My First Ducati.. Trouble Ahead, But I Love It!

Well after buying, a Triumph tiger 1050, which has been a dream for a while, though based on riding a speed triple a few years back, another story another time. About a week later, I saw a gleaming red Ducati Multistrada on Gumtree 8,000 miles and great looking bike. Resisting temptation for a few days, I started to read up on them. Some great reviews, but the one that swung it was the canyonchasers.net review. So that was it. Though I had read some forums in the US that were trashing the bikes because of 'Pregnant fuel tanks' I decided that I was going to have a look.

Everything looked genuine, engine sounded great and I loved the riding position, so on inspecting the Petrol tank I noticed a small white zip tie holding the left side panel on at the front. when quizzing the owner, he said that that's where the battery lived and he broke the tab on the panel when trying to remove it. Sounded feasable enough and as it was not detracting from the overall appearance, I didn't give it to much thought. He did say that there had been a fuel leak under the tank, but that it had been repaired by the not so local Ducati dealer, he had bought the bike from and they had charged him the rather large sum of £190.

So time was getting on and I had to make a decision, £2900 later and I had bought my first Duke!
Do I now regret it? After riding the bike, not at all, in fact I'm selling the Tiger! The engine is a gem.

BUT, after putting a few miles on the bike I noticed that, as I braked hard then harder still to the point were the rear was started to swing, there was a shuddering vibration. I dismissed it as me dropping gears to fast and the rear locking. Previously I had a Tuono factory, which was fitted with a slipper clutch, so maybe I had overdone things. Second time out was on a notorious mountain road with a few friends, the shuddering was still evident and as I asked more and more of the brakes and gears, it got worse, so I backed of the downshifts, still as bad!

Into the garage and looking at the ohlins forks, it looked like they were bottoming out! So ok, I thought, someones been fooking around with the settings, which was confirmed when both compression and rebound were not evenly adjusted both sides. Got the standard settings and started at the bottom, up to the top and there it was.. the top yoke was cracked both sides at in line with the bolt countersinks! So nearly through at the left side and about 2mm from going on the right side.

Now thinking, what would have happened if they had cracked.. Would the bottom yoke have taken the stain and allowed to stop in controlled manner? That's a big lever action from the brake mounts up to the bottom yoke, which would have become a pivot.. Anyway I'm glad I didn't find out!

So bike laid up and looking for a yoke, I did some research: Cut a long story short.. I am going on a bit for my first post! The tank issue is very serious.. Ethanol and it's ability to absorb water has caused these tanks to swell, elongate, sometimes cracking around the fuel pump flange. In the USA owners were lucky, because of a federal law forcing dealers to give a five year warranty on emissons systems. After a court case the fuel tank was deemed to be part of this system, so tanks were replaced under warranty, in some cases the replacements were replaced and some several times.

Now you might think that we're OK in the UK, we only run With 5% ethanol compared with the 10% more commonly found in the USA, WRONG! though the effects maybe slightly less dramatic, they have a similar outcome. Just ask your Ducati service manager, if he'll tell you the truth!

There may be a few Gen 1 multis that aren't affected too badly, but buy one and you'd better love it for what it is! Luckily I do. The later Multis switched to a different material, so they fine.
Best advice if you're buying one.. Price a tank and take it off the asking price.. or as near as damn it!

Almost forgot.. leave yourself time for a test ride.. sounds obvious? Well to be fair, I may not have noticed the yoke on a sedate test ride with 20 odd PSI in the tyres.

Anyhow just got myself a top yoke.. so the smile will be back on my face.. Pics to follow, the bike I mean, not me smiling!

 

Aye.. Was a bit of a ramble! But should all get better soon, my new yokes on it's way.. Just in time to hangout at the Ulster grand Prix.. Anybody making the trip?