I have used a heat gun to get my seat to fit better, I don't now have a gap between the front of the seat and tank however on the sides there is still an unsightly gap. I agree with everyone's comments that it is a very poor design for a £16K bike. Desperado
Hi, Had the same issue with my seat on Santander ferry, came bike to find mine the only bike tied down by crash bars and rear wheel. The seat had obviously given way and pulled out of fittings. No staff about to complain to but I've taken some photos... I've managed to get it back in but now an even bigger gap than before.... did you get any joy from Brittany Ferries when you complained - although like others I feel the problem is more with Ducati's crap seat - every other bike on ferry was ok, and I've done the trip multiple times on BMW GS with no issues having it strapped down by the seat. Cheers
Yes. BF did pay for a new seat but I had got an incident form completed by the deck officer before I disembarked in Santander; he also took photos of the seat.
And the front was definitely located correctly ? Had no issues with mine so all I could think of.....
They put a big piece of foam on first, and it's the only way I've ever seen them do it. I have had no issues to date with using the ratchet straps on my seats, they even hardened down on a BMW heated seat I had once, and it was ok.
I had this happen on my DVT on a trip across the Irish Sea, the deckhand tied it down across the middle of the seat and I watched it bend. When he had gone I released the strap and moved it towards the back of the rider seat where it rests on the subframe. No bend and it stayed in place and was fine, the seat is only supported by the frame etc. at the front and back so it will bend in the middle.
On the DFDS ferries they supply ratchet straps and you tie your own bike down. A situation I'm much happier with. I tie it down using the handlebars at the front and the grab rail at the rear.
Cheers Jonmark - the only people around on deck were non-English speaking deckhands, I've taken photos so will see how far I get....
This is what happened to mine on the Brittany Ferry to Santander last month. It's the touratech comfort seat & I could've cried as thought it was wrecked. Thankfully it returned to normal after a couple hours of riding. All the other bikes were fine.
Absolutely. Or bring your own straps and make a proper job of it. Why would anybody just stand there and allow the deckhands on a ship damage their bike? And then complain about it afterwards?
I would feel better tying my own bike down, but the trouble with that is, in my eyes, is that should it fall over or get damaged you'd have no recall on any compensation
Must add though, last year on the ill fated Spanish trip, a gorilla working for Brittany ferries ratcheted my Multi down so hard the front wheel rose off the floor. So I tried to release the strap but failed because the idiot had put the strap together incorrectly. Got another deck hand to come and have a go at releasing it, he failed, and he ended up having to cut the strap with a knife. So don't know what to do for the better.
Not quite what happened, funnily enough I didn't watch them damage my seat, as mybpost said it was like it when I went back to it, but there we go, everyone is entitled to an opinion. I've been on Santander ferry many times, never had an issue with other bike seats, or seen anyone else have an issue with the standard way of tying the bikes down. Also never seen anyone rock up with their own straps and tie it down themselves. But thanks for the input...
