999R - Nice ornament or everyday tool?
 

Well yet again the R has let me down, 398 miles (100 of which have been done by the dealer, and another 100 riding it back from there, so 198 miles of actually road/personal riding to date).

The story goes Lily and I were off to Cadwell to see you guys on Sunday, we got up early, too early!!! to get over there, opened the curtains and we were greeted by rain so decided to think better of it (good job really if you read on...)

Anyway come lunchtime I get a call from a mate who's got tickets for Oulton courtesy of GSE so off we all go for a mooch round (in the car) have a quick chat with John, Rick and Ken at JHP, spot weeksy so say hello and watch several hours of qualifying action, by this point the weather has turned good, nice sunny day, time for a ride Lily and I decide.

So back home, get the bikes out the Bob Johnson starts immediately (as ever) the R dead as a door nail, they've both been on the optimate yet my R doesn't want to play. Not knowing much how the 749/999 ECU gets involved as you just push the start button and release and the engine normally turns until it starts well that isn't happening now, you press the button it attempts to start i.e. one turn the ECU light flickers then the whole thing dies, is it the starter motor not catching? battery goosed? I really don't know glad it wasn't good weather in the morning though as we'd of been up and ready to go to Cadwell and this would of happened. Anyway after much twiddling and tyre kicking/scratching heads I put the bike in gear and rotate the rear wheel backwards in a vain hope to get the cylinder onto the compression cycle, press the starter and voila she tries to start and does.... we assume it's one of those lovely Italian quirks get suited up and off we go for a 2 hour blast :D

So moving forward to Monday and BSB, bike out and low and behold exactly the same thing, press the button engine does one turn then nothing, I try the compression thing again, this time nothing... So it's bodywork off and instantly spot the battery has bulged quite a bit and is deformed quite badly, obviously caput. I'm sure a battery should last longer than 398 miles ???

Problem is we're back at Oulton today for our 3rd t/day of the year, so I need to get the R running whatever, Lily comes up with the idea of phoning our mate (the guy who has stripped/broke his Bayliss rep) and see if he still has his battery, he does so off she goes to get that while I sit there and think Japanese :rolleye: an hour or so passes and she returns, I fit the battery and it's still dead but he hasn't run the Bayliss or what's left of it for a while, so back on the optimate and then twiddle our thumbs for the rest of the day, no chance in going to Oulton now, not in the car so again the R spoils the day for both of us, Lily does the right thing and stays out of my way because I am like a bear with a sore head.

6 hours later I try to start the R..... exactly the same, caput, after me swearing and generally bad mouthing the bike we load everything up for Oulton, so probably by the time most people read this I'd of been to Oulton dropped Lily off and I'll be driving to Coventry with the bike, 3 track days so far this year and 3 missed, one through work and two through bike failure, and more track days booked which seem I'll be unlikely to attend going on current form (100% failure rate), all I want is a bike I can push the button a ride when I want, not cart back and too to Coventry every 2 to 3 weeks :mad:

It's just one of those things, I know it will get sorted John and the boys have never let me down yet, I'm just fed up, if it packs up again someone might get a bargain though because it's going next time

:rant over:

[Edited on 3-5-2005 by JPM]

I just have to say the gel batteries fitted to modern Dukes are crap.Also the Optimate charger does'nt seem to work on them.(I'm talking recovery mode here.)The best way to charge the battery is on the bike,..ie using the bikes charging system.Not riding them for weeks/months on end does them no good at all.

i don't want to jinx myself, but i don't have these problems on the 749r. i realise that the 999r will put more of a load on starting, but i think there is a fault there somewhere.

sounds like some careful investigation is needed when it goes back in to be fixed

whats the charging system doing, alternator voltage and current at variuos rpm, regulator output at the same points.
how much current is being used when the bike is running and when stopped
what is the drain from the immobiliser and alarm (if fitted)

also what is the optimate up to, it is design to follow a cycle, is it doing it properly ie the right voltage and currents at the right time (this may also be affected by the alarm.

i don't leave the optimate plugged in all the time. i just put it on for about 1 day a week if it is not being ridden

Not just me have problem with a Duke to. I have spent more time getting to the dealers and runing up the miles than i have rode for plessure. Then the 12 months service is due with only 1550 miles on the clock.

Sorry to hear yet more bad news on the R :( Hope you get it sorted soon ... Don't give in on her just yet ...
But if you do :o:o Come down and take the K5 out for a few hours... your love it :cool:

Oh no, not again:(

Lets hope a decent battery sorts it

best of luck

WOW :o, not again.
What a let down. :(

And you only have 398 on her and only 198 are actually road/personal riding ???
I think you should ride her more (if she works that is...).

Anyway... i hope they fix it quickly.
Keep us posted on that.

The straight swap for the ZX10R is still available !!! ;)

What 2 ZX10r might be worth a think. Ha Ha

:lol::lol::lol:

:P

Battery Problems
 

Just a thought. Do we have to use Gel Batteries on our Ducatis? Is there a practical alternative?:puzzled::puzzled::puzzled:

Yeh but the ZX10R will work !!!! :lol::lol::lol::lol:

A bird in the hand....................... ;)

Tim

Sorry to hear about your problems but without tempting fate my 999r has been faultless from the day i got it.I have now covered some 1500 miles 300 of which was over this weekend and would have to say having owned an sps,standard 999 and a 749r that the 999r is without doubt the best of the lot.However if i was suffering the same problems as you i would feel some what different.
Assuming the bike is still under warranty is it worth trying another dealer (wait for the fireworks) i have lots of confidence in Tony Dawson of Ducati Wolverhampton just a thought.
I know it must really pi$$ you off but hang in there as they really are fatastic bikes to ride.

