If all else fails you should be able to get a new radiator custom built for you, copying the original, for around half that cost or less. Speak to Marchisini perhaps?

Who quoted you that price as there are two types of rad fitted and retail prices are shown at £767 and £781 including VAT (still bloody expensive but not £900)

Ducati's responsibility
 

Dibble: we don't even know from the info above if Ducati are actually aware of any of this .....

Ok agreed, I now see it that Ducati are apparently not aware of this particular problem but they must be aware of the other issues surrounding the "earlier 749's" which they declare themselves they have sorted on the 05 model.

As for "Ducati don't make the radiators they contract it out" it doesn't make them any less responsible for them. Few manufacturers manufacture complete products but they DO take a responsible attitude and monitor the quality of their suppliers as lets face it it's their name on the finished job!

And as for the price....... well! I'd be p*ssed at having to replace a radiator on my ford escort (and I never had to due to good quality control) at £100 a pop but at £760-900 a go???

its worth looking at the Sale of Goods act, under English legislation ( Scotland is different being 5 years) a consumer has 6 years to report a defect inherent at the time of manufacture to the seller ( not the manufacturer) , it doesn't mean goods should last 6 years but if its reasonable to assume that a faulty rad was caused by as manufacturing defect ( more than likely it was there if other bikes last much longer) then you may have a claim with your dealer. There are cases where items are portrayed or described as being suitable for a purpose these be included or where its reasonable to assume an time should last a specific time.


Ducati offer a warranty of 2 years in addition to your statutory rights , reason its 2 years is to comply with an EU directive on consumer goods but your contract lies with the supplying dealer and their sale of goods contract lies with the manufacturer.
The DTI provide a guide for traders in pdf format which is a useful guide to understand your rights and what remedies they can offer.

Ducati have helped out some on here with bikes well out of warranty, if you have a good working relationship with a dealer they might well help you as well. Personally I would have tried that route first before attempting repair, give Ducati a chance to see for themselves what has happened.

The rads on these bikes are curved and ally, most car stuff is a lot cheaper, flat, and on older stuff easier to repair.

If ya dont' get anywhere and need to a new rad it might be worth joining up to get ya 10% off:)



Ray.

Jim at Bike Enders is quite often putting Rads from the bikes he breaks on Ebay, always worth gicing him a shout especially as your talking around £125 from him
01708 455530

Sorry I exagerated that then, I thought it was £780 plus vat!

That seems to be a favoured route at the moment. Cheers. As I say, It has been repaired, but it remains to be seen if it's been done well enough to last. I'm gonna take it out for a couple of hours in the morning and see what develops. Fingers crossed.

Ally radiators can be repaired too. Try:-

http://www.gmxradiators.co.uk/cgi-bi...sp&s=49&id=gmx

I've no idea if it'll work out cheaper, but at least you'll know you're not buying another poorly constructed rad from a breakers

Bugger
 

Just saw this and it had ended already....... sorry - touch of the Jim Bowens there!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...ADME:B:SS:UK:1