Trade my Panigale in for a Vespa?

Red Dawn said:

Lemon Law on a 28k mile bike? Good one... Why are you so easy to jump on the idea that Ducati is trying to blow him off? I can promise that if Dennis contacted anyone he knows at Ducati, they are trying to get him handled. You guys are all so funny. Throwing stones and bitchin at the drop of a hat. It's always Ducati shitting on the little guy.

Dennis- get with me offline. I will PM you.

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Ok ...firstly bike is still under warranty and has been basically unrideable for weeks/Month +..... So why wouldn't lemon Law apply???

Secondly... I have spoken to Dennis and believe me Ducati "main guys" know all about his plight and have done so for a long time...Still not sorted....

Thirdly..... I do not claim Ducati are always shitting on the "little guy"... and this is hardly "at the drop of a hat" dude....This has been going on waaaay to long and should have been resolved...

AntiHero said:

She has one issue and that's it. Being that it's under warranty, and the issue has persisted for quite some time means the issue will be fixed, it's just a matter of time that I will soon no longer have.

I would be filled with regret if I had to sell my bike. It's the only thing I've trusted for the past two years. But I may be in a corner here with no other option than to sell and start over.

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-- i'm sure you're in contact with all the right people...however, you might try a call/email directly to the factory (domicelli's office) - his secretary is the mover and shaker for getting things moving.....she may or may not be able to get ducati na moving faster for you.......certainly worth an e-mail

I think you hit the nail on the head. It's probably something simple.

Unless you have done the work yourself, it's hard to say what the techs have truly done.

I wouldn't give up just yet, but I sure as hell would be pressing Ducati.

Ultimately I'd like believe I could get a 100K out of any bike. I didn't by mine for cruises down to the local Starbucks.

This may sound naive, however...

I would ask Ducati to put your engine in a new 1199 and put the new engine in your bike. Then take which ever bike doesn't exhibit the high idle symptoms and let their engineers figure it out while not on your riding time.

If the old engine works in the new bike, it is essentially the same heart but with a fresh new body. If the old bike runs better with the new engine, you still have your old bike, but with a new ticker. Win - win.

I actually don't even know why you want to ride a Panigale around the world .
Sell it and get a better bike for the job you will realise it's a pain in the arse before its too late .

AntiHero said:

A quick recap:

My bike has had an intermittent coughing exhaust/high idle issue for 8 months now. It's been to 3 different dealers ~8 times. In the past six months it's been in the shop a total of at least 9 weeks and they can't find the issue.

I've been extremely reasonable and extremely patient for a couple reasons: 1) Ducati has their top guys working on it (well, now at least) and 2) there are so few high mileage (28,000) Panigales in existence that there's no real knowledge base for the kind of R&D I've done.

However, the lack of a solution has pushed my Round the World trip back by a significant duration, meaning I'll miss Isle of Man and will lose at least a month of good riding weather.

I'm desperate, and really ....... stressed out now. I quit my job and my last day is coming up soon, which means I'll be burning through savings with my thumb up my ... in LA instead of riding the world.

Ducati offered me a few grand off a 2014 S, but that would leave me with
1) a bike with an undiagnosable high-idle problem that would need to be fixed out-of-warranty when I get back.
2) a huge chunk out of what I'd budgeted for this trip.
3) a bike I'd need to store, insure, etc. here in the US.

What do you do if you're me?
1) Try to sell a bike with an undiagnosable problem to someone who wants to own the (arguably) most famous and most photographed Panigale in the world so I can justify the additional expense (and reliability) of a new bike?
2) Wait it out and hope a fix comes soon?
3) Return the email of the lemon-law lawyer who recently contacted me?
4) Find a high traffic mall, park my bike with the key in it and call my insurance company the next day when my beloved has been dismembered for sale on ebay?
5) Go balls to the wall and score a new Vespa for the trip?
6) Insert recommendation here.


HELP!!!!!

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Re : HELP .. PM sent.

wilkson said:

I actually don't even know why you want to ride a Panigale around the world .
Sell it and get a better bike for the job you will realise it's a pain in the arse before its too late .

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...thats a fact for sure....but different strokes for different folks

Get a multistrada and stop wasting you time trying to tour on an sport bike or if you are tire of Ducati (wich I dont blame you) get the new MV Agusta turismo veloce.