I'm not the most mechanical person in the world, but what you've described sounds exactly like when my ECU failed. The dealer assumed it was a dead battery, because it would seemingly attempt to start and then die.

truly gutted for you.
doesn't look to good when Ducati's flag ship bike is in such an unprepared state,
I think they should be looking to reimburse you for you're loses due to there faulty machinery

Surely this many faults in a bike thats hardly been used is unacceptable. I too have utmost faith in JHP, but theres only so much they can do. If it keeps failing again and again, albeit little niggly things, I reckon its Ducati UK's duty to look at it, and perhaps even give you a new one. Loads of things about the Sales of Goods Act, and fit for the purpose spring to mind...:(

As with others expressing sympathy, I'm very sorry to hear about your problems.

They say you should never buy mark 1 of anything but I have one of the original 999Rs purchased in Sept 2003. I know of two others with this model - AndyB & Chillo.

I have to say (touch wood) it has been pretty much faultless.

The only niggle (singular) I had is cutting out - sorted when the 57MM termig system was fitted.

The bike has done almost 4500 miles now, several track days and plenty of long runs. It doesn't look its best due to it being covered in crap from our April showers and my little off into the gravel at Silverstone last year.

Still, I'll soon have it cleaned up and ready for the BMF!

:smug::smug::smug:

Hmm, i have to say ive had none of these problems either. That said at my 12 month service at JHP, i was told my original battery was u/s, cant say i had noticed, so they fitted a new one.:D

Well just got back from a long long day over at JHP, I know I have said this before, and I know I will say it again, but in my book they are second to non when it comes to customer service.

Ken greeted me and was a virtual shoulder to cry on, before long the bike was out and in the workshop, I didn't really expect them to drop tools and quickly gather round to investigate. I had already removed said duff battery which more more balloon shaped than square as one would expect they had never seen anything like it, least of all from the newer models.

Rick pulled out all of the stops and spent a good few hours checking everything bit by bit and explaining what should or shouldn't be happening. New battery in and she started first time but they were still stumped all of the voltages ran true at idle and at high rpm, cold or hot, fans on or off everything seemed fine. Anyways they decided to swap the rectifier as it did appear to be getting hot (hotter than normal ???) so no real answer to the mystery, could it be my optimate? could it of been a duff battery or rectifier? who knows...

All in all though I had a good day with the gang and even though I rushed in and felt really guilty for jumping the queue they never batted an eyelid, I cannot recommend them enough.

Even bumped into Butch890 (Grahame) and had a good natter with him, all apart from he thought I'd be much older !!! :flame:

So a happier bunny but still no track day, it rained in the afternoon though so not too bad I guess, no doubt Lily will fill in the blanks there.

Cheers JHP ...............................................(ag ain) :)

[Edited on 3-5-2005 by JPM]

Just been talking to louigimoto, and he was saying he's got some really good batteries, not gel type but the same size, and he reckons the starting amperage is much higher than the stock Ducati ones. Says they fire up his race bikes no trouble at all. Reckon I'll get one myself in the autumn.

You can catch him (sometimes! :) ) on 0777 5557797.


Swollen battery casing sounds like a clapped rectifier to me, though.

Mine is perm. on the Optimate now. However when I first plug her in it always shows "poor" reading and after a while the "good" reading. Odd thing is the dash always shows 14.1 on the amp thingy.

Got to admit these are quirky bikes.

Perhaps I should keep the RSVR? See link below.

i'd ditch the optimate and ride the thing, thats why you bought it in the first place mate, surely a new bike with a new battery and rectifier shouldnt need a optimate in the first place, ive not heard many good stories of the old optimate and i dont have much faith in oxford products anyway.

i had an older optimate which I blamed for giving my old hornet no end of grief to the battery, ditched the optimate and things improved afterwards...
Think i'm going to try and nip down to JHP on thursday hopefully, Certainly hope you're bike's sorted this time though... would be nice to ride it once in a while...

Do it....

Worth a visit just for the banter and a look at the workmanship and dedication, my only comments would be to either leave your credit card at home or just plain accept the fact you're going to come out with less money than you started :D

Alright !!!! if its now sorted, you can give me the 999R and a grand and I'll let you have the ZX.

You drive a hard bargain mister ;)

Only a grand.... I'm honoured what a true gent you are Lord Rattler :o

I'm a generous soul and besides it'll save me money on fuel as I'll only have to go to Coventry to pick it up as its always there ;) !!!!!:lol:

Whats the point Tim, you would deck it out in all kinds of finery, ride it once, get bored and flog it.:D

No, no, no.......... I'd stick on a Monster logo and enter the DD with her - its just a big-bore kit after all !!!!:o:o:lol::lol::lol:;);):D:D:D

:o I thought for a minute, you where going to tell me to get back to the kitchen.:)