Author Topic: Ducati Monster - and maintenance (Read 4948 times)

gregimotis · « **on:** June 14, 2009, 03:05:12 PM »

What's the scoop - do they need work all the time? Can I realistically do a tune up without buying a ton of tools? That stuff.

HavocTurbo · « **Reply #1 on:** June 14, 2009, 03:21:07 PM »

What year? A lot has changed in the past few.

gregimotis · « **Reply #2 on:** June 14, 2009, 05:28:15 PM »

I'm looking at a 2001 m750 but am shopping around. I don't mind a little work, and everything needs maintenance - but I've already got an ongoing project in the CB.

bucky katt · « **Reply #3 on:** June 14, 2009, 08:31:33 PM »

http://t-shirts.cafepress.com/item/white-tshirt/281435829?CMP=CJ-CLICK-10463747

gregimotis · « **Reply #4 on:** June 14, 2009, 08:50:57 PM »

Quote from: bucky katt on June 14, 2009, 08:31:33 PM

http://t-shirts.cafepress.com/item/white-tshirt/281435829?CMP=CJ-CLICK-10463747

That's the rumor - I'm hoping some of the guys with Duc's will come along and give it to me straight.

CBGhia · « **Reply #5 on:** June 14, 2009, 09:26:32 PM »

There is a video you can buy that shows you how to adjust the valves. You will also need a micrometer. you can pick one of those up on ebay fairly cheap. Honestly though I only had one valve out of spec after 12k miles on my M750.

Aside from the valves, there is no difference between a Ducati and any other bike.

I miss my Ducati (sold it just before my son was born) and i hope to pick up another one later this year or next.

HavocTurbo · « **Reply #6 on:** June 14, 2009, 09:38:47 PM »

I had a 96 900SS. Which at the time was basically the same thing as the monster only more involved.

Make sure you change the serpentine belt every 20,000. Oil every 3-5,000. And adjust the valves before every season.

I have never had any problems doing that maintenance. Had lightened flywheel and crank. HD valve springs and Ti retainers.

Monsters are expensive to fix if they break, but take care of it and it will never happen.

KB02 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 15, 2009, 04:23:23 AM »

I've got a 2000 M750. I LOVE my Duc. Valve adjustments every 6000 miles. I change my oil every 2000 miles, not 3-5 - but that's me. And then the belts every 18000-20000 miles. I'm finishing my second SOHC Honda complete engine rebuild and and just too chicken sh!t to adjust the valve on my Duc. That may change, though, as y local dealer is no longer a dealer and the next closest dealer is 4 hours away.

mlinder · « **Reply #8 on:** June 15, 2009, 06:06:16 AM »

We race Jons 03 monter 800. He does very, very little maintenance on it. Not to say it shouldn't have more.... but it hasn't blown up yet....

CBGhia · « **Reply #9 on:** June 15, 2009, 08:00:33 AM »

Honestly, the first time I adjusted the valves, I was terrified, but not so much that I wanted to pay big money to a dealer to do it for me. Honestly the video helps sooooooo much.

CBGhia · « **Reply #10 on:** June 15, 2009, 08:09:21 AM »

Oh and check these guys out (like you need another forum)

www.ducatimonster.org

This is the best Ducati forum I have ever found.

Bodain · « **Reply #11 on:** June 15, 2009, 08:40:59 AM »

One little point to consider. Most Asian bikes have a wet clutch, that seems to last forever. If you do replace clutch plates it's about $50.00 to $60.00 bucks for almost anything.

Most Itialian Harleys have dry clutches that don't last anywhere near forever. When it's time to buy new ones, which is frequent relative to wet clutch bikes the price is about 3 x what you would pay for clutch plates on any Japanese bike.

3X is about par for Ducati anything.

Industrial Rat400f Killer · « **Reply #12 on:** June 15, 2009, 08:48:12 AM »

I'm glad to here it's not as bad as I'd previously been told. Somebody once told me the belts needed to be done every 6k miles and it was $1200 + to have a mechanic do it. I was pretty skeptical but ya never know until you here it from an actual owner.

gregimotis · « **Reply #13 on:** June 15, 2009, 09:17:48 AM »

Quote from: Rat400F on June 15, 2009, 08:48:12 AM

I'm glad to here it's not as bad as I'd previously been told. Somebody once told me the belts needed to be done every 6k miles and it was $1200 + to have a mechanic do it. I was pretty skeptical but ya never know until you here it from an actual owner.

+1 I'm not afraid to learn and do maintenance. I am afraid of $1,200 repair bills.

HavocTurbo · « **Reply #14 on:** June 15, 2009, 09:22:12 AM »

Even riding mine hard and doing lots of hard clutch popping I never had to replace my clutch in the 6 years I owned it.

If you've never ridden a dry clutch before you might burn one getting used to the feel, but after that they are pretty easy to make last a good long time.

