Look what MY R does!

Well, I decided to say F*** my S back a month ago when the problem count began to use my second hand to count when using my fingers. ...... english in that sentence, I realize.
So, Im out with my buds on a ride yesterday morning in Clinton and decide to check my oil as I remember when I checked it last week I couldn't see a dam drop in that sight glass. I figured, hey, maybe the oil is still so clean I can't tell. So, Mark & I determined the bike was extremely low, so we stopped by a Harley shop with our other guys and picked up a quart of some Full Syn .... and put it in my bike. My R took an entire quart to top off with 1,000 miles since I got it and it was fine. So then I noticed this little guy:


imgurl

I love when My S leaks from the valve cover, and then two weeks later my R does too! Then, for the last week my R never starts. It takes a good minute or two of cycling on and off, twisting the throttle etc etc to start. I ended up removing the charcoal canister last night and it appears that problem is fixed (thanks AntiHero on your how to) but man how I can't wait for the spring to sell both of these piece of .... Ducati 1199's. I can't wait to NEVER own another Ducati until I die. Its gonna be a great, stress free future not owning any Italian made trash. I can't believe how big of a ....... idiot I am for thinking the R would be "problem-free."

Leaking oil
not starting
clutch issues
dash issues
swingarm/suspension issues

Was Ducati drunk at the wheel when drawing this piece of .... bike up? I mean honestly. I know, I know, the defenders of Ducati will come flame me like they did Mark. I've made three mistakes in my life:
1. 2012 Multistrada
2. 2013 1199S (in white)
3. 2013 1199R

Class dismissed. This hopefully is my last time bitching here because I don't plan on ever owning an 1199/Ducati much into the future.

My future:
For touring pleasure: http://blog.brucerossmeyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ElectraGlide.jpg

For fun: http://www.yocracing.com/sales/images/database/2012/r1blk.jpg

Can't wait

Hard to argue with facts. Ducati swung and missed on the quality pitch. I still love my Pani, but the days of Ducati owners justifying poor quality based on the company's status as a boutique manufacturer are long gone....or should be.

Sucks you couldn't get what you expected from Ducati. Good luck with your future choices.

Why stress over something your dealer is obliged to fix under warranty? I agree on a bike this expensive you should not have to accept or experience such issues, but I've owned nine Ducatis over the last ten years and not one gave me any serious issues and those that did were quickly rectified. If as you say this leak is emanating from the valve cover, then its a simple job to remove it and reseal it. It's only complicated by the amount of dis-assembly to access the engine properly, but that will be the dealer's headache not yours.

Just curious where the rest of the oil went

Have a good one.

I also had quite a few starting problems with my new S, once I removed the charcoal canister all seems well! Sorry to hear about all your issues and dissatisfaction with the bike, scares me a little for my month old S is my first Ducati but my love for being on the bike hopefully outweighs the possible bads.

The R1 you linked is a beast of bike as well, it's low end power definitely out does the 1199. It is much bulkier though and not nearly as tossible. I traded in my 2011 R1 on the Panigale, while I loved the R1 I hated the clutch feel/engagement and the gearbox, Yamaha known for their unforgiving and clunky gearboxes I just was done with it for the type of daily/traffic riding that I do.

Best of luck to you with your 1199's and your future with the R1 if you go that route!

-Shawn-

...actually I can't believe how reliable a modern ducati is. 160 horsepower under 400 lbs yet it works like a sewing machine.


All those problems are small and fixable with a decent mechanic, under warranty. But instead you're going to take a huge financial knock on resale.

At least the new buyer will get a deal.

How much for the R?

Stop putting diesel in the gas tank lol

That "leak" looks like some excess brake fluid spilled from the reservoir.

Who did the first service? Why would the oil be low?

Ive had 3 of these bikes and had a few issues, but nothing like this. Charcoal canister removal gets rid of the hard starts, and letting the bike warm up for a minute before riding sees to cure everything else for me.

i must have gotten Lucky so far... or is it just my - skip the ....- memory/brain...

Maybe I'm lucky too. I bought a "leftover" 2012 base model in March of this year. Now have almost 5,000 miles on it. Other than the hard starting issue which was solved with the removal of the charcoal canister and having to bleed the clutch periodically, this bike is everything I hoped it would be.