I would suggest seeing if Ducati and the dealer would cut you a deal. Companies hate lemon law. If not the proceed.

Sorry for your delay.

esmirna8261980 said:

Get a multistrada and stop wasting you time trying to tour on an sport bike or if you are tire of Ducati (wich I dont blame you) get the new MV Agusta turismo veloce.

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Yeah, because an MV will be waaaay more reliable for around the world riding.

HotIce said:

Did they replace the RPM/timing sensor?

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I caught up with the other thread you posted. You said you cleaned it.
I would replace it, and try. So the MAP ones.
I'm not sure if that has already been done, but if the ECU has a data logging / diagnostic mode, dumping ECU signals during the bad/inconsistent idle, someone at Ducati should be able to look at the I/O signals from the ECU, and understand the culprit.
The weird part is that when you swapped heads and ECU, bike ran fine for 1000 miles.
Was the RPM sensor cleaned/inspected when you swapped the heads, or at another time?


PS: Do not give up the bike. 28K miles are not a mark you throw a Ducati, or any bike away. The eventual issues which comes with miles, do not show up in terms you are describing, which seem IMHO mostly electronic. Miles bring mechanical issues eventually, but it does not seem like your case.

Capt CF said:

Yeah, because an MV will be waaaay more reliable for around the world riding.

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please tell us how bad is MV compare with ducati.if the op want to dump ducati as a brand MV is a good option

Man the simple answer is go with number 4. However, try to get yours fixed. If you get stuck on this side of the world I'm sure someone on this forum will extend a hand,(I would!)

Keep a good journal of all mechanical things that take place on your journey and keep sending them to Ducati Italy via all public forums! Then make sure you swing by Bologna and make the Yoda of the Pani universe overhaul your bike.

Write them tell them when you'll be there, (tentatively in case the bike breaks) and tell them you'd love to do a big photo op about your awesome Panigale.
Tell them thousands of people are following you with baited breath.

Embarrass the .... out of them.

KTM were annoyed at missing out on the Long Way Round TV programme benefits that BMW scored, why not contact KTM tell them who you are and what you are doing, score a free bike, contact a bike magazine to sponsor you in exchange for articles from all around the world on the trip? Leave your Pani with Ducati, make them responsible for insuring it on their premisses whilst they sell it on a commission basis. Then ride around the world with a smile

Stw said:

Ok ...firstly bike is still under warranty and has been basically unrideable for weeks/Month +..... So why wouldn't lemon Law apply???

Secondly... I have spoken to Dennis and believe me Ducati "main guys" know all about his plight and have done so for a long time...Still not sorted....

Thirdly..... I do not claim Ducati are always shitting on the "little guy"... and this is hardly "at the drop of a hat" dude....This has been going on waaaay to long and should have been resolved...

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The deal is that even in posts after yours, people are saying things like dump Ducati and ride something else and show them. Or, "embarrass the". REALLY?!?!

The point of my response is simple. Everyone instantly knee jerks and figures Ducati is trying to snake out of fixing it. Sounds like to me, it is an issue that the techs at these shops haven't been able to pinpoint.

Ask the TPL guys how hard it has been sourcing electrical issues. Hell, ask some guys riding other brands... Not saying it is electrical... Just an example.

I just get tired of people instantly thinking that you should jump ship, ride something else and thumb your nose at the brand that is apparently not doing enough. However, everyone on here with exception to a very select few really know what is going on, but it is super easy for everyone to make assumptions and they are all seemingly negative.

Crazy.

I feel Dennis' frustration. While I'm not experiencing anything close to his problem, I get his love for the bike. This bike has given me the most amount of problems of any bike I've owned (only 4) but it is by far my favorite bike and I couldn't imagine parting ways with it. Whatever that may occur, in my current state of mind, I'm willing to deal with them as they surface.

You've got the most recognized Panigale in the world! Problems n all, I think that's reason enough to deal with the current issue until it is resolved. At least the bike still runs just fine, if not good as new (minus the idle issue). If or when you get strapped for money and can no longer generate cash by any other means, then and only then would I consider selling that historic Panigale. Yours should be numbered 001/001. So much priceless history/memories made with that bike that I'd be crushed for you if you were to part ways with it.

Hope it all gets sorted soon.

