I Melted My Bike - Ducati.ms

Redduck · Sep 9th, 2010, 12:14 pm

Well, not completely melted, but I definitely melted some of the parts...

Here is the story. I loaded up the Multi with the wife and full luggage, including a loaded top box, and headed out to Yellowstone for the holiday weekend. The trip was scheduled for 4 days and around 1800 miles.

The first day was a nice trip out of Colorado and into Wyoming to meet up with all the Harley riding people we would travel with for the rest of the trip. All went well until, on the third day and a particularly long straight piece of road we stopped for gas and someone noticed one of my license plate bolts was missing. When I looked closer I noticed that the reflector on the license plate bracket was gone too. Then I noticed that my little rear mudflap was melted away on one corner. I looked more closely at my license plate bracket and it had been so hot that it had melted and become malformed from the heat of the exhaust.

I am sure that it was the exhaust that melted it, although these parts are a long way from the exhaust outlet. I have turned in the pictures to my dealer to get their thoughts, but I thought I would post it here to so you would all be aware also. My biggest concern is that the edge of that mudflap got hot enough to melt away, so imagine how hot the edge of the tire was as well. That could have made of a very interesting hard right turn...

I have attached some pics for your perusal...

Ken

Espada · Sep 9th, 2010, 1:06 pm

Well, I would say that first picture certainly appears to add validity your claim

DuckMan · Sep 9th, 2010, 1:40 pm

Damn! Never had that problem with my ST!

Sorry, just couldn't resist.

That's pretty strange. It looks like it far enough away from the exhaust that shouldn't be an issue. On my Monster, the exhaust (Arrow full system) dumps right on the rear turn signal. It's only a few inches away from the exhaust exit. It get's black but never that hot.

mindfulness · Sep 9th, 2010, 1:51 pm

Same thing happened to me - only with the rear reflector though. A few weeks after I had the full termi system installed, I took a short trip about 180 miles each way but 120 miles was in full rain. I didn't notice it until the next morning, but the right side rear reflector was melted. I just pulled both of the side ones off.

Karlg · Sep 9th, 2010, 2:08 pm

Mine is good so far...

oalvarez · Sep 9th, 2010, 2:23 pm

but so far it's either 2 out of 2 Termi equipped bikes or 2 out of 3 (not knowing how KarlG's MTS is equipped). but even 2 out of 3 Termi equipped bikes suggests that there most definitely is a problem associated with the exhaust.

curious, did the bikes that suffered a problem have their exhausts fitted by the dealer or did the owners install them themselves?

tman · Sep 9th, 2010, 2:29 pm

I'm not sure if its relevant regarding claims etc but am I correct in saying that the termi is stamped "not road legal"?

Could be talking c**p as I have been drinking

mindfulness · Sep 9th, 2010, 3:40 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by oalvarez

but so far it's either 2 out of 2 Termi equipped bikes or 2 out of 3 (not knowing how KarlG's MTS is equipped). but even 2 out of 3 Termi equipped bikes suggests that there most definitely is a problem associated with the exhaust.

curious, did the bikes that suffered a problem have their exhausts fitted by the dealer or did the owners install them themselves?

Obie, my termi system was dealer installed. It was just the reflector on my bike, not the license plate frame or fender etc... I have 1,600 miles on the bike since the termi install with no further melting fwiw.

Cheers

bmwstrider · Sep 9th, 2010, 3:40 pm

I knew it, this bike is HOT!

Mr Sunshine · Sep 9th, 2010, 3:52 pm

Likely the fix would to have a different exit on the exhaust. Instead of straight out it would need to be made to turn out. In this case you have it turn so it goes more parallel with the road thus avoiding the license plate frame.

OR

You buy that tail tidy thing Ducati is selling.