KB02 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 16, 2009, 05:07:56 AM »

Quote from: Rat400F on June 15, 2009, 08:48:12 AM

I'm glad to here it's not as bad as I'd previously been told. Somebody once told me the belts needed to be done every 6k miles and it was $1200 + to have a mechanic do it. I was pretty skeptical but ya never know until you here it from an actual owner.

Last fall, I dropped my Duc off at a dealer for full tune up, valve adjustment and new belts. Total cost, around $650. The M750 is only a two valve per cylinder engine. It's when you get into the fully faired four valves that you end up with the $1200 service tags.

Quote from: Bodain on June 15, 2009, 08:40:59 AM

One little point to consider. Most Asian bikes have a wet clutch, that seems to last forever. If you do replace clutch plates it's about $50.00 to $60.00 bucks for almost anything.

Most Itialian Harleys have dry clutches that don't last anywhere near forever. When it's time to buy new ones, which is frequent relative to wet clutch bikes the price is about 3 x what you would pay for clutch plates on any Japanese bike.

I believe you will find the 2001 M750 has a wet clutch (my 2000 does). A.) Lasts longer. B.) Sounds better.

Those dry cluches are rattly things.

Quote from: Bodain on June 15, 2009, 08:40:59 AM

3X is about par for Ducati anything.

And, uh... yeah... that sounds about right.

lordmoonpie · « **Reply #16 on:** June 18, 2009, 04:48:37 AM »

If you're mechanically savvy you can do the work yourself. I change my 888 SP5 belts every 12,000 miles or 3 years - they degrade over time and it's not worth the risk.

The comments so far on clutches are frankly not correct. My 888 shares the same clutch basket as later 999 models and the plates are 10% cheaper to buy than for my Honda VTR1000 and as it's a dry clutch, you can change it yourself in under 5 minutes flat and that's stopping for a cold beer in the middle!

Oh - noisy clutches are a Ducati characteristic and worth lettign the noise out - after all a dry clutch gives you more horsepower to the back wheel than a wet clutch so you might as well let people hear it.

Italian Harley? - get outta here! Ducati's are bristling with technology whereas Harleys seem to be as technologically advanced as your average 1920's farm tractor!

KB02 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 18, 2009, 04:51:55 AM »

Quote from: lordmoonpie on June 18, 2009, 04:48:37 AM

Italian Harley? - get outta here! Ducati's are bristling with technology whereas Harleys seem to be as technologically advanced as your average 1920's farm tractor!

Being kind of generous to Harley, aren't you?

HavocTurbo · « **Reply #18 on:** June 18, 2009, 08:32:25 AM »

I know I have a 48 lawn mower and for some reason they messed up and insted of John Deere all over it it's got this Davidson fellow's name on it.

754 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 18, 2009, 10:37:49 PM »

got a pic?

Owned · « **Reply #20 on:** June 19, 2009, 11:28:24 AM »

I own an '01 900ss. Bought new and currently has 19k miles. Nothing on this bike has broken yet. As mentioned earlier, clutches are simple and cheap to replace. Belt replacement isn't hard for that matter either. I've not done my valve's on my own...it is a costly service at the dealer.

I'll never sell it. It's too much fun. Great for track days.

...on the right.

HavocTurbo · « **Reply #21 on:** June 19, 2009, 04:40:37 PM »

Quote from: 754 on June 18, 2009, 10:37:49 PM

got a pic?

lol it was meant to be a joke. I'm sorry. I'll PM you a pic of the bike as it was 10 years ago.

schwebel · « **Reply #22 on:** June 23, 2009, 06:27:27 AM »

There is a lot more maintence on an old sohc4 than a Duc. If you can handle a sohc4, then you can handle a Duc.

MikeDeB · « **Reply #23 on:** June 25, 2009, 10:43:14 PM »

I have 2 Ducatis. One a 98 M750 and a 97 900SS. Love them both. Maintenance is every bit as easy as a SOHC just different. There are lots of resources out on the web for maintaining a Duc. I've done all the maintenance on mine which is everything from oil changes to valve adjustments and belt changes. If you buy a used Duc make sure the belts have red printing on them (letters, numbers and graphics). This signifies they are Kevlar reinforced. White printing will be older original belts without Kevlar reinforcement (they break). My Monster is fast approaching 30K and is as reliable as the day it was new. It's also been modded a bit. And it's a joy to ride.

mgmuellner · « **Reply #24 on:** June 27, 2009, 10:57:24 PM »

I've owned a few Ducati's. Bevel 900SS, 95 900SS, 02 M900. The monster was a fun bike. Certainly no different maintenance wise than any other bike I've owned. Except for belt replacements (easy) & valves (do-able). Prices for parts on the monster are no worse than other modern bikes.

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Author Topic: Ducati Monster - and maintenance (Read 4948 times)