Duke Running Costs

[Andrew D]

I've been thinking about getting into biking, as a couple of my mates have just done their direct access. It would only be for larks, no serious commuting or euro-touring, so I'd be looking at either a streetfighter-type-thing or, more likely, a 600-ish sports bike.

Now I've always had a thing for Ninjas (being a child of the eighties), but I'm also rather keen on the Duke 749. Unfortunately I've heard some horror stories about Duke servicing costs, build quality and insurance.

So my question is; are Dukes a lot more to run than, say a ZX-6R? If anyone's got figures for the 749 it would be nice. Or indeed any other 600 sports bike, just so I can get an idea what I'm getting myself into!

[Carrera2]

From my experience the running costs aren't any higher than a jap bike. Every so often you'll have to replace the belts,which is costly I'll grant you, but other than that it's jsut a bike

[catso]

Can't speak for the 749 but I have a 916, and running costs are similar (high), primarily the cost of maintenance. Insurance (for an old git like me) is reasonable, probably not much more (if any) than a similar Jap bike, build quality is not bad and the newer models are much better than they were a few years ago, relaiblity is generally good IF you keep up the maintenance, my bike has been as reliable as any Jap bike in the 8 years I've owned it.

Now the bad news; Maintenance - Ducatis require servicing on a 6000 mile or 12 months whichever is sooner schedule, many owners change oil/filter more regularly due to known issues (eg valve rocker chrome 'flaking'). New cambelts and valve adjustments are required at 12,000 miles or 2 years whichever is sooner.

The main problem is that Ducati servicing is very labour intensive and much of it very specialised (particularly valve adjustments) so you need a good technician with the correct knowledge and experience this doesn't come cheap, a full service can cost in excess of £500 just for labour and standard consumables. Also neglect proper servicing of a Ducati at your peril; out of tolerance valve clearances will cause the rocker arms to flake, in turn damaging the camshafts, cylinder heads etc, neglected timing belts can break causing catastrophic high-speed piston-valve interface resulting in an engine rebuild that can cost thousnds of pounds.

If you can't/won't pay for proper servicing then a Ducati is not for you (well not for long anyway).

That said you can get servicing costs down by doing much of the simpler stuff yourself, assuming you are willing/able, and getting an independant specialist to do the complex stuff.

Some of the specialists are very good and can be considerably cheaper/better than a dealer, I can heartily recommend Gtec performance www.gtecperformance.co.uk/ for a top job at reasonable (by Ducati standards) prices.

Spare parts that I have bought have been comparable with Jap sportbike parts price-wise, although there can often be supply problems.

You do require more 'commitment' to look after a Ducati so you've really got to want one IMO but if you've got the 'bug' you won't mind.

The new 1098 looks nice...........

[veetwin]

My 748 used to cost, on average, £800 per service at every 6000 miles. Tyre wear was the same as most other bikes. The only part that failed was an oil switch in the crank case that cost £6.90 from Ducati London South and took 10 minutes to replace. I owned the bike for two years and can't say that I would call these bikes unreliable, they just require a bit more TLC than the usual crotch rocket.

Great bike, great noise.

[Andrew D]

Thanks for the advice guys.

£500 to £800 per service you say? Hmmm... that new ZX-6R sure does look good....

[rsvmilly]

veetwin said:

My 748 used to cost, on average, £800 per service at every 6000 miles

My Ducrappy's worst service was £820, which admittedly included a couple of tyres.

[aeropilot]

Andrew D said:

Hmmm... that new ZX-6R sure does look good....

If you have to ask about a Ducati's cost's means you don't have the soul to own a Duc, or MV etc., so definately go for the nasty Nip job.

It's like asking about Ferrari running cost's and then buying a Lexus instead.....

[chilli]

Andrew D said:

Thanks for the advice guys.

£500 to £800 per service you say? Hmmm... that new ZX-6R sure does look good....

Christ, I thought £200 for my first service was OTT.

[anonymous-user]

Sorry to continue the bad news on Ducati servicing . . . My 996 ran mostly brilliantly for 4 years, doing track days, touring (yes!) and town work. It only let me down early in its life with rectifier failure (common fault) and after that didn't miss a beat. However, servicing costs were similar to the figures already posted - min $600 a pop (inc one or two bits and pieces each time). No regrets and only sold it this summer . . . for a 998RS!!

[Andrew D]

aeropilot said:

If you have to ask about a Ducati's cost's means you don't have the soul to own a Duc, or MV etc., so definately go for the nasty Nip job.

