I've had that discussion with them, and at the end of the day can only take JHP's advice. They know these bikes better than anyone else. The 15,000 mile service is a very big job, lots of labour, and typically lots of replacement parts needed and hence lots of waiting time. Better safe than sorry. I want to make sure that all of the inevitable issues are discovered before the expiry date so that there can be no quibbling from Ducati. This is one owner's experience in the US (he got off lightly): week 1 - motorcycle disassembly - heads removed - it was determined shims were required, and they had not been ordered with the service kit (gaskets, o-rings and such) so a new parts order was worked up to include a new coil <2nd time replacing it>, and new exhaust heat shield <second time replacing it as well> week 2 - the bike just sat waiting for parts week 3 - the bike just sat waiting on parts week 4 - still waiting on parts, but some had started to arrive - sadly, no chance it would have been 1 box with everything week 5 - all but 1 shim arrived - 32 required for the service...1 shim was missing - they were not going to assemble without all the shims, so the waiting continued week 6 - i got a bit anxious when i was told nothing new had happened....i fired off an e-mail to the factory...and within 1 hour of that e-mail my phone rang with a call from the factory directly - i must admit i was impressed - the factory phone call reassured me that they were going to make things happen as quickly as possible - she (Antonella) was making sure the correct shim was available, and would also make certain the part would ship - when it shipped the next day (a friday) she e-mailed me a tracking number and the part arrived at my dealer on tuesday (they are closed mondays) week 7 - they reassembled the motor with all the appropriate shims - then the motorcycle was reassembled to just where it needs to be in order to test fire the motor - the initial test starts were not good, as the motor ran poorly - leak down tests, both compression type and liquid were done, and it was determined that the exhaust valves were not seating properly, and that they needed replacement - a parts order was written up, with all the parts required to do another rebuild ---- during this time i was becoming a tad more anxious, so i decided to e-mail the factory again, and see what information they might be able to share with me - Antonella told me that Ducati NA was fully aware of the situation as was making sure everything would be handled to my complete satisfaction, and that i would in fact be hearing from them soon - Ducati NA did in fact call me and reassured me once again that they are doing everything they can and that he himself handled an "urgent" parts order - this was on a friday....the valves, and all that was needed for another rebuild were received on the following tuesday week 8 - reassembly commenced, and the test start of the motor was perfect - compression specs and leak down pressure test was exactly where they needed to be and here's some pics from one done in France that took 6 months to complete the 15,000 mile service! It involved over 120 hours of labour and over $30,000 in parts (new crankshaft, pistons, rings and valves) some of which had to be made specially in Italy Ducati Desmosedici RR - Révision des 24000 km - 10/11/2010 Ducati Desmosedici RR - Révision des 24000 km - 12/11/2010 Ducati Desmosedici RR - Révision des 24000 km - 13/11/2010 Ducati Desmosedici RR - Révision des 24000 km - 2/4/2011 Pierre Col | Facebook
So looking at the other two examples you need it in from 2 months to 6 months before it runs out, $30,000 :Wideyed:
120 hours and $30k in parts?! Holy sh**. A Desmo was on my bucket list but I'm rethinking that now...
Both examples also suggest that returning it to the factory for servicing might be more straightforwards and add those last miles you're looking for? Is it an option? Bet it wouldn't hurt to ask.
Sadly Bologna is a 2-3 day ride from me - I just don't have the time. Nice idea though I'm up to 12,400 now after this weekend. I'm working in Bristol tomorrow and Tuesday so I can ride there each day and take a long detour on the way home. That will add a few hundred more.
I got bloody soaked on the way home from St David's yesterday, washed the bike and then got bloody soaked again on the way to Bristol for work this morning. What's happened to the summer?
The Mrs and I were up near Ludlow yesterday - family get together for the Mother-in-law's 70th and a day at the Phil Higgins Rally School for the Mrs and I I got the train from work in London to Ludlow on Thursday night and she picked me up from the station. This morning I had to drive one of my kids from Ludlow to Exeter airport for a flight while the Mrs went with the in-laws in their car to St David's, where I will meet them later. I spy an opportunity for a few more miles here ... So I've dumped thar car at our house in Taunton and loaded my bike into my van. I'll drive the van to St David's and ride my bike 200 miles home on Monday while the Mrs drives the van. Every little helps
8000mls in the back of the van aint quite the same dave. me nephew has just spent 18k on an engine refurb on one of those imprezas dum f..k.
yip i could believe it. knowing what he spent upgrading the brakes alone makes a desmo service look like pocket money. dum f..k.:smile:
I rode back from St David's yesterday and today I'm on my way up to Stoke on Trent for the day with work. I've just cracked 13,000 miles so it feels like I'm getting close. Time for a coffee
I'll post the graph later. Just looking at a NIP I've received in the post from our local static camera ... 36 in a 30 at 6:22am on a Saturday morning FFS. Clearly it has recently been switched back on. Schoolboy error on my part but surely they should know that Desmosedicis just can't go that slow ...
Here's my latest progress chart. I had to come up with a New Plan once I found out that the bike had to be at JHP three weeks earlier than I had banked-on. I'm currently on target but I might not be able to get any miles on at all next week so this afternoon I am going to spin over to Riders of Cardiff to test ride a GS Adventure (1200 - Pillion For A Week - Gs, S1000xr Or Multi? | Page 2 | Ducati Forum) so that'll add another couple of hundred.
Where does the speedo/hour timer or whatever your using run from? if it's the front wheel can you sit it on some sort of rolling road or dyno in reverse? Run the miles up and save petrol at the same time?
Obviously a silly question but whats the enjoyment factor like after getting in all these miles? are you physically in good enough shape to enjoy it still.
Its better than I expected actually. I've been pleasantly surprised how well my body has stood-up to the hardness of the seat and riding position. Its done big miles before on trips to Germany and Scotland for instance, but I've done a lot of motorway miles in the last three days and I'm not used to that - 200 miles from St Davids to Taunton on Monday, 350 miles from Taunton to Stoke on Trent and back yesterday and 180 miles from Taunton to Cardiff and back today. I'm a bit sore so I'll be glad of the break for the next few days ... but it is still more fun than driving which would've been the other option
