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CB1100 and Ducati Owners
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COCB1100 Offline
1st Service Completed

USA
Posts: 67
Joined: Jun 2017
Post: #1
CB1100 and Ducati Owners
For the CB1100 owners out there who have owned or currently own a Ducati...

Can I get a straight answer with respect to maintenance and reliability first hand? While I could go poke around on Duc forums (already have), I hold the folks here in very high regard and would be willing to assign far more weight to those who are willing to share here (away from the Kool-Aid bowl).

I'm in love with the sport classic series of Ducati bikes in particular and just wanted to gather some general intel among this population to supplement what I've already read and heard in order to get a different perspective.

Thanks in advance.


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09-02-2017 07:21 PM
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The ferret Online
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Ohio
Posts: 31,279
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Post: #2
RE: CB1100 and Ducati Owners
Ducati has a very rich history. Like any other motorcycle brand, you can get a good machine or a bad machine. Some people claim they have had Ducatis for years and never had any issues with them. My son got a brand new Ducati Monster 696 in 2009. His was one of the bad ones. The electrical system went out, it developed a persistant oil leak, and the transmission locked up on him. He also had a persistant brake squeal. He won't ride it very far from home now. Each issue required a two hour trailer ride to the dealer. A 2 week wait. And a two hour trip back to the dealer to pick it up. It has been running pretty well lately though. As far as maintenance, he still doesn't have enough miles on it yet to require a valve adjustment or cam belt replacement so I can't comment on how expensive that is. His primary bikes have been Yamahas, an 04 FZ-1 (40,000 miles, never in the shop) and a 2015 FJ-09, not sure of mileage, (maybe 10K) also never been in the shop.

His wife's cousin bought the next version Ducati Monster, a 796 I believe. He had persistant rear brake failures. After several tries for the dealer to fix it, he gave up and traded it in on a Triumph Bonneville.

My doctor friend bought a Multistrada. After several issues he traded it in on a KTM. He still has the KTM, but has since bought another Mulitstrada (and a BMW S1000), but then again he's rich and doesn't worry about exotics breaking down on him like you or I would lol

Ducati is doing well in MotoGP ( although that's a V4) and in Superbike, but race bikes have professional teams of mechanics to keep them running. They get great reviews in the magazines generally, but again magazines recieve professionally prepped test bikes and don't live with them for very long. A new Rider magazine came in today and they tested the 950 Multistrada against the Kaw 1000LT and Suzuki Vstrom 1000. The Duc finished last and the article states " although the Ducati is a blast on racer road, it's lack of low to midrange power and quirky brakes, clutch and seat turned us off".

Personally I would not buy a Ducati as a primary bike, but I might buy one as a stable mate to my primary bike if I was looking for a good looking, great sounding sporting Italian machine for blasting curvy roads on during weekends.

I hate to discourage someone from buying a Ducati, if that's what they want, but you asked for personal knowledge and not hearsay.

I'm sure someone will come along that got a reliable Ducati to balance the opinions.

.
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2014 DLX (the pleasure horse)
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09-02-2017 08:10 PM
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COCB1100 Offline
1st Service Completed

USA
Posts: 67
Joined: Jun 2017
Post: #3
CB1100 and Ducati Owners
(09-02-2017 08:10 PM)The ferret Wrote:  Ducati has a very rich history. Like any other motorcycle brand, you can get a good machine or a bad machine. Some people claim they have had Ducatis for years and never had any issues with them. My son got a brand new Ducati Monster 696 in 2009. His was one of the bad ones. The electrical system went out, it developed a persistant oil leak, and the transmission locked up on him. He also had a persistant brake squeal. He won't ride it very far from home now. Each issue required a two hour trailer ride to the dealer. A 2 week wait. And a two hour trip back to the dealer to pick it up. It has been running pretty well lately though. As far as maintenance, he still doesn't have enough miles on it yet to require a valve adjustment or cam belt replacement so I can't comment on how expensive that is. His primary bikes have been Yamahas, an 04 FZ-1 (40,000 miles, never in the shop) and a 2015 FJ-09, not sure of mileage, (maybe 10K) also never been in the shop.

His wife's cousin bought the next version Ducati Monster, a 796 I believe. He had persistant rear brake failures. After several tries for the dealer to fix it, he gave up and traded it in on a Triumph Bonneville.

