Buying a Hyperstrada on Friday...

Boxomatic · Jan 31, 2017

Hi everyone. First post. After being motorcycle-less for two years I'm getting back into the game.

Last bike was a S4R. Absolutely loved it and rode the hell out of it for 6 years. Painful when I had to sell it but having a baby and remodeling our house left no time to ride and not even enough money for gas.

Anyway... I'm driving down to Boston on Friday to pick up a completely stock white 2013 Hyperstrada. I haven't seen the bike in person yet, just photos and talked to the shop owner who is selling it. He doesn't seem to know much about the bike (it's not a Ducati shop) other than that the previously owner had no time to ride it and then traded it in for a jet-ski.

The bike only has 350 miles on it.

Judging from this forum and others, it seems like that first model year might have had more issues than future years. What do I need to know? Anything I should keep an eye on during the test ride before I buy? Anything I should look for as signs there could some kind of issue with the bike? It seems fueling issues were common... should I plan to take the evap canister off right away and/or invest in a custom map?

RSL · Jan 31, 2017

Just get all the recalls taken care of.

Ride & Enjoy

zibbit u2 · Jan 31, 2017

As RSL said, as long as the recalls are taken care of (they're free from Ducati regardless if it's still under warranty or not), and do all your preventative maintenance stuff on time, then ride it.

So far my '13 HS has been the most rock solid, and reliable bike I've ever owned.

monocog007 · Jan 31, 2017

My 13 has been rock solid. Just small mostly negligible things that we nit pick around here, since the major things aren't an issue.

kuksul08 · Jan 31, 2017

It's been decent bike with its own quirks. If you don't count cracking exhaust pipes, burned up starter motors, and oil leaks, it's pretty good! Get the throttle unit, CAN filter, and software updates as soon as you can.

Boxomatic · Feb 1, 2017

Thanks everyone. I'll check with my local dealer on recalls. According to Ducati's VIN lookup, there are no active recalls for the bike. I'm assuming there's more to the story than that?

mentalist · Feb 1, 2017

Boxomatic said:
Thanks everyone. I'll check with my local dealer on recalls. According to Ducati's VIN lookup, there are no active recalls for the bike. I'm assuming there's more to the story than that?

According to Ducati vin lookup recall site, there are no recalls outstanding on my bike.
In reality there ARE TWO, a critical software update and the can bus filter for the dash, which I only found out because I asked my supplying dealer to check. I haven't had a recall letter from Ducati either (I've owned the bike from new too), I have since emailed Ducati and asked them why??

appliance821 · Feb 1, 2017

This has been discussed since the TCU issue. They don't classify them as official recalls. Never have. ou have to go to the dealer. Be interested in what Ducati says because they leave people in a potentially dangerous situation.

Boxomatic · Feb 1, 2017

Very helpful. The bike will visit the dealer on Saturday morning. They already have the VIN and are going to let me know what, if anything, she needs. I can report back what they say. I don't think this bike has seen a mechanic since it rolled out of the showroom, so this might be an interesting test to show what Ducati knows these bikes need for fixes.

appliance821 · Feb 1, 2017

On the flip side, they're very good about doing the repairs when the need is discerned. Also, it's a great bike. Enjoy.

In Boston, Riverside is a good shop - and all they sell now is Ducati. You probably have someone in Portland, but thought this might be helpful.

Boxomatic · Feb 2, 2017

I've been in touch with Seacoast in NH already. This morning they confirmed there are two recalls for the bike and they'll need about 2 hours to do the work. I'll get more detail and share it here.

No Duc shop in Portland, but Moto Milano is in Windham about 30 minutes away - close enough I guess. I haven't always had good luck with them so I thought I would try my next closest shop.

If anyone wants to open a dealer in Portland let me know. I would be the first investor. Duc/KTM combo would be killer up here!

zippy49 · Feb 2, 2017

I've got 9K trouble-free miles on mine. Just ready for the second dealer service. I don't baby it, but stick to paved roads and don't ride in the rain or at night very much. None of those 'issues' has been a problem for me, and I'm happy that the company offers to fix them.

Honestly, if I were worried enough about possible failures, I wouldn't ride. I'm more worried about meeting that stopped truck on a fast blind corner some day!

mentalist · Feb 2, 2017

15000 miles on mine, trouble free, ride all weather and winter. bike still looks new.
It gets ragged to death in the dry. (track days incl.)I do look after it though, washed down after a days winter riding and coated with ACF 50 or light lube oil spray on the fastenings.
Carry out servicing myself (oil & filter changes every 4.5K between major 9k Service) and will be doing the belts and valve shims in 3k miles.
Cracking bike

Buying a Hyperstrada on Friday...

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