Once you get past the price tag and realize this is an advanced piece of machinery that needs more attention than others, your sorrows will dissapear. Just my .02, but I used to fix multiple weapon systems in the military ranging from pistols to 155mm howitzers. Now, I may be opening a door here but, when something becomes more "advanced" meaning more mechanical and electronic moving parts that are also dependent on one another, your chances of failure increase. Nothing comes without a cost.
Here's an example (just the basics):
M198 howitzer (
M198 howitzer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
-older era, invented during Vietnam conflict, up til a few years ago where they are now being replaced with newer models which I will get to.
-Weighs roughly 8 tons
-Basic devices used to elevate, simplistic independent nitrogen/oil pressurized systems. Used to elevate, for recoil damping, and return damping.
-Made from mostly steel and aluminum.
-Max range 18.6 miles
-Not very light, or versatile, large trucks and helicopters needed to transport. Limited space on jet aircraft due to weight load limits. Most transported by naval ships.
-Very simple to fix, practically hit most things with a hammer and they will start working again (I.E. Breach lock)
-Cost $527,000 (rounded)
M777A2 howitzer (
M777 howitzer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
-New kid on the block, replaces the M198. Built by the UK.
-Weighs roughly 4.5 tons (according to our manual, Wiki has data discrepancy claiming 3.8 tons, regardless it is nearly half the weight of the M198)
-Nitrogen/oil systems used thoroughly through the howitzer. Ensures dropping of loading tray, closing of breach, recoil damping, return damping, slave system for loading systems, suspension, etc. 100's of oil lines. Very complex and dependent systems dependent on each other, break an oil line (just like pulling a lightbulb from your christmas tree, a chain will fail)
-Good portion of it is made from titanium, the rest is mixed steel and aluminum.
-Max range 25 miles (we shot an excalibur round that effectively hit the mouth of a cave at 27.5 miles)
-Because these are so light, small trucks can be used to transport, we can drop it from aircraft and the firing crew and have it setup and ready to fire in roughly 15 minutes. Was designed to be carried by a blackhawk, but fell short of the load limit. Very versatile weapon.
-Not quite as reliable as the M198 (many more moving parts)
-Cost $1.6 million
Even though we sacrificed a more reliable weapon for a more advanced one, we gained over 7 miles of range, a faster fire rate, less weight, digital fire control (we can drop a round within 5 meters of target at 25 miles, ensures accuracy to half mils instead of 1 mils), does it make a difference? Well, it's life and death, I heard enough stories from men/women we support to know it does, keeping convoys from being overrun, outlying remote bases as well. But as the mechanic for twelve of these guns, they need to be watched and have well trained personnel keeping the guns running. Requires much more attention than the dinosaur M198.
Ducati is just like the M777. It has more moving parts and more advanced electronics than most bikes. This makes it a rather unreliable machine at times. This machine makes cornering easy, but demands more attention. I have so far put over 22k on my base model within the last year and a quarter. It hasn't been easy... it caught fire due to a severed spark plug 2 weeks after I bought it. Cam cover gasket has leaked several times, just slightly. Forks lost rebound damping. Display malfunctioned several times. It was losing power at the track last time I went out, not sure what the cause of this is yet.
But all in all I have stuck with this machine like glue. I trust my dealer to ensure that it is fixed when it malfunctions and so far they haven't dissapointed. I have to keep on top of it as well, I pull the fairings off almost every week to check for any leaks. Make sure tires, oil, coolant, the basic necessities are up to par. Sorry for your oil leak, it could be worse though, it could catch on fire while you're riding it
I stay dedicated. Nothing puts a bigger smile on my face than the feel of that Desmo engine thumping away! Sorry for your struggle. But no matter what machine you buy, the more moving parts and the more advanced it becomes, the more you increase your chance of failure. Everything comes at a cost= lighter, faster, safer machine>> decreased reliability, increased cost. Take care!
