Melting? I think I'm burning!

JustDucky · Oct 31, 2013

Getting ready to take my 13 in for its first service...I noticed a couple of items

1. Rear brake reservoir is black...looks like it's filled with Guiness
2. Whole right lower fairing is turning yellow
3. Further inspection...it's melting, no wait it actually burning

Did not have this issue on my 12 but that had the full had the full Termi...this one is running the stock setup. Is it you need to spend the $3,500 to keep this from happening?

Does anyone know if you run the no gloss carbon fiber lower if that will yellow too?

Capt CF · Oct 31, 2013

I have a 13 and have the same problem. So much for the "rubber washer" fix.

A4RingedONE8T · Oct 31, 2013

Mine is as well, have you asked your local dealer if they will replace the plastic, or fix the issue?

topolino · Oct 31, 2013

Without exception, almost all the previous Superbikes, run hotter with the stock exhaust, perhaps due in part to the inbuilt cat. I've always seen a significant drop in temperatures when switching to an open system, nevertheless I think you need to address this with your dealer.

JustDucky · Oct 31, 2013

A4 I am taking in the bike in tomorrow for service. I am confident that my dealer will take care of me...I have had zero issues in the past. My concern is if it happens once it will happen again without making a change..which I know will aggravate me even if Ducati replaces it every 600mi.

Trying to get some feedback if swapping for a full exhaust will make a difference or if I can get a away with just switching to a CF lower

I'd prefer not to drop $3500 for exhaust as it takes $$$ away from my track bike and car

ScrapperX · Oct 31, 2013

JustDucky said:
A4 I am taking in the bike in tomorrow for service. I am confident that my dealer will take care of me...I have had zero issues in the past. My concern is if it happens once it will happen again without making a change..which I know will aggravate me even if Ducati replaces it every 600mi.

Trying to get some feedback if swapping for a full exhaust will make a difference or if I can get a away with just switching to a CF lower I'd prefer not to drop $3500 for exhaust as it takes $$$ away from my track bike and car

Thermo-Tec Tape shield
$14.40
THERMO-TEC Shield Tape

Every other bike manufacture lines their fairing with Thermal Tape if the exhaust is near the fairings. Not sure why Ducati didn't do it. Lined my fairings from day 1 and never had any problems. Recently bought some CF Fairing and lined the lower right fairing still no problems.

JustDucky · Oct 31, 2013

ScrapperX just checked out your bike and it is sweet! I think I need to cut out some of my other $$$ hobbies.

Si1199 · Oct 31, 2013

Having the exact same problem, spoke to my dealer and the new part has been ordered under warranty. I have taken some pictures as evidence in case it continues to happen once the new part is on. Not only is the plastic burning but it has cracked and there is now clear day light coming through. I really don't see why after paying out so much money for one of these machines I then need to shell out loads more to prevent the bike doing this, surely this should have been identified at the design and testing phase by Ducati? Anyway, fingers crossed it doesn't happen with the new part but I'm pretty sure it will as Ducati haven't done anything to move the exhaust/spring hanger.

Capt CF · Oct 31, 2013

Si1199 said:
Having the exact same problem, spoke to my dealer and the new part has been ordered under warranty. I have taken some pictures as evidence in case it continues to happen once the new part is on. Not only is the plastic burning but it has cracked and there is now clear day light coming through. I really don't see why after paying out so much money for one of these machines I then need to shell out loads more to prevent the bike doing this, surely this should have been identified at the design and testing phase by Ducati? Anyway, fingers crossed it doesn't happen with the new part but I'm pretty sure it will as Ducati haven't done anything to move the exhaust/spring hanger.

+1 - replacing the fairing is a bandaid, not a fix for the underlying issue. Buying weird tape and sticking it everywhere, bending the exhaust hanger and wedging rubber washers all over the place is pretty Sanford and Son for something supposedly this refined. If you plan to keep beyond 2 years I would definitely get an extended warranty. I trust this bike about as much as I trust Obama.

BusaDuc · Oct 31, 2013

Wow - will be keeping an eye on that!

Capt CF · Oct 31, 2013

BusaDuc said:
Wow - will be keeping an eye on that!

You can take preventative action now before you have an issue. If you notice the retaining spring and/or the hanger touching the thin strip of fairing below the clutch cover then you can get it squared away before your fairing melts. By the time I saw mine it was too far gone and would need to be replaced so I haven't done anything with it.

fireman1251 · Oct 31, 2013

topolino said:
Without exception, almost all the previous Superbikes, run hotter with the stock exhaust, perhaps due in part to the inbuilt cat. I've always seen a significant drop in temperatures when switching to an open system, nevertheless I think you need to address this with your dealer.

Ended up getting Termis in late summer and noticed a significant drop in engine temps.

