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Bike maintenance

NewRider

NewRider

Joined Aug 2013
246 Posts | 0+
Canada, Ottawa
Okay, here's a stupid question but I whish to have unbias answers.

Everywhere in the manual it says to go to the Ducati dealer for the bike's maintenance. Do I really have to? I wonder if I could at least do some of the minor maintenance operation. Like the oil engine and brakes fluid changes.

What do you think?
 
My dealer had no reservations selling me oil and filter when the bike was in for 600 mi service. They also coached me on brake pad and fluid changes over the phone. But, they know me from plenty of visits that I'm mechanically capable and I feel there's some trust there. I've been in the garage with the techs pointing out bikes that owners had trashed from self maintenance.

So, shorter answer is depends on the shop.
 
Actually, it also depends on the abilities of the owner! If you look at the maintenance schedule, they want you to bring it to a dealer for service every 12 months. Oil and filter changes are no sweat, but the task list includes checking for ECU updates and a few other dealer-only items.

Personally, I will do my own minor services, but will take it in at 9k and 18k. That will be one or two years from now. No way do I feel like pulling the tank to get to the upper spark plug. As long as I keep a record of oil changes and such I'm sure I won't have any problems with my dealer.

I am keeping three old Brit bikes running right now. Have had them completely apart and I'm building another, frame up. There is no service available for these. But I take my Harley to a good independent shop, as they will do a better job than I can.

"A man's gotta know his limitations"... Clint Eastwood
 
Gatdammit. When you did your first oil change yourself. Did you have the dealership reset your oil change light? Or is there a way to do it yourself?
 
i did my own oil change at 4500 miles. Light doesn't come on till 9K. It was dealer recommended, cheap, not difficult, and I ride the bike hard.

I will take mine it at recommended service intervals. Someday when I don't depend on the bike, I'll crack it open with the service manual but my mechanical experience rests with cars, not valve jobs on desmo's.
 
Changing oil and tires are pretty simple jobs, and I'll do that stuff myself. When it comes to valves and belts my bike will go back to the dealer.
 
I just changed the oil on my bike tonight. I picked up the K&N kn-153 oil filter but after looking at the layout, I was very doubtful that it would fit with the sump guard in place. The filter appears to be fractionally taller, and then has a nut tacked on for removal. I went ahead and mounted it anyway, and was pleasantly surprised to find that it fit with a couple mm to spare!
 
My dealer sold me a filter by "Hi-Flo". Packaging looks really cheap but they said it is a decent alternative to Duc brand.
 
You can't tell quality by looking at it! I use nothing but K&N, the hex makes removal easy.

Then again, I know the guy who founded K&N - haven't told him about removing their air filter/snorkel on my (bought used) pickup truck...on a bike, maybe. Not on a car or truck, they can pass dirt.
 
gatdammit said:
My dealer sold me a filter by "Hi-Flo". Packaging looks really cheap but they said it is a decent alternative to Duc brand.
Click to expand...

I use Hi Flo on my jet ski's, (kawasaki ultra 250 and 300) 1500cc supercharged hi performance machines and never had a problem, so I would use them on my Duke too.
 
Like a few others have said I plan to take it in to do the majority of the 9k and 18k service and do my own oil changes in between. After the two year warranty ends ill be digging in myself most likely.
 
I did the 600 mile oil change today. I couldn't come up with the allen socket to remove the oil pickup filter screen. Looks like a 13mm. Can anyone confirm?
Nate
 
Seems so, after 4500 miles it felt notchy compared to how it is now. The oil was dark with suspended metallic particles so it had to go.
 
My dealer is apparently ok with me changing the engilne oil and the brakes fluid. Even with the Warranty. I was even advised to change the oil either at the end or beginning of the biking season. The guy (over the phone) told me I didn't need to change the brakes fluid since the bike is barely a year old but I will forgo this advise and purge it anyway since it's colour is kinda coffee (brown). Probably due to this early brake rotor problem.
 
Air filter

The air filter was not a quick project for me. I bought the manual that was recommended on this forum. The pictures do not match the strada entirely I found. I was also surprised at the routing of the fuel line above the exhaust shield and next to shock spring as it goes to the bottom of the tank. Heat is abundant in that area. It is in tight quarters. The front air box screws are hard to get and use a T20 hex which is not in tool kit. I found that out when I got to that step and had to put things away to go buy the tool. I also had trouble getting the tank off. The fuel line is tucked into the bottom of the tank by some strong clips. A tug was not lifting the tank. I had to get underneath it and work them out. I ended up not sliding the tank out as the manual states due to the tight quarters. I ended up removing the rubber in front instead of sliding it back and up. Without all the electronics and parts in the way, the tank would likely slide out but I stopped fighting to get it out after a while. I have never spent hours trying to change an air filter like this job turned into. I certainly have learned more about the bike.
 

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