service the car properly, and as per requirements stated under the warranty. All NSN garages can carry out services without invalidating the manufacturer’s warranty." Can anyone shed some more light on this?
No that block exemption regulation does NOT apply to bikes as well. It was covered in Fast Bikes mag a month or so back. Take it to a Ducati dealer. Whereabouts are you, redsail?
You sound like you've already made your mind up. Why did you buy the bike from them, but are not willing to trust them with servicing it? What have they done wrong?
My plan was to get 1st service done at a dealer then subsequent services at indies. I didn't buy the bike from Riders and my hand for forced to some degree over which dealer I did buy from. its complicated. When I looked into service pricing Riders was significantly more expensive than an indy I checked (and I mean almost 3 times more expensive for the big service). @duke63: will look into Fast Bikes article (the EU regulation seems to be for the 'motor vehicle sector' so not sure why bikes would be exempt... looking into it).
This is what it says on Ducati website and in your handbook. I would say that is pretty clear that a bike serviced elsewhere wont be covered under warranty. Bear in mind that if you needed warranty work doing an Ducati say it wont be covered because you had it serviced elsewhere, the only way you could change that is to take them to court...and i am pretty certain i know who would win. Ducati
Yes they do, but not for me because I'm too far away (unless they can get 4 bikes in the van for that trip). However their prices seem better than Riders so I'm feeling a bit happier about taking it to them for the other services. Shame as I like the idea of supporting smaller businesses.
That's who I wanted to use, but it doesn't say anything about being an official ducati service centre on their site.
Why?! You bought a brand new Ducati. Just have it serviced at a Ducati dealer. If you don't want it locally, there are plenty others who can do the job. But remember, if you build a relationship with your local dealer, it can pay dividends...
