Just a quick one Guys, i'm Norfolk based and likely to be buying an 848 shortly. Just wondering how much more reasonable (or not) a non main dealer specialist would be for serving and belts/vales etc or is it best to stick with the big boys. Closest official dealers to me are Seastar & Cambridge as Im in a village near Kings Lynn. Some ruff prices would be great for yearly service and belts/valve. Had a 916 years ago but the old specialist places I new are long gone now sadly..
Belts: do yourself, it's easier than you might think and a few guides rattling round, performance bikes did a reasonable guide a few years back , I have a copy if needed. Valves, not tied that ....yet ..
Not sure ive got the balls to do it myself, id probably destroy the engine. Thats said I called Ducati Cambridge and they have a 3 month waiting list!
Hi, I’ve just had my Super Sport service with belts and a new fuel sender, cost was £680. Belts are 5 years on my bike, valves are 18K miles. The service without the fuel sender would have been around £500. This was carried out by Ducati Worcester, main dealers are over £100 per hour labour. I would imagine servicing with belts and valves must be around £600-700?
Re: belts. Plenty of vids showing you how to change them. For my 999 I've got, saved, the 3 part series by Ca Cycleworks: . (They also have one testing belt strength by lifting a transit-type Dodge with them via a fork lift!)
Go to Carl Harrison in Harleston, Norfolk. He's been dealing with Ducatis for over 30 years and is way more proficient than most main dealers and a lot cheaper. I would not use anyone else, period. I can personally vouch for all the testimonials on his website because I built it and they get emailed directly to me to upload on to it. He only does whats necessary to the bike and has more repeat customers than you can shake a stick at. Here is the link.... www.carlharrisonmotorcycles.co.uk
My experience of going to an MD for older bikes is not great. Very often they just don’t have the expertise in the workshop and also would (IMO) rather keep the guys who’ve bought big money bikes happy. Their hourly rates are huge too. Find a local specialist a strike up a relationship with them so you have the trust. Except for a Desmo service I’ve found a guy I really like who’s honest and reasonable.