Red Dawn said:

Edit - Didn't realize this wasn't the original 1199 you rode the US with... My apologies. But I still PM'd you...

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It is the original bike I did the coast-to-coast on. And in CA lemon law covers bikes as long as they're under factory warranty, which means 2 years and unlimited miles--or so I'm told.

esmirna8261980: Read my Coast-to-Coast ride report and I think you will understand why I'm doing this on an 1199.

HotIce: I was told that was a crankshaft sensor and that it would have nothing to do with idle speed (though I forgot the explanation). But it probably is worth replacing. You and I are in complete agreement with the assessment, though.

SOULRIDER: I'm with you. I, too, believe we should be able to get 100k out of our bikes.

Wilkson, RD16RR: I recall a lot of people said the same thing before I did the Coast to Coast. The Panigale turned an awesome experience of a lifetime into something sublime. I proved that you didn't need heated grips or panniers or rain tires or a 6.7 gallon fuel tank to do it. For a RTW trip I'd be filled with regret if I took any other bike.

Fireman: I'm with you. The only bikes I want are either the S, R or SL.

IdZer0: My 15+ years in sales and marketing have me stumped. One need look no further than the multitude of "your trip blew all the misconceptions I had of Ducati out of the water," comments on my various Ride Reports to see the value in an even bigger and better trip. (And one not need to be a genius to realize the damage a RTW trip that failed at the starting line could do.)

I want to emphasize, though, that we're not talking about a major mechanical issue. This isn't about holes in pistons, an ECU that keeps frying out or a transmission that won't hold second gear. EVERYTHING on the bike--the suspension, the brakes, the engine, the wheel bearings, etc. etc. is in tip-top shape. Remember at 15k miles my valves were still in spec? That's a marvel of engineering if you ask me. Every bike I've owned I've put at least 30,000 miles on - and they all felt tired and worn (the 675 not so much). But the Ducati feels NEW. That's saying a hell of a lot, especially after all the horrendous conditions I've subjected my bike to.

This issue is microscopic and a pain in the ... to track down. Ducati is not blowing this issue off and I believe that they have done more than any other manufacturer would have in trying to fix the issue.

My problem has nothing to do with Ducati, nor the way Ducati has treated me or my bike. It has to do with timing....I need to be gone very, very soon or I need to be prepared for riding a Panigale through Siberia in October.

Double0: You've captured my sentiments perfectly.

Red Dawn said:

The deal is that even in posts after yours, people are saying things like dump Ducati and ride something else and show them. Or, "embarrass the". REALLY?!?!

The point of my response is simple. Everyone instantly knee jerks and figures Ducati is trying to snake out of fixing it. Sounds like to me, it is an issue that the techs at these shops haven't been able to pinpoint.

Ask the TPL guys how hard it has been sourcing electrical issues. Hell, ask some guys riding other brands... Not saying it is electrical... Just an example.

I just get tired of people instantly thinking that you should jump ship, ride something else and thumb your nose at the brand that is apparently not doing enough. However, everyone on here with exception to a very select few really know what is going on, but it is super easy for everyone to make assumptions and they are all seemingly negative.

Crazy.

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+1
This isn't an issue caused by sloppy manufacturing or bad engineering. It hasn't not been fixed due to a lack of concern or effort on Ducati's part. It's one of those, 'holy ...., we've tried everything and it's still possessed' kind of issues. I had a similarly annoying issue on my Yamaha that turned out to be a female connector that plagued my bike for almost two years before I finally found the source. Only instead of a high idle it wouldn't start or run under 6krpm.

Keep in mind, too, that I'm at the tip of the spear. I've subjected my bike to way more than most people would, and only now do I have this annoying problem. Guaranteed a few of you will, too....only when you experience it you (and Ducati) will know, 'oh, it's pin number 4 on the harness from x to y....'

For now they've got to find that. So no need to bash 'em. The intended purpose of this thread was to flush out assistance, which it has (amidst other unintended effects).

I should also note that another forum member offered me his R to ride the world with. If that doesn't say something about why the hell I'm doing this trip on a Ducati, I don't know what else does.

hey man I read every page of you trip and all I can said is the you are the MAN. but I think is time to try something else because I belive you can do that trip in a Vespa with the same result. It not the bike it you

this is the part I dont get, You did a good job show casing the panigale to the public view for free if I was ducati I will give you a new bike no question ask