When horror stories become reality

Morning guys! I found out something terrible Wednesday. I came home from work and noticed my bike was leaning way way over on the kickstand like it was about to damn near fall. So my first assumption was that someone hit it and picked it up. Not the case no scuffs or scrapes. I then stand it up right and move the kickstand and realize its loose. So I go into my house grab some allen keys to go tighten her up. pop the lower fairing and go to tighten, only to find out the bolts are stripped and bent. Thinking to myself shitttttt this sucks! I start inspecting and realize that the Bolts being loose combined with the weight of the bike cracked the engine case where they bolt in!! so As I cry myself to sleep that night. I wake up and get it to my local dealer ASAP. They scratch their head as I pull in and say "you don't have a apt do you" I respond nope I wasn't planning on this happening! Well they ask me 10 stupid questions like "do you sit on it with the stand down" "do you rotate the bike on the stand" "do you strap it down on the kickstand" At This point I'm annoyed that I'm being asked stupid ... questions. They proceed to tell me they are three weeks booked and when they do get to it, it will be a major operation. Pretty much saying I wont have my brand new bike for over a month because the EFFING kickstand wasn't properly tightened. This being my second Duc from the place in less than a year I figured they would offer a loaner as I commute a hour every day the sunshines, Response was nope we don't do loaners. Then I'm told ill be called later that day and no call. So here I am sad depressed and Bikeless Does anyone know of a reputable dealer within a couple hours of Columbus that can fix my baby sooner?? Also how often have you heard of such a thing happening!?

Motohio is were you went isn't it

Sorry to hear about this. If I was going to have to wait a month, I'd further my travel distance to get it repaired.

Seeing as entering Columbus in google maps brings up at least 5 entries in 5 different states, maybe you should modify your profile to specify what state you are in.

Might help you get a swifter response....

F*ck dude. I'd be stoked they are fixing it under warranty.

The way this post was written reminds me of Hemingway.
"Todd" Hemingway.

@bp7178 I am as stoked as I can be But I'm still annoyed that my $20,000 one month old bike is out of commission when I live in a state where a month is a big majority of riding time. I don't see how its anyone fault except for the person who either A. Didn't lock tight a kickstand that's bolted directly to a high vibrating engine or B. didn't properly torque the nuts if they aren't recommending Loctite. Any idea if the kickstand if mounted at the factory or the dealer!?

I don't want to sound like a complete cry baby either I'm just venting my frustration.

@Twiztedrabbit yes I'm currently dealing with Motohio who has been a great dealer experience which Is why I will continue to go there. Just not to thrilled they don't offer a loaner or something as this is a big means of transportation for me. If It was a inexpensive jap bike its one thing but I compare a Ducati to a luxury car brand and would expect that kind of treatment. Probably because I'm in the car business and Cadillac owners get Cadillac's even when there car is in the shop for a hour! Heck even our Chevy customers can get brand new loaners free of charge when they stop in for simple maintenance.

bp7178 said:

F*ck dude. I'd be stoked they are fixing it under warranty.

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I would think that goes without saying. It certainly wasn't the OP's fault. Their QA has always sucked.

Loaners are up to each dealer. If you look at it from their point of view, offering a loaner makes less sense. They are smaller dealers by and large than car dealers are. Thus they have less cash to work with. Loaning a bike is inherently riskier than loaning out a car. You stand a much better chance of it coming back in more pieces than you loaned it. If that happens, the dealer has lost money on that bike even if it's repairable, they still have to take money out of pocket to repair the bike, and good luck selling it as new.

Very, very few people, especially in our state, use a bike as their primary or only means of transportation. It doesn't make sense. As you said, a month is a good chunk of our riding season. Getting a loaner for your primary means of transportation when your car is in for repair is one thing. Getting a loaner for a recreational vehicle is another.

You could try Competition Accessories/Ride Inc. in Springfield and see if they can do better. I wouldn't buy anything from them again, but their Ducati tech is good.

it is expected, you are buying a Ducati, not a Honda, and stupid things happens on Ducatis, i had 13 recalls on the 1199, not to say it doesnt bother me, but small things always happens, and i dont take that as a surprise.

whenever i work on the bike, i always find things that is not properly done, or missing

best way to avoid this is periodically check your bike (or have your dealer do it)

i understand it is frustrating for you, that your $20k baby broke down and they dont offer a loaner, but you might have better luck getting a loaner if you bought a $20k Honda civic, as the dealer has better over head cost to provide you with such service, bike dealer are MUCH smaller in term of sales/volume/profit.

