Questions on doing work myself...

[Antigrav]

Well I'm at the point of doing the 600 mile service and then I'm going to install the Termi 2 into 1 which I bought with the bike.

My questions are...
Am I correct in assuming the 600 mile service is just change the oil, check torque on bolts, possibly adjust the chain? So that could be about $150-200 bucks here in So Cal. Yet I could do that easy myself....

Then after that I'm going to put on the Termi 2 into 1 myself, but and if I had the shop do it it would probably be $300-$400 bills...

So I'm thinking why not just do this stuff myself save the money and buy a VDST and then I can do the Termi install too...

So my question is will the VDST do all I need to install the Termi 2 into 1, which is just a TPS reset if I'm correct? So am I missing anything that I can't do myself... I just don't feel this minor stuff warrants paying excessive money to Ducati for basic work I can do within a couple hours.

[Hypremotard]

The question I have for anyone that has an educated answer and not a guess or assumption is the Ducati warranty? Does anyone know what would actually void the warranty? Do the periodic services require dealer involvement? Performance upgrades?

TIA,
Tom

[Navigator]

I did the 600 service and LV exhaust install myself, plus the airbox hold saw mod to open that up and plugged in a Termi ECU. Your correct about the 600 service. Do the oil change, tackle the exhast yourself and just bring it into a dealer for the exhaust tuning...TPS reset, etc. That is what I did. PI charged around $90 for the tuning (hour of service) and it ran great afterwards. I wouldn't recommend going out and spending the $$$ on a VDST and then trying to do it yourself when $90 will get you a pro to knock it out quickly and correctly.

[BillyD]

Antigrav, I believe you are on the right track, but it really comes down to whether you enjoy working on your own stuff and the quality on the dealer you use.

Bear in mind there may well be false economies in doing your own work. Time wise, it will almost certainly take you longer than a trained professional. For instance, it will likely take someone who has done previuos installs 2-3 hours to install the 2-1 Termi, an unsupervised first timer will likely take 6-8 hours, assuming all the tubes are bent correctly and you do it right the first time. If you have a dealer do the install, however, you probably won't think they were very expedient when it comes time to pay the bill.

Voiding warranty by doing one's own work is an urban myth perpetrated by service writers on the uninformed. If you do your own work, however, you would well advised to keep a detailed service log and all receipts to back up any warranty claim you happen to file in the future.

Finally, any good dealer will address outstanding service bulletins when you bring in your bike for routine service. If you do your own work, you may not even be aware a service bulletin exists.

With all that said, I do all my own work because I enjoy it and because I have seldom been impressed with any work done by a dealer.

[Monstaman]

Originally Posted by BillyD

Antigrav, I believe you are on the right track, but it really comes down to whether you enjoy working on your own stuff and the quality on the dealer you use.

Bear in mind there may well be false economies in doing your own work. Time wise, it will almost certainly take you longer than a trained professional. For instance, it will likely take someone who has done previuos installs 2-3 hours to install the 2-1 Termi, an unsupervised first timer will likely take 6-8 hours, assuming all the tubes are bent correctly and you do it right the first time. If you have a dealer do the install, however, you probably won't think they were very expedient when it comes time to pay the bill.

Voiding warranty by doing one's own work is an urban myth perpetrated by service writers on the uninformed. If you do your own work, however, you would well advised to keep a detailed service log and all receipts to back up any warranty claim you happen to file in the future.

Finally, any good dealer will address outstanding service bulletins when you bring in your bike for routine service. If you do your own work, you may not even be aware a service bulletin exists.

With all that said, I do all my own work because I enjoy it and because I have seldom been impressed with any work done by a dealer.

Bill has struck it in one, you will not void your warranty but I would recommend you take photos and keep receipts just in case something goes wrong with the bike.

It too love spannering my own bikes and have done on the 35 bikes that have owned me, further to that you get to see any leaks, cracks or sillies if you get to know your bike.

[Antigrav]

Thanks for the great answers guys... I do enjoy working on my bikes for the most part but I do have my limits... For these initial minor things I'd be fine and happy doing it, but when it gets into valve adjusting and belt tensioning I'm not going to waste my time, I'll pay the pros...

Navigator- I'm of the same mind as you I would rather pay $90 bucks to have the Termi "tuned" by a pro, but my question is ... is the "tuning" just a TPS reset or an in depth measure of exhaust gas and fuel trim set... If it is more comprehensive than just a TPS reset then I'm all for paying... but if its just a TPS reset then why not spend 200 bucks and have the VDST so I can do it myself and fuel trim if need be. I was of the mind that the new ECU took care of itself once the TPS was reset, but I don't really know crap when it come to this ECU stuff.

At this time the bike is awesome no stalling no funky hiccups so after the Termi install I just want it to run like it does now...

[motoxchange]

i would learn how to perform the duties myself