OMG!! HELP PLEASE
 

Went to the bikeshop tonight to sign the finance for my Ducati (2003 SS) and as it was being warmed up for a test ride the exhaust downpipe on the vertical cylinder started glowing red hot, I took it out but it seemed like it was a bit rough and not as crisp as it should be.

The mechanic at the bike shop (not a ducati dealer) told me it was normal and they all do it!! My 600ss doesn't and I've never seen another do it - so is it normal?

The bloke at Ducati Manchester said there was definately something wrong with it but the mechanic at the bike shop where I was about to buy it from insisted his SP2 does it all the time.

Not a usual occurence!:o

if running lean or the timing is out, they can get hot - but not red hot!!

Take it back!

Alan

I take it that you didn't sign anything or pay a deposit?

That don't sound right my friend.

My 750ssie doesn't do it even after a long run or giving it some stick.

Keep clear if i were you.

No, haven't signed anything or given any deposit.
I instantly said I didn't want it but then said I'd ask some questions and let them know tomorrow.

I'm getting a good deal and would really like it to work....but I'm not going to buy a knackered bike.
The mechanic there started getting annoyed because he said they all do it and I said I didn't believe him.

I'm a bit gutted really...

Just to add...

Once I got going it stopped glowing, probably cooled by the wind, but it was glowing when warming up and when I stopped at the side of the road it started glowing again.

i'd say
wrong
dont do it

May be a sticky or gummed up injector, certainly sounds as if its running lean. Maybe its been sitting unused for to long

They've said they'll get it sorted and they probably will, my concern is any lasting damage it may have caused.

Icarus

A much wiser man than I once said to me....

Phil... If it looks like a fish, