Scary Incident
 

Had to go up to Hertfordshire today so as the 749S was just back from its first service and having had the Termi's fitted decided to give it an outing in the sunshine.

No problems on the way up, in fact it never missed a beat, sounded so much better I arrived with big grins.

On the way home came back M25 for quickness. Poodled through the road works at 40mph and as they cleared at the M3 opened it up to about 90ish. Suddenly the dash went blank and there was no power, me being in outside lane and other four very busy because of roadworks I flap my left arm like mad and grind to a halt in outside lane. **** behind does his best to try and knock me off.
I must say I was very shaken and quite worried being stuck in the outside lane with everything ging on around me. Quick check of everything, nothing untoward turn the key and it fires up first time. Struggle to get back in to traffic and take a much slower ride home whilst the heart beat returns to normal.

Anyone else experienced something similiar or any ideas as to what could have caused it?

Cheers

Jon

trade it for a 996

holy crap! at least your ok!!!

getting beyond a joke with these issues isnt it, what with front brakes seizing and it cutting out, and now a complete shut down, surely ducati cant go on without recognising some of these issues.

Could easily have been an off, if not worse. Hope it doesnt dent your confidence for too long, you get it serviced at Pro Twins? I take it your going back there?

Could be anything that really, battery terminal loose? did you get the amber light etc?

Seems odd, got to be something the dealer has done as it was OK before, or am I speculating to much here?

Worrying to say the least - glad you're safe anyway. A check of as many connections as you can find, then a call to DL for their advice?

I had the same thing happen to me when I got my bike, although thankfully not in the fast lane on a motorway. My problem was a stripped thread on one of the battery terminals after I'd had an alarm fitted by Ducati London South. The terminal was completely undone though, so it wouldn't restart. Might be a good place to start checking.

Glad you're still around to tell the tale

[Edited on 11-4-2005 by Wylie1]

Absolutely heart stoppingly scarey, I should think! Glad you didn't come to any harm and hope you are able to discover the problem quickly.

Jebus! Very scary, if it's a botch job by Ducati mechanics to adhere to warranty rules, it just goes to show we're better off taking bikes to a trusted mechanic. Unacceptable really that after fitting an alarm a dealer should leave you so vulnerable to an accident Wylie.

:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o

Chill tonight and have a big glass of something.

Clint.

Thanks for the replies.

Ran it for an hour or so whilst I was giving it a clean and it ran perfectly.

However to finish me off I then notice a big f@ck off screw in the rear tyre, put it down as not my day and have a beer, not going to get wound up.:flame:

Hey my gixxer 1000 was fitted with hazard lights :P , glad your ok :(

The symptoms of this are the same as when my battery terminal broke off. The cables are so short and heavy that they had to be eased out to allow the battery out. It had only been out a couple of times and the angled bracket work hardened and broke where the cable joins it. Whilst the bracket is massive (as battery terminals go), the bit that joins to the cable is not and is a weak point. The symptom then was that everything went off, because all power was lost. It had been playing up before that with the battery seemingly not holding charge, and I suspect when the joint starts to work harden and crack it geenerates heat when you use the starter which makes it worse.

I replaced the earth (lower) cable with one from Halfords that was a few cm longer. That enabled me to re-route it so it wasn't so tight.

Of course ... might nto be anything to do with that.

Had a general check of things with my very very basic knowledge and all appears ok. Battery was first port of call.

I had a very similiar problem after picking up my 900SL the first outing to Brands last year kept cutting out couldnt find the cause by the side of the road and limped home after moving battery terminals.
sent back to dealer i got it from and it turned out to be a broken positive lead about 4 inches from the battery inside the thick protective plastic only cut out over bumps etc so was parting the wires.
a new positive lead cured it.
ian

Jon, Alan says time permitting he will take a look for you - pop over early any evening - say by 7pm?

Might help set your mind at rest.

Let me know, so I can 'trap him' in the house:lol: & delay him from DD bike fettling. Seriously - he does say 'no probs' tho.

C

Charlotte, thats great thank Alan for me.

Going to try and sort the tyre tomorrow, so will let you know later in the week.

Thanks again

I have the same bike and I wish I'd never read that now!!!!! When I take it in for the first service, shall I check all the leads etc?

After getting the tyres sorted yesterday I sent the dealer an email.
They have suggested that its not entirely unkown for a certain fuse to work slightly loose. Going to check later on today.

Jobr.... have you got any form of alarm/immobilizer... sounds like a loose wire or fuse... Problem is trying to pinpoint the fault... hope you get it sorted ok. :cool:

System 3 Dave fitted by the dealer at new.

The guy was quite specific what fuse could have caused it, so will let you know later.

Good luck mate...Theres nothing worse than a intermittent fault.. hope they get to the bottom of it ... keep us posted.

Any joy in getting it sorted yet? Seems to be a spate of problems with 749's at the moment... decided i'm keeping mine though now despite problems. :D

Checked the fuses and battery connections as advised and nothing appears a miss.

Weather hasn't been good but I have run the bike in the garage as well as doing about 80 incident free miles since the problem.

Just going to put it down to one of those things, i love the bike and don't want to detract from that.

If (hopefully not) it happens again then it can go straight to dealer not passing GO for the once over.