Issues with dealer installing Duacti Akra map?

Purchased and installed a full Akra system from WRS in Italy for my MY23 PV4S recently and am having big problems with having the Ducati map paired to my VIN it seems. Long story short 7 weeks ago I provided WRS my VIN for the pairing to be done. All seemed a pretty simple procedure. My local dealer was happy to install the map with no issues. After a few emails back and forward over weeks with WRS it was finally confirmed that the pairing was done (through their supplier with Ducati) and I booked my bike in to have the new mapping installed. All was great until the service manager came out and advised me that there was no file allocated to my VIN when they plugged the bike in.

3 weeks later and I'm still going back and forwards with WRS and with no result. They were originally saying it was a Ducati server issue and not their suppliers fault but then all was sorted. Now they're saying they don't know what's going on:

"Dear Customer,

As I told you in my previous email, we also don't know why you don't see the mapping when we have been confirmed by 2 times the perfect parring of your item with the VIN number
We are trying to clarify this also on our side, because also for us it is the first time that a customer tells us that he does not see the mapping
the only other customer in the past to whom it happened, did not do the right thing at Ducati, so we were told that you have to connect the bike and carry out a diagnosis, but I think your Ducati store will have done it things in the correct ways and that simply the mapping is not visible, now we have to understand why

Regards,
Dino"

Question is: Has anyone ever had issues with this procedure before? It's almost to the point that it seems their supplier hasn't paid their Ducati parts statement or something like this lol. I tried sending a complaint off to Ducati Italy to see if there was anything they could help with but it was just forwarded to Ducati Australia and there was not much they could do as I purchased the exhaust system overseas which is completely understandable. They did confirm that there was no issues present with the ECU mapping / pairing system. What to do? I hate not being able to ride this bike.

Here is the US I don’t think dealers will do the map install if you didn’t buy the exhaust from them and have them do the install. I was quoted 14 hours of labor for the whole thing. At 130 per hour. Given that cost and the cost of the Akra exhaust, I’ve decided to spend thst money on a ESP George Lynch Kamikaze 1 signature guitar instead.

I ordered my Akra full titanium system through my dealer and ensured they updated my VIN with the purchase in the Ducati data system. I installed it myself at my leisure. The dealer (fairly) charged me an hour labor for the software update after I installed everything.

From what I’ve read, US dealers flashing the Akra map is very dependent on that particular dealer and the exact circumstances. Some people have no problem, some people have to jump through hoops, others can’t get it flashed.

If I was the OP though, I’d bail on the Akra tune, sort something else out and save myself the aggravation.

Has Termi offered an option with UP-MAP for the 2023 bike yet?

I got my install done with the dealer I purchased the bike from, but when I was exploring the WRS option I was quoted $130 for the software install and they had no issue with me doing the work.

In the end, there was only a few thousand difference, and I thought for the sake of warranty and for the hassle I'll just get the dealer to do it.

If WRS say that they have uploaded the map to your VIN it should be there, I wouldn't bother contacting Ducati Australia, but I would certainly contact Ducati Italy. The software monitoring of each bike is so detailed they know when you fart in bed at night. So I am sure you will get a result.

Yes definitely the same deal here with dealers choosing to help you out or not with this sort of thing. The dealer I bought the bike from quoted me around $11,000 AUD for the belly exit system supplied only and didn't want me to install it. I bought it from WRS landed with taxes for $7500 AUD. If it was $1500 difference I would have preferred to buy it here but that's just too much for something that overpriced af to begin with.

Another dealer that has been doing Ducati here since 1964 said no dramas to install the map. Only 30 mins labour charge too. I was pleasantly surprised. Definitely a case of beer to go to them on top of that when it happens!

I'll keep trying with WRS. Surely there is some way to get a result. If I need to try and contact Ducati Italy again I'll make sure I select the Italy location tab and not Australia this time.

bp_SFV4 said:

From what I’ve read, US dealers flashing the Akra map is very dependent on that particular dealer and the exact circumstances. Some people have no problem, some people have to jump through hoops, others can’t get it flashed.

If I was the OP though, I’d bail on the Akra tune, sort something else out and save myself the aggravation.

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I know what you're saying but just trying to keep the warranty in tact as best possible. This is only a road bike for me and it'll cop some mileage too.

Definitely get the Akra map, it works well downunder and doesn't void warranty. The US bikes seem have EPA compliance issues. In our region the Akra map is fine unless youre committed to chasing the last few horses, Ive had the canned tune on the twin and 4 with no issues at all with power or rideability.

Good to know. Cheers

Mcv4 said:

I know what you're saying but just trying to keep the warranty in tact as best possible. This is only a road bike for me and it'll cop some mileage too.

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If you have a .... dealer installing it yourself is enough for them to ignore the warranty. Again, just depends on the dealer.

Yeah I get that and understand what you mean. After my first few dealer experiences and also being left stranded on the side of the road, I can unfortunately say my level of spanner spinning is far better.

Update: Sales Manager from WRS was able to get onto this and teed up a phone meeting with Ducati Italy as they had issues with a 'several' Australian bikes and this. Was sorted in 3 hours. Booked bike back in yesterday and tune file installed no worries.

Makes me wonder if the recently formed Ducati Australia / New Zealand had anything to do with this and overseas purchased parts.

Awesome resolution. I like WRS more and more. Comparing their windscreen to Zero Gravity's offering is hilarious. WRS by a long shot. It's good to know their support is strong when dealing with Ducati.

Agreed. Long wait times for the exhaust was always going to be a given but their contact back and forward has been excellent. Even offered me a deal on an Ilmberger carbon belly pan extension as the Ducati item has been on back order since I paid for it in February. Have a WRS screen on the bike and my partners 21 RSV4 also. Love them. I keep having to replace hers from rocks off the pani though

Yeah those sticky tires tend to grab everything and fling it.