My 996...(pics incld). - Ducati.ms

Soulsedge · May 14th, 2006, 9:47 pm

So i went back home to my fathers, grabbed my bike from his living room and drove back home. Ducati Dealer didn't have time to do the oil change and i had a deadline to leave by....wasn't over on the oil change at the time, but would be by the time i got back. Of course temptation took over and i had to take her out for some quick rips.

I didn't notice when i got it, but i did the first ride i went to go out.....the hydraulic clutch fluid was dirty(not clear) when i went to get her, is that normal? It was nice looking before i stored it. Someone told me, its quite common for that to occur on these bikes, and just wanted to make sure it was on here.

Anyways, other then that, she's running very well. Battery survived all winter with no need for boosts since she was in the living room. Running flawless.

oh. also drove a friends 06 zx10....his engine is so quiet.....i jumped back on mine, and noticed rocker tick(or just engine in general). vibrations, etc. lol. now i'm wondering if my duke should really be making half the racket i hear coming out of it. haha.

so yeah. just the two questions.
1...does the fluid for the clutch go dark periodically for no reason, or is there a cause for it? (ie. should i be concerned? is it a sign something is broke?)

2. do all of your dukes moan and groan rattle and tick and such a lot? (i hear a slight .. i think...rocker tick when she's 5,000rpm or higher)...gotta listen for it. (rockers and 6000 mile services was done 1800 miles ago)

some pics for ya...since everyone likes pics.

mattjw916 · May 14th, 2006, 10:03 pm

My clutch fluid turns dark very fast... always has, always will.

My engine makes a lot of noise... I just had belts and valves done too so I know everything is okay in there.

nathanTX · May 14th, 2006, 10:21 pm

Normal and normal. Enjoy.

DukeDesmo · May 15th, 2006, 5:58 am

My Clutch fluid used to change black very quickly but the black fluid didn't seem to cause any problem, but last year I fitted an Evo slave cylinder and it has not turned black since and I have a smoother & (slightly) lighter clutch action, without the occasional system pressure/fluid loss.

My Bike makes lots of noises, which at low speeds sound very 'Agricultural' ; rattling valvegear & clutch, Clutch Hiss (when engaged), brake rotor rattle (like a tambourine), brake pad 'fizz', intake roar (speed dependent) and of course the obligatory exhaust rumble/roar/pop (speed/throttle position dependent) all of which are part of it's appeal. Infact it seems a shame to wear earplugs when riding.......

**amullo** · May 15th, 2006, 10:01 am

+1 on previos posts..

Clutch fluid dirty/black is VERY normal. Probably not even categorized as a problem. it happens to every Ducati I´ve ever seen.

The same with the noise. More mechanical stuff moving = more noise.

I see you wheeling in the pics. Keep in mind that extensive wheelies will deprive your engine of oil and can cause your rockers to fail = expensive to fix.

But the bike looks GREAT. Enjoy it!

//amullo

**John** · May 15th, 2006, 10:37 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by amullo

+1 on previos posts..

Clutch fluid dirty/black is VERY normal. Probably not even categorized as a problem. it happens to every Ducati I´ve ever seen.

The same with the noise. More mechanical stuff moving = more noise.

I see you wheeling in the pics. Keep in mind that extensive wheelies will deprive your engine of oil and can cause your rockers to fail = expensive to fix.

But the bike looks GREAT. Enjoy it!

//amullo

+1 on the extensive wheeling. Sounds like you don't know that much about Ducati characteristics, yet you apparently can ride based on the pics. However, don't be surprised when shit happens. Otherwise enjoy the ride.

moto · May 15th, 2006, 11:47 am

I have aftermarket slave cylinders and stainless steel or some other type of aftermarket lines on all my Ducs. It seemed to solve the dark fluid problems on my bikes.

ECTurboGSX · May 15th, 2006, 12:18 pm

Brake fluid gets darker as it absorbs water. Sounds like the guys who have updated some of the parts aren't letting water into the system where as the factory stuff lets a little water in. Mine goes dark as well and I have to top it off every few hundred miles, so I assume that there is a small leak some where.

Soulsedge · May 17th, 2006, 12:27 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by DukeDesmo

My Clutch fluid used to change black very quickly but the black fluid didn't seem to cause any problem, but last year I fitted an Evo slave cylinder and it has not turned black since and I have a smoother & (slightly) lighter clutch action, without the occasional system pressure/fluid loss.

My Bike makes lots of noises, which at low speeds sound very 'Agricultural' ; rattling valvegear & clutch, Clutch Hiss (when engaged), brake rotor rattle (like a tambourine), brake pad 'fizz', intake roar (speed dependent) and of course the obligatory exhaust rumble/roar/pop (speed/throttle position dependent) all of which are part of it's appeal. Infact it seems a shame to wear earplugs when riding.......

Thanks. yeah i heard that about the wheelies....i dont do those very often, believe it or not...and i dont (and really can't) do them for long periods of time, as my mechanic already warned me of the potential problem of a majority of vtwins starving for oil....+ i heard mention from some source that my ducati will actually vent oil out near the rear tire if its a prolonged wheelie...so usually its just a smooth roll on, pull her up for a few meters and settle her back down gently.

I may sound like i dont know a lot, and i dont on a lot of things....but i do know some....i heard that the clutch fluid would get dirty, i just wanted to basically make sure its 100% true and not just rumor...this is my baby girl after all. =) haha.

2 rockers were already replaced at 6000 check.
i know of the flywheel nut sometimes back off(but i think that was fixed on the 00' 996 right? I also know of the coolant tank split, and the fuel line problems.

I know that the ducati's are noisy, but i seem to be picking up on it more and more, as i get used to her. i'm sure it sounds exactly the same as before, i think it's just the fact that, at this point in time, due to family hospitalization, i'm a bit paranoid since we're not quite up to par on the finances as of late....(ie the freedom to just step out and buy a new motor if she smokes herself into oblivion)....thus delaying riding for a few weeks or month.

Also as far as the riding part, i'm not an expert by any means, believe me. I know a bit, i can ride descent enough...but i'm not the type to lean her over and drag a knee. I know some, but still need to learn a hell of a lot more. I'm really only just beginning to learn this bike, she's weird in the sense that it seems a lot less forgiving then the gsxr 600 i drove before...then again, that could be in my head too. I dunno...it just seems one messup in a corner and she'll let you know it(the duc), on the gsxr 600....the bike would overlook your messup....am i just imagining this? because you'd think the claims the ducati's have of being the best handling bikes, would make it a bit more forgiving in corners....or am i thinking about this all wrong? someone clarify?