The new guy...

Good day to all....

My name is Donte Avery and i am a speed junkie. I purchased my white 2013 base panigale last march and had a couple of problems so far. First, my thermal water temp quit on me twice. Second, my lower faring was destroyed by the gate spring on my exhaust (3 times). Last but not least, now my bike will not start. LCD is blinking bloody murder with Engine and Kick stand. Please someone tell me it gets better because, honestly, this bike is one of the worst purchases i have ever made and thinking about trading up for the Aprilla or BMW.

Damn...

Hi Donte,

I wish I could give you better news and sorry about the rant, BUT....

After being a JAP fan of Hondas, Suzukis etc for 30 years, I said I would NOT buy a Ducati that had a rattling dry clutch and belt driven cams! Why would you?

BUT... When the Bayliss inspired Panigale arrived, with wet clutch and chain driven cams, I had no choice - I had to get one and did.

First problem was the price. In Australia the basic 2012 model was $26,990 FIRM. No test ride, No Negotiation, $1000 deposit and wait 9 months...

Eventually I rode the bike out of the dealership and as a first time owner of a Ducati TWIN making all that gorgeous noise, was absolutely delighted,
but nobody told me to use LOTS and LOTS of loctite to stop the bike vibrating apart and the screws from falling out.

These are the parts that fell off on the first 2 rides, before I went crazy with loctite;
- Foot Brake lever (apparently not covered under warranty = $189)
- Side panel screws (3)
- Standard exhaust cover screw
- Side mirror screw
- Gear shift screw (frame stopped screw falling out - touch up paint required)


Then I started to have issues with the Panigale and these things fixed by the dealer;
- Loom modification to fix the blinkers
- Rocker cover gaskets replaced (Leaked oil)
- Bleed clutch 3 times
- New engine maps

These things fixed by me;
- Bleed clutch 5 times (Usually only last a couple of days before no more clutch - fitted adjustable shortly levers to get through 4 day weekend rides = $220)
- added heat shield the to side cover to stop melting.
- replace all brake and clutch fluids (often) as they keep going black, especially the rear brake (using Liquid Intelligent 318 or Motul 600)
- replaced exhaust cover screws
- $2K carbon fibre bling (dealer was going to charge me $560 to fit onto the new bike)
- Ohlins performance parts inside! (replace the standard suspension as it's very ordinary)

These things NOT fixed by the dealer
- clutch keeps getting bubbles in the fluid
- melted side cover (not bad enough to justify replacement in their opinion)
- rear lid fell off the bike when riding away after I picked it up from service. (They didn't click it in correctly = $220)

So I'm also asking if I should keep it or sell it ???

I now have 15,400 kms on the clock and checked the price of the MAJOR service. (24,000 kms)

Please sit down before you read the price.... sitting down???

$2,400, but Ducati Melbourne haven't done one yet so they are not all that sure on the price.

And just to make matters worse (and hence the long WHINE/wine) I got home tonight to see a pool of red fluid under the bike. It has been sitting on display in the house for the
last 2 weeks since I detailed the bike. Everything is absolutely sparkling, but red fluid leak has ticked me off big time.


The ONLY reason I will keep the bike, is the smile on my face after riding in the hills on a sunny Sunday afternoon and feeling the lightness of the front wheel dancing in the air as you crack the throttle full on when exiting a corner, quick shifting, then to jump hard on sensational brakes, to wash off speed for the next corner, knee down and then just do it again and again and again.

No doubt the Aprillia and BMW will give the same kind of thrill, but the Panigale is just too gorgeous, especially with the mods and bling I've fitted!

I'm keeping mine - if they fix the radiator leak!

Cheers
Peter

Geez...I just brought home a new 13 Tri Colore, hope I will have better luck then you guys.

That's it I'm dumping mine before something goes wrong with it

I can't say I've had any major issue with my 1199S or my 848 previously.

Certainly nothing like screws or parts vibrating off like 99Duc :O I hate to say it without good evidence, but could it be the standards of the dealers? Bearing in mind I'm UK based, probably triple checked my bike over. Before I rode off on mine they also wrapped me up in Europian Union spec cotton wool painted me a high vis yellow and fitted stabilisers!!!

I have had the exhaust spring issue but not as bad as you can barely see it on red fairing, they replaced it all the same.