ScrapperX · Oct 31, 2013

fireman1251 said:
Ended up getting Termis in late summer and noticed a significant drop in engine temps.

+1 no CATs and bigger header diameter lets hot gases escape faster.

Fragile · Oct 31, 2013

I put heat reflect tape on the backside of the fairing where it gets close to the pipes. Now layers of that tape and its adhesive are delaminating, but no burn to the fairings. Its so hot I think I have to replace the tape periodically. Hot hot!

Jafasaffer · Oct 31, 2013

I have had my lower fairing replaced on my S for melting. Dealer in Tauranga, NZ - had no issue sorting it.

Realprop · Nov 1, 2013

Capt CF said:
+1 - replacing the fairing is a bandaid, not a fix for the underlying issue. Buying weird tape and sticking it everywhere, bending the exhaust hanger and wedging rubber washers all over the place is pretty Sanford and Son for something supposedly this refined. If you plan to keep beyond 2 years I would definitely get an extended warranty. I trust this bike about as much as I trust Obama.

How do bikes & politics go together ? Is this Huff Post ? Am I in the wrong forum again?

Capt CF · Nov 1, 2013

Realprop said:
How do bikes & politics go together ? Is this Huff Post ? Am I in the wrong forum again?

lol.. sorry, it just annoys me that Ducati is replacing the fairings, huggers, etc. and not offering any real solution to what is obviously an underlying heat problem. I get that all bikes have issues, but this is exactly what they did with the Streetfighter expanding fuel tank problem. Their strategy was to replace the ethanol affected tanks during warranty, but never offer a stainless steel tank or one made from another type of plastic that eliminated the problem since it was cheaper to simply give owners the same problematic tank again to get them out of the warranty period and then wash their hands of it. We had a group buy going on stainless steel tanks from some company in Italy at like $3500 a pop, but I have a problem with the customer having to go out and come up with expensive solutions just to make the bike function. I don't want another fairing to tide me over until my warranty expires. What they need to do is redesign the fairing, the header in that area or some other fix that eliminates the problem so the fairings stop melting.

Realprop · Nov 1, 2013

Capt CF said:
lol.. sorry, it just annoys me that Ducati is replacing the fairings, huggers, etc. and not offering any real solution to what is obviously an underlying heat problem. I get that all bikes have issues, but this is exactly what they did with the Streetfighter expanding fuel tank problem. Their strategy was to replace the ethanol affected tanks during warranty, but never offer a stainless steel tank or one made from another type of plastic that eliminated the problem since it was cheaper to simply give owners the same problematic tank again to get them out of the warranty period and then wash their hands of it. We had a group buy going on stainless steel tanks from some company in Italy at like $3500 a pop, but I have a problem with the customer having to go out and come up with expensive solutions just to make the bike function. I don't want another fairing to tide me over until my warranty expires. What they need to do is redesign the fairing, the header in that area or some other fix that eliminates the problem so the fairings stop melting.

Although not affected probably cuz I don't ride enough. But agree. QC on this bike really sux. I thought they would address much of the issues with the 14 model. I.e. Changing the exhaust setup. I think KTM has the solution see RC8R none of the headers are close to the seat.... They have no dramatic power loss (no real power anyway but still) I hate that we're paying 20-30k for bikes that have these kinda issues. And there still not justified by putting the bike on the podium...

Phl · Nov 1, 2013

if anyone needs help removing the cats form the stock cans , PM me.

Capt CF · Nov 1, 2013

Realprop said:
Although not affected probably cuz I don't ride enough. But agree. QC on this bike really sux. I thought they would address much of the issues with the 14 model. I.e. Changing the exhaust setup. I think KTM has the solution see RC8R none of the headers are close to the seat.... They have no dramatic power loss (no real power anyway but still) I hate that we're paying 20-30k for bikes that have these kinda issues. And there still not justified by putting the bike on the podium...

Yeah, I thought I was safe getting a '13, but nope, still same fairing melting issue as the '12 even though they knew about it before they built my bike. If the '14s have the same fairing melting issue I can only assume that Ducati simply doesn't give a rat's ... and they are content to replace a couple fairings for the whining customers during warranty and then let us fend for ourselves with heat tape, rubber washers or buying replacement fairings ourselves. Again, I don't mind the bike having this issue, it's the lack of any real effort to fix it that drives me up a wall and makes me want to get rid of it before the warranty expires. With something commanding a premium price like the Panigale if there is a widespread issue among the customer base I would expect them to get engineering involved and work out a real fix, notify customers, dealers, etc. and make it easy and painless for us to get the bikes squared away. I got burned once on the SF ethanol tank issue and this smells like the same scenario.

Melting? I think I'm burning!

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