Sorry to hear about your bad experience with Ducati.. I noticed your posts and understand your frustration.. I have been fortunate to not have the dash fogging issues, oil leaking, or swing arm issues..

I owned the S and currently the R. The only issue on the S was air in the clutch.. Easy fix with bleeding the line...

I recently took ownership of the "R" back in Aug of this year.. There was hard starting issues as well but just like all the other postings, removing the charcoal canisters fixed that problem..

Unlike past bikes owned, the Pani needed more time to sort out and set up properly which made me want to part ways with Ducati.. But once the bike is tuned and suspension set up, my personal opinion is this is the best bike out there.. I am not a brand name Ducati loyalist and at times almost considered the HP4 or RSV4.. Glad I stayed with it..

Again, sorry to hear the experience you had with yours!

I think nothing we write its gonna change yr mind. Shame really you got so dissapointed. My pani is leaking oil for the last 6 months and still not cured. I live with it and hopefully it will get sorted out soon.

Good luck with whatever you buy.

I think you may want to do some research first that "quality" R1 has many of the same issues that you are dealing with on your Ducatis. Out of the box the fueling w/fly by wire is the worst I have ever ridden...mandatory ecu reflash just to make it rideable. Suspension needs quite a bit of work to...then there are the starting issues and clutch issues. I will not even get into how grossly overweight it is.

Good luck on the HD as they are already under recall and the new cooling system to date has been a failure...can't keep the coolant on the inside.

Sorry about you issues but it's the nature of the beast...regardless of brand or cost

listen guys i know white pani actully have ridden his white 1199s and i dont know what it is but something is wrong with that bike. its not stable at speed (front is all over the place) has a temperament all its own, feels like it wants to throw you and always feels like you are in the wrong gear.

i know i am use to my bike but at points i was afraid to ride it in the twists

These bikes are NOT for everybody, they are not a disposable 2 wheel transportation appliance, sub category "sporting" The japs make those.
I understand you frustration though, I feel the same way about Harleys, never again will they ever get a nickel from me. Once again, "the ease of others is not the concern of the Sultan"

At what point will the seemingly countless complaints impact the perception that ducati can do no wrong? I understand every brand has problems, thats not the point. The point is the the open acceptance of those problems as "one of the many aspects that make ducati ownership so special." Are you kidding me...grow up. Cloner hit the nail on the head stating the days of justification for a boutique brand are long gone.

That said, as I read this I am blown away at the disrespect you guys have towards anyone who questions their ownership or relays their frustration. If I or any other new member post a frustration it is brushed off with complete disregard and labeled as a trolling attempt, lack of passion, or another bullsh!t excuse. Which I suppose is understandable as post count can sometimes have a direct correlation to credibility. Sure you get your post whores who contribute nothing more than worthless banter, but you also get those wih an incredible knowledge base to share. That is what amazes me. Active members like White13 and Mark convey their opinions and frustrustions and are immediatly met with disregard such as "Have a good one," "these bikes are not for everybody," "nature of the beast," "GLWS," etc etc. Are their opinions not valuable enough? Would complaints from revered posters, like Stw, Antihero, etc. hold more weight?

Show some unity and pride as owners, support each other instead of the brand and Ducati might actually start having to change their inherently problematic designs instead of blatantly ignoring them or issuing band-aid fixes like rear hugger, lower fairing, dash display replacements that will fail just like the parts preceding them. Until finally your warranty expires and you have to cover the expense yourselves.

mark419ny said:

i know i am use to my bike but at points i was afraid to ride it in the twists

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This is a personal problem and it makes me question your riding ability.

its not stable at speed (front is all over the place) has a temperament all its own, feels like it wants to throw you and always feels like you are in the wrong gear.

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What a troll post.


If you don't set sag and tire pressure then its your own fault.



My S, with only a few turns of the rear spring to get sag correct and setting tire pressure correctly, runs like a raped ape and is nimble fast and stable.


You sound like a bike spoiled noob who expects way too much.

Ashes said:

That said, as I read this I am blown away at the disrespect you guys have towards anyone who questions their ownership or relays their frustration. .

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Have you ever thought we get tired of spoiled kids and their whiney post?


The internet is a place where you get no cheese with your whine, but that doesn't stop us from turning our backs to excess whining.