Sorry, but many bike shops are just holes in the wall. Barely any better then me selling bikes out of my chicken barn. In some cases, worse.
In the US it seems like this is good enough. Momo techs that have no product knowledge. Shops with no dyno, and no way to dyno tune an engine. That's F'n pathetic. Can't even put on custom exhaust without a dyno these days. Sorry, but if a shop can't set my tune up properly, I'm gone.
I run into the same thing where I work. We can get by with the equipment we have, but it isn't right. And we're starting to look like Momos. Proper shops and techs are important. Anyone racing in Moto GP or World superbike is going to be disgusted by some of the shops over here. What excuse can a shop have when they can't even do basic tuning and testing?
Sounds like the dealer mentioned in the OP hasn't a clue. If someone complained to me about Panigale heat, I'd roll my eyes. Ducati's have had weird exhaust pipes wrapped around the riders leg since '94. If they could put a muffler between your cheeks they would.
And everyone knows that what's going on in Moto GP, has very little to do with the Road and Track day rider. Besides, Ducati just won a championship with Casey Stoner. You can't be in 1st place all the time at that level. I think their results, even with last years lack of results, are still very good overall.
One thing I know about motosport people from europe: They don't settle for crap. They get it done better, and generally have better taste than we do. Lame dealers ain't going to last. Having worked for Audi, I know junky shops are going to be toast.
That being said, the better Ducati dealers I've seen all had at least 1 other brand on the other half of the showroom floor.