I deal Only with Indy Ducati, very good guys over there, probably still not going to get a loaner, but there service department is tops!!! They may be able to get it in sooner too..

duckyduc said:

it is expected, you are buying a Ducati, not a Honda, and stupid things happens on Ducatis, i had 13 recalls on the 1199, not to say it doesnt bother me, but small things always happens, and i dont take that as a surprise.

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13 recalls? Do tell; I've had my '12 model since they first came off the boat and that certainly hasn't been my experience. Aside from the dash/left switch relay issue that was resolved with the external harness, I've had no recall-type items. Couple of ECU updates at normal service intervals, but otherwise zero. Still runs like a top at 16K miles...

Side stand is mounted on at the factory, not at the dealership.

I don't expect a brand new Panigale for a demo or anything brand new. It doesn't even have to be a sport bike. Ill take a rugged adv bike that's less prone to damage if something unfortunate occurred as long as its two wheels. I've owned my bike for less than 6 weeks and have 2500 miles on it despite all the rain we've had in Ohio(which is a ton) so this is a big deal to my style of life! I understand they have less profit than a dealer but I work for a small town car dealer, the reason I went to Motohio is because its a first name basis facility which I can appreciate, I would expect them to be the good guys that help you out, Not the metroplex (we sell everything) mega store that considers you as a number in their equation of making money.

crazyduc996 said:

I deal Only with Indy Ducati, very good guys over there, probably still not going to get a loaner, but there service department is tops!!! They may be able to get it in sooner too..

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I live in columbus. .. I drive 3.5hrs to indy ducati because of the care and time they take with every customer. .. they have done loaners.. but not for out of city new customers... I've not had good dealings with motohio... nor have any others they are not that supportive of the Ducati brand and focus on bmw triumph... glad you have had luck though!

My recommendation is indy ducati. .. or possibly iron pony as they are now a ducati dealer... you won't get a loaner but I bet you could get in quicker

TwiztedRabbit said:

I live in columbus. .. I drive 3.5hrs to indy ducati because of the care and time they take with every customer. .. they have done loaners.. but not for out of city new customers... I've not had good dealings with motohio... nor have any others they are not that supportive of the Ducati brand and focus on bmw triumph... glad you have had luck though!

My recommendation is indy ducati. .. or possibly iron pony as they are now a ducati dealer... you won't get a loaner but I bet you could get in quicker

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Pony is a new dealer, doubt they are ready to swap cases on a superquadro! I'd recommend us or Ducati Indy.

As I stated. ... indy ducati and if desperate iron pony

Steve B said:

13 recalls? Do tell; I've had my '12 model since they first came off the boat and that certainly hasn't been my experience. Aside from the dash/left switch relay issue that was resolved with the external harness, I've had no recall-type items. Couple of ECU updates at normal service intervals, but otherwise zero. Still runs like a top at 16K miles...

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yeah, i have one of the very first '12 as well, then a '13, folks, shock, dash, wiring, head gasket, water pump, charcoal canister, flap valves, master brake cylinder...the list goes on..., but it's not major, and i have the bike towed/deliver to me on weekdays, so it's not a bid deal
my friend's 1199 did lose his kick stand's bold but nothing was stripped like this

the '15 has 2,000 miles had been solid so far, with just rough idle on hot track days

Well my luck isn't there yet. its still pending approval for warranty and the Service manager has now called and said this happens when people remove the kickstand for track days, or transporting the bike with the kickstand down. This time I let him know that I'm taking offense to him practically saying I've tampered with the kickstand, especially when The damn bike wont run without a kickstand unless your order the kickstand bypass switch! Even better the guy I went to the track with helped me strap the bike down for transport and he has bought damn near ten bikes from Motohio and knows what hes doing.

They have to ask those questions, as people do all of those things, and I am sure Ducait requires it in order to cover it. I had similar questions related to my clutch going out. As for loaners, look in their service bays. They may have 3 or 4 bikes, and I'm sure can't afford to have 3 or 4 loaners available, insured, etc. Some car places do, but none of my bike places do. That's a question to ask when you buy it, not when you need it.

Sorry for what has happened to your new bike. I do agree, that to have it covered by warranty is a great thing, revel in that. As for loaners, I too feel your pain, but some auto dealers, also, don't provide. Here on Guam, if you purchase a BMW auto, the dealer doesn't provide loaners, so I bought Lexus. There however, can be a lengthy wait, if all the cars have already been dispatched. It is a question one might ask prior to purchase.
Regardless of your use, bikes are primarily recreational, the jet ski example was used. You might not expect to receive an immediate jet ski loaner with all your warranty claims. Then of course there are the insurance and liability issues as your riding experience is unknown to the dealer. Many, I'm sure have purchased Pani's as their first bike.
Hope your bike is restored to it's glory soon enough.