leaking forks...

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CaliRosso

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Jun 22, 2012
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So I just came op on the 600 mile break in service on my new base 1199 and discovered a few days ago that the front left fork was leaking badly.

Has anyone had any experience with this?

I know broken seals are common -but after three ducs I've never seen one so early on in a bikes life... (no wheelies i swear!!!!)

Its covered under warranty and the dealer says they'll have some new seals out in a week or so but needles to say its down time, and very disappointing to say the least!

Having said that-the forks on the Base seemed to perform great. -at least in comparison to my 1098 (previous bike)...

any thoughts guys???
CaliRosso is online now Report Post Edit/Delete Message
 
I'd make sure they put motul full synthetic race fluid in on the rebuild. and ask if they can sservice both forks with seals and fluid...then youre good to go ;)
 
You are not alone.
I also have a base model with a leaking fork seal. Very disappointing indeed. I noticed the leak on day 2 of ownership (less than 50 miles).
Here's my thread on the matter:
http://ducati1199.com/new-users/1059-new-1199-but.html
As of right now, it's still leaking. I carry around a towel and wipe off the fork every time I get off the bike. My dealer has new seals on order but for now I'm just dealing with it - not a lot of fun but otherwise it's a great bike.
 
Last edited:
Me too. Base model and right fork leaking. Dropped off for 600 and they found it was not the seals but a screw of some sort at the bottom of the cartridge? I don't mess with forks but very dissapointed. I shouldn't be though.My 1098 cut off all the time, 1198 clutch slave problems, battery charge, leaking you name it. I actually had a few friends say they were surprised I chose ducati again but I just love the sound performance and design. So let the ........ roll!
 
I've had seven ducs (first in 98) five of them new and I've never had a significant problem with any of them. Guess I've been incredibly lucky.
 
Yeah Zvez, I've owned Ducatis since '93 - I'm a huge fan.
My leaking fork seal is certainly not the first issue I've ever had but it is probably the most disappointing.
Oh well, life goes on. I'm sure I will enjoy the hell out of the bike once my dealer gets this squared away.
 
Being that the marzocchi forks are somewhat new in design I was wondering if it was just me or if others had experienced similar occurances...
Perhaps the larger diameter makes them more susceptible to debris???
 
zvez said:
I've had seven ducs (first in 98) five of them new and I've never had a significant problem with any of them. Guess I've been incredibly lucky.
Click to expand...

+1, since 1996, an M900.

BUT, I did have ONE problem, a bad clutch slave on my 996.
 
CaliRosso said:
Being that the marzocchi forks are somewhat new in design I was wondering if it was just me or if others had experienced similar occurances...
Perhaps the larger diameter makes them more susceptible to debris???
Click to expand...

MV Agusta has been running Marzocchi 50mm forks for years now. It isn't the size of the fork that would be causing this issue.
 
i thought my forks were leaking to on my S model but it ended up being bearing grease. When they would get hot the grease would start to sling out. I did pull the dust boots off of the forks and they were dry. The grease was so bad it was collecting on my rotors and radiator.
 
jdr racer said:
MV Agusta has been running Marzocchi 50mm forks for years now. It isn't the size of the fork that would be causing this issue.
Click to expand...

I have a Brutale 910R with the 50mm RAC Marzocchi forks, and they both leaked and flaked the DLC coating on the stanchion tubes. While I've had dirtbikes and race bikes that have gone through fork seals, this is the only street bike I've ever had with this problem. Getting the problems addressed with Marzocchi USA and the shop they referred me to proved enormously time consuming and frustrating. I'll never buy another bike with Marzocchi forks.
 
I have had leaking forks on a Ducati Streetfighter S. I believe ( though this may be complete bull :D... ) that because the forks are so 'high-performance' the seals have a low friction and very accurate fit to improve a fast reaction and therefore will give way even with minor wear.

I have had no problem on the Panigale. About 2000km now.
 
They're marzocchi usd50 forks, they are pressurized with nitrogen but I haven't been able to find out if this is in lieu of oil, I'm thinking it probably is.

I just remembered I asked this question on ducati.ms forum some time ago. The forks do have oil but the forks are pressurized. It was explained that this prevents the oil from foaming and leads to more consistent stability in the forks.

Ducati Dreams said:
Aren't the forks on the base model (marzocchi) filled with gas not oil?
Click to expand...
 
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They do have oil in them. It is the same principal as the shock. Keeps air bubbles from forming in the oil.
 
CaliRosso said:
So I just came op on the 600 mile break in service on my new base 1199 and discovered a few days ago that the front left fork was leaking badly.

Has anyone had any experience with this?

I know broken seals are common -but after three ducs I've never seen one so early on in a bikes life... (no wheelies i swear!!!!)

Its covered under warranty and the dealer says they'll have some new seals out in a week or so but needles to say its down time, and very disappointing to say the least!

Having said that-the forks on the Base seemed to perform great. -at least in comparison to my 1098 (previous bike)...

any thoughts guys???
CaliRosso is online now Report Post Edit/Delete Message
Click to expand...
Yeah same problem here with my standard Panigale. Bought the bike in July and have done only 150km. Left front fork is dumping oil all over the wheel. The bike is still in its early break-in procedure so the shock suffered no misuse whatsoever. Contacted the dealer and he reckons to me this is because I do not ride the bike enough. I've been riding Japanese superbikes for nearly 30 years with not one of them failing like this. I currently own a '11 BMW S1000RR, '12 Aprilia Dorseduro 1200, Suzuki GSXR 1000 K8 model and an '08 Honda Fireblade and none of them suffered any kind of shock failure either. It is extremely disappointing that the most expensive of my bikes should suffer such a failure in such a short space of time. Now the bike has to be hauled back to the dealer, disassembled, repaired and who knows what else is going to be stuffed up before this problem is resolved. The fact that so many people suffer the same problem points directly to a flaw in this specific shock design and/or manufacturing process.
 
amazed at some of the dealer explanations I've heard here, so the fork is leaking because you don't ride it enough??? Your bladder's ruptured and needs to be replaced with a new fork.

WOW!

swaelin said:
Yeah same problem here with my standard Panigale. Bought the bike in July and have done only 150km. Left front fork is dumping oil all over the wheel. The bike is still in its early break-in procedure so the shock suffered no misuse whatsoever. Contacted the dealer and he reckons to me this is because I do not ride the bike enough. I've been riding Japanese superbikes for nearly 30 years with not one of them failing like this. I currently own a '11 BMW S1000RR, '12 Aprilia Dorseduro 1200, Suzuki GSXR 1000 K8 model and an '08 Honda Fireblade and none of them suffered any kind of shock failure either. It is extremely disappointing that the most expensive of my bikes should suffer such a failure in such a short space of time. Now the bike has to be hauled back to the dealer, disassembled, repaired and who knows what else is going to be stuffed up before this problem is resolved. The fact that so many people suffer the same problem points directly to a flaw in this specific shock design and/or manufacturing process.
Click to expand...
 

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