My doctor friend bought a Multistrada. After several issues he traded it in on a KTM. He still has the KTM, but has since bought another Mulitstrada (and a BMW S1000), but then again he's rich and doesn't worry about exotics breaking down on him like you or I would lol

Ducati is doing well in MotoGP ( although that's a V4) and in Superbike, but race bikes have professional teams of mechanics to keep them running. They get great reviews in the magazines generally, but again magazines recieve professionally prepped test bikes and don't live with them for very long. A new Rider magazine came in today and they tested the 950 Multistrada against the Kaw 1000LT and Suzuki Vstrom 1000. The Duc finished last and the article states " although the Ducati is a blast on racer road, it's lack of low to midrange power and quirky brakes, clutch and seat turned us off".

Personally I would not buy a Ducati as a primary bike, but I might buy one as a stable mate to my primary bike if I was looking for a good looking, great sounding sporting Italian machine for blasting curvy roads on during weekends.

I hate to discourage someone from buying a Ducati, if that's what they want, but you asked for personal knowledge and not hearsay.

I'm sure someone will come along that got a reliable Ducati to balance the opinions.


See that above... that type of detailed thorough response is exactly why I posted that in this forum. Then again, I'd expect no less from The Ferret.

I rode with two buddies a couple weekends ago and both had Italian machinery.... one an MV Augusta, the other a Ducati. Before the ride was finished, the Monster threw an engine code. My other friend's supersport Ducati hasn't really had many issues, but I'm afraid I know more instances of friends who just deal with and put up with the issues because they enjoy the other aspects of riding them.

It's just I find that the sound of the old air cooled 992 twin spark motors with Termi pipes to be like a drug to me. It's the crazy, unstable and volatile GF you don't want to marry and know you should steer clear of that has that inexplicable pull. Wish I could own both my bike and one of those.

In the same way I'd never opt to ride in a Range Rover over a Toyota Landcruiser or Toyota Hilux in the middle of a barren dessert where it's potentially life or death being stranded, I'm guessing it's not smart to count on and rely on a Ducati as a primary means of transport.


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09-02-2017 08:50 PM
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The ferret Online
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Ohio
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Post: #4
RE: CB1100 and Ducati Owners
Bear in mind I have only personally known 3 people who have had modern Ducatis and all three had issues. HOWEVER, if the only people I personally knew that had CB1100's were JohnF514, Magnus and Dave, with their idle issues, I would have to give the same response if you were asking about the CB1100 and we all know the vast majority of CB1100s run just fine.

I think the fear of issues and expensive maintenance on Ducati's is warranted due to circumstantial evidence (there is some truth in all stereotypes) and the same goes for KTM, BMW and Moto Guzzi for that matter, but there are people who own them that just love them, and the bikes provide a visual and tactile stimulation that bikes with greater reliability and low maintenance records may not provide.

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2021 NC750X DCT (Angry Bird)
09-03-2017 06:24 AM
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paulw Offline
1st Service Completed

USA
Posts: 65
Joined: Apr 2017
Post: #5
RE: CB1100 and Ducati Owners
I currently own a CB1100 but did for three years own a 2000 Ducati ST4. As a sport tourer it was one of my favorite bikes. It was not without its issues however. Mechanically the bike was strong and never gave me a problem. The issues I had centered around the fragility of many of the other components, primarily the fairing and its mounting. As an example the front of the fairing at the lower center mounted to the bike via two threaded little extensions on the lower cam cover. These were extremely fragile and broke regularly. This necessitated the replacement of the cam cover (a piece about 2"X 4") at a cost of over $100.

On a positive note there is nothing like the sound of a 90 degree V-twin at full song. My earlier Honda VTR Firestorm (Canadian name) had that same marvelous sound.
09-03-2017 08:32 AM
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postoak Offline
Running Like a Top

The Woodlands, Texas
Posts: 451
Joined: Mar 2014
Post: #6
RE: CB1100 and Ducati Owners
"Kool-aid Bowl", lol, that's a good one! It's the same way over at the Triumph forums.

2014 Yamaha FJR1300A
Candy Red
09-03-2017 09:51 AM
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Macduff Offline
1st Service Completed

NE UK
Posts: 70
Joined: Jun 2017
Post: #7
RE: CB1100 and Ducati Owners
I used to own a Ducati Paul Smart Sport Classic. It was a lovely bike to look at but it was the most uncomfortable bike to ride that I've owned and that list includes a 916. They also suffer badly with plastic fuel tank swelling. Mine was starting to get a little out of shape and that is on uk unleaded. I traded it as I didn't really enjoy riding it and ended up buying a 94 900 Superlight whilst I still owned the Paul Smart as that was more fun to use. The PS has the ohlins suspension and whilst it was supposed to be a lot better than the lesser plain sport classics they still weren't that good and the aging Showas on my 94 Superlight were better (I still have the superlight) . The sport classics seem to be going up in value these days (darn sold mine when they weren't that loved) but I think there are better ducatis out there for riding than these (if not looking at).

