"50% less maintenance cost on every 2007 Ducati"

[levine98]

From the newly launched 2007 Ducati website:

"We are proud to announce that all 2007 Ducati models require less frequent service, less parts and labour during each service and, as a result, greatly reduced scheduled maintenance costs – by as much as 50%.

Reducing the cost of service when you visit your Ducati dealer for maintenance is one way to measure the new quality of Ducati. It also contributes immensely to making the Ducati ownership experience as satisfying as the Ducati riding experience.

Research and development is the number one investment at the Ducati factory. This investment in performance and quality includes our factory processes, machinery and the people who build each Ducati. By ‘engineering-in’ quality through design, materials and testing, every Ducati owner will enjoy significant and quantifiable improvements in every Ducati motorcycle.

To a rider, the best measure of quality is by the riding experience. You can feel a new smoothness to the legendary Ducati L-Twin, a more progressive nature to the powerful brakes and more confident road holding in every turn. Reliability and quality – one ride is all the proof you will need.

50% less – 100% Ducati – standard equipment in every 2007 model."

Who plans on doing 50% less maintenance on their 2004/2005 ST3? Same engine and chassie, right (expect the wet clutch)?

[DocMV]

After having just had the 20,000 km service on my 05 ST3, I have decided that I will not do any further servicing on it.....


I have put a deposit on a 1098. Just could not resist. So I will sell my ST3.

[Turbo]

Originally Posted by levine98

Who plans on doing 50% less maintenance on their 2004/2005 ST3? Same engine and chassie, right (expect the wet clutch)?

I already do 50% less maintenance on my 2002 ST4s! My 4 valve engine is more complicated than the 3 valve ST3 and it's bullet proof. Only one set of valve adjustments in 58,000 miles and no other mechanical problems.

As far as I'm concerned, extending engine service intervals to at least 12K is a no brainer. I'm glad that Ducati has finally realized their engines are far more robust than people give them credit for.

[stryder]

Originally Posted by DocMV

After having just had the 20,000 km service on my 05 ST3, I have decided that I will not do any further servicing on it.....


I have put a deposit on a 1098. Just could not resist. So I will sell my ST3.

I've been fighting the temptation myself. Congrats on the 1098.

I *think* I'll to be investing in a shim kit, diagnostic, and belt tensioning hard/software sometime in 2007, to attempt doing the service work myself, if the expenses are similar to having my dealer do the 12K full service. If so, intervals after the 12 K will be 12K, not 6 as the bike will be off warranty by then, especially if I do my 12K and it's under 24 months, which seems the likely scenario. The bike's been very dependable, so I don't have too many concerns voiding the valve train/engine portion of the warranty within a month or two of its expiry.

If I don't buy a 1098s. :-)

[kentamcolin]

Originally Posted by Turbo

I already do 50% less maintenance on my 2002 ST4s! My 4 valve engine is more complicated than the 3 valve ST3 and it's bullet proof. Only one set of valve adjustments in 58,000 miles and no other mechanical problems.

As far as I'm concerned, extending engine service intervals to at least 12K is a no brainer. I'm glad that Ducati has finally realized their engines are far more robust than people give them credit for.

I'm with you Mark. I do some service on my ST4s myself; change oil every 2K & adjust chain as needed, and have the belts changed per the manual. But I'll have the valves checked every 12K from now on. I've got 14K miles and they have not needed any adjustment at all since new. I have had some electrical issues but the motor is solid.

[Desmo_Demon]

I performed services on my ST2 at 6k, 12k, and now the 24k. I plan on continuing services every 12k, now, but I will check the tension of my belts at the midpoint of it's lifespan because of how loose the vertical one was when I started the 24k service. My 748 will still get services every 6k, if not for any other reason than to check the chrome on the rockers.

[sperho]

Is the official Ducati 2007 belt check/replacement schedule the same as previous years or is it just the valve check interval that's been doubled?

[ducatimike]

I checked the parts list on the new 1098 and thought it was interesting that the valve shims, half rings are identical to those used in the 916, 748, 996, 999, etc, etc. I would have thought Ducati may go with the design used in the later "R" models, but they chose not to. I am guessing they found it too expensive to make the newer taper design shims, and found it difficult to service the bikes with those shims installed.

As we are all finding out, the valve clearances tend to settle down after 6 to 10,000 miles. Ducati has also recognized that by increasing valve adjustment intervals.

Mike

[Oilhed]

I ride usually 5,000 - 8,000 miles a year. I will do the next sched maintenance in the very early spring regardless if it's a 1,000 early or a couple thousand over. This way it's ready to go when the weather gets nice and I have no worries if a 3,000 mile trip presents itself. If I wanted to save money I would have bought a Honda.

[stryder]

Originally Posted by sperho

Is the official Ducati 2007 belt check/replacement schedule the same as previous years or is it just the valve check interval that's been doubled?

AFAIK, belt changes remain, 24 months, regardless of mileage, or 12K/20KK, whichever comes first.

I thought Ducati stated they now use a harder valve seat effective 2007, hence the extended service interval re shim checks.