Engine Life - Ducati.ms

ToolBag · Jul 26th, 2008, 6:32 am

Anyone know what the engine life expectancy is? Is it similar to the BMW boxer engine where it can see 50k+ with out major rebuild?

Wondering whether I should baby this bike or truly enjoy it and rack up the miles...

RMZ290 · Jul 26th, 2008, 7:42 am

The dual spark engines seem to be pretty bullet proof. I think I remember reading about a couple that made have hit 100,000+ miles. As long as you keep up with the maintenance the bike should have a long life.

SP544 · Jul 26th, 2008, 10:17 am

Its all in how you treat them and keep up on the maintenance.

triblk6spd · Jul 26th, 2008, 1:13 pm

Should be like most other engines. Keep up with the maint and warm the engine fully before you run it hard.

Lumpy Idol · Jul 26th, 2008, 2:53 pm

why does it matter?

most of us will have it blown up before we get to 15k.....

GHEZZI · Jul 26th, 2008, 5:00 pm

Hi Toolbag, ask yourself these questions first.

Q1. How long do you keep a motorcycle, time and klm?

Q2. How many klm's do you ride each year?

Q3. How well do you maintain your bikes? (Oil change intervals?)

At a guess I would say most people on this forum would ride their bikes less than 10,000klm per year and probably spend more money per annum on bling than what it would cost for a rebuild.

I've done 13,600klm in 8 months and this is by far the most fun bike I've owned, it has the best handling, braking and corner speed etc.

If I wear it out within 3 years and 75,000klm then I will have one of two options.

A. Is there a 'new bike' on the market (in 2010/11) that does everything better than my Hyper?

B. Can I recondition/replace/upgrade the worn out parts cheaper than buying said 'new bike' with my upgraded Hyper being more betterer and gooderer.

My Guzzi Cali Stone was traded at 3 years and 70,000klm, it had only stopped using oil at 50,000klm = just run in. It didn't have an oil temp guage. On the Hyper I ride by the oil temp in all weathers.

mountainrider · Jul 26th, 2008, 5:24 pm

Based on my owned since new 93ss, I expect asian like reliability from the 2 valve powerplant. Don't think "valve adjustment" so much as "valve check". I just hope these new fangled Italian electronics are as dependable.

I've got thousands of dollars in tools, but it looks like I'll be spending another grand on a few electronic gizmos for keeping the hyper entirely self maintained.

GHEZZI · Jul 28th, 2008, 2:00 am

Checkout www.mototuneusa.com and their theory of how to run it in, you'll wish you never babied the Hyper. Without knowing of the above theory, I ended up doing a track day when HYP16 was 2 days and 120klm old. Recent dyno showed 89rwhp with just a set of Zard Top Gun slip-ons and stock ECU. Had a faulty DP ECU making 69.

ToolBag · Jul 28th, 2008, 12:02 pm

Thanks GHEZZI. Very interesting link. I bought my HM used with 600 miles on it so I never had the opportunity to baby it or run it hard. Maybe next time.

Interesting theory though, having several motocross bikes in the past I never put them through a break-in period and the pistons were always fairly clean except the top of course.

aeolian · Jul 28th, 2008, 1:50 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Traction event

why does it matter?

most of us will have it blown up before we get to 15k.....

why does this response from Traction doesn't surprise me?