2017 CB1100RS (just gone but not forgotton), 2018 Africa Twin Adventure Sport.
(This post was last modified: 09-03-2017 06:05 PM by The ferret.)
09-03-2017 02:01 PM
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camoto Offline
1st Service Completed

USA
Posts: 81
Joined: Aug 2017
Post: #8
RE: CB1100 and Ducati Owners
I had a 2005 Monster 1000 i.e. in Senna. It was a fantastic bike and was rock solid. Valve maintenance was a bit more work than other bikes but not so complex that it was unusual by any means. I truly loved the bike and really enjoyed riding it. I loved that it was air cooled (the water-cooled monsters were just starting to take over at the time) with one less thing to worry about.

Ducati of today is a very different company. The cost-savings corporate bandits have hit hardest in manufacturing and quality has suffered. I've seen more and more people complaining about electrical gremlins and other really odd problems. (The poly tank issue has affected other manufacturers (KTM in particular) that are using them and I think this is due to ethanol fuels more than quality, but that's just my opinion).

I would not buy another Ducati because of the recent quality issues. They were never rock-solid but of late I seem to read and hear so much about their problems.

Anyways, seeing as we're talking about it, here's a pic. It was a gorgeous bike!
İmage
09-03-2017 03:01 PM
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COCB1100 Offline
1st Service Completed

USA
Posts: 67
Joined: Jun 2017
Post: #9
CB1100 and Ducati Owners
(09-03-2017 03:01 PM)camoto Wrote:  I had a 2005 Monster 1000 i.e. in Senna. It was a fantastic bike and was rock solid. Valve maintenance was a bit more work than other bikes but not so complex that it was unusual by any means. I truly loved the bike and really enjoyed riding it. I loved that it was air cooled (the water-cooled monsters were just starting to take over at the time) with one less thing to worry about.

Ducati of today is a very different company. The cost-savings corporate bandits have hit hardest in manufacturing and quality has suffered. I've seen more and more people complaining about electrical gremlins and other really odd problems. (The poly tank issue has affected other manufacturers (KTM in particular) that are using them and I think this is due to ethanol fuels more than quality, but that's just my opinion).

I would not buy another Ducati because of the recent quality issues. They were never rock-solid but of late I seem to read and hear so much about their problems.

Anyways, seeing as we're talking about it, here's a pic. It was a gorgeous bike!
İmage


That was indeed a gorgeous bike. Thanks for your insights. Much appreciated.


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(09-03-2017 02:01 PM)Macduff Wrote:  I used to own a Ducati Paul Smart Sport Classic. It was a lovely bike to look at but it was the most uncomfortable bike to ride that I've owned and that list includes a 916. They also suffer badly with plastic fuel tank swelling. Mine was starting to get a little out of shape and that is on uk unleaded. I traded it as I didn't really enjoy riding it and ended up buying a 94 900 Superlight whilst I still owned the Paul Smart as that was more fun to use. The PS has the ohlins suspension and whilst it was supposed to be a lot better than the lesser plain sport classics they still weren't that good and the aging Showas on my 94 Superlight were better (I still have the superlight) . The sport classics seem to be going up in value these days (damn sold mine when they weren't that loved) but I think there are better ducatis out there for riding than these (if not looking at).


So I am interested in the Sport Classics myself and am aware of the tank swelling issue due to the material. The PS is definitely out of the question for me because of the riding position... looks amazing stationary but esp for someone with inseams my length, the torture rack just won't work for me.

Thanks for sharing with me your insights and perspective.


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(This post was last modified: 09-03-2017 03:46 PM by COCB1100.)
09-03-2017 03:44 PM
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CTsCB Offline
Break-In Period

Western Australia
Posts: 45
Joined: Mar 2017
Post: #10
RE: CB1100 and Ducati Owners
I had a Diavel that I bought new and also had a bit of work done to it - lightened flywheel, racetuner, quickshifter etc. It hated being ridden below 4000rpm, even when in stock form. It used to surge which made it a real pita to ride around town. Had a specialist try to tune it out but never really fixed the problem
But did I love it, heck yes and that noise is sweet
Would I buy another Ducati for an every day bike, no!
(This post was last modified: 09-03-2017 06:04 PM by The ferret.)
09-03-2017 05:21 PM
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