It's like asking about Ferrari running cost's and then buying a Lexus instead.....

I'm not sure buying without checking the associated costs is the action of a sound mind! So if "soul" means "lunacy", then yeah, i've not got the soul!

Interesting Lexus analogy, but I think it's closer to the Ferrari vs. Porsche issue. And yes, I'd take the Porsche. So whats the nearest bike in style to a Porsche? The Beemer K1200S is nice, stick with what you know and all that, but could be a bit much for a new starter!

[StuB]

You need to see if you fit ok on a 749 and if it puts too much weight on your wrists. They're not really a long distance bike in the way a lot of jap sports machines can be.

I rode a 748 at Cadwell and it was fantastic on track, but I doubt I could live with a Duc day to day. My GSXR's been all over and no issues with comfort.

[gfunk]

i had a 916sps for about two years serviced at pro v twins all the time i had it, i did about 7000miles on it. I ride my bikes harder than most which is why these things may have happened in the time i owned it the alternator came apart in the engine at about 120mph which was nice as the back wheel locked up in the fast lane on the motorway.then doing wheelies at about 110mph it sprayed oil over the back wheel(i know its a twin and you can get oil starvation by doing this but i dont care) nearly fell of again! services ranged from 500 to 1000. then coming round a roundabout kneedown stylee went into the side of a car and that was the end of that.i then got a r1 which i am riding at the mo but would i buy another ducati ...in a heart beat it was the best bike i have ever riden jap bikes are so easy to ride and flater your skills you felt like you had skills on the limit of the duke something that is far to easy on the r1.

[aeropilot]

Andrew D said:

I'm not sure buying without checking the associated costs is the action of a sound mind! So if "soul" means "lunacy", then yeah, i've not got the soul!

I wouldn't quite put it like that. I was simply meaning that, it's like women, you just know the ones that are 'high maintainance' and will cost you a fortune to 'run' but are worth it, compared to those that are content with a bag of chips and pint of lager, but you'd rather not be seen with...

Andrew D said:

Interesting Lexus analogy, but I think it's closer to the Ferrari vs. Porsche issue. And yes, I'd take the Porsche.

Not with Porsche service charges.......

Perhaps the Ferrari and Honda NSX would have been a better analogy.

[gfunk]

a porsche is a hell of alot cheaper to run than a ferrari i have owned both ruf 911 turbo and a 355 and they are worlds apart in ownership and running costs.

[aeropilot]

gfunk said:

ruf 911 turbo

[gfunk]

i miss that car so bad more than anything i have ever owned in my life it was a btr and i sold it to get a veilside r32 gtr which was a big mistake, but i will own one again when the right car comes up.we live and learn.

[catso]

gfunk said:

doing wheelies at about 110mph it sprayed oil over the back wheel(i know its a twin and you can get oil starvation by doing this but i dont care)

Nutter!........

But this is a known issue with Ducatis particularly the older models (916 etc) the oil breather can spew oil into the airbox during big, extended wheelies - the oil then overflows/leaks out the back of the airbox and goes all over the backend of the bike If you fit the 'corsa' underseat oil catch tank it won't get as far as the airbox, (also gives you a few more HP at the top end), but you may still seize the engine when all the oil's in the tank and not circulating in the engine, I believe the baffled 'deep sump' of the later models helps cure the problem.

It is a good idea to check the airbox for excessive oil before buying as this shows up not only this problem but also if it is suffering from 'blowby' at the piston rings, it only takes a couple of minutes to whip the tank off (on 916 'type' models).

Edited by catso on Friday 17th November 15:57

[gfunk]

do you know if this problem is sorted on a 998r cheers Graham

[veetwin]

StuB said:

You need to see if you fit ok on a 749 and if it puts too much weight on your wrists. They're not really a long distance bike in the way a lot of jap sports machines can be.

I rode a 748 at Cadwell and it was fantastic on track, but I doubt I could live with a Duc day to day. My GSXR's been all over and no issues with comfort.

The 749 has a better position than the 748. Less 'wristy'.

[catso]

gfunk said:

do you know if this problem is sorted on a 998r cheers Graham

998R has the deep sump, designed specifically to improve oil pickup under extreme conditions, so should be OK (very extended wheelies may not be a good idea though as it may starve the front cylinder?) Not sure if they have the underseat catchtank, I think that is mainly used on the racebikes but the 748R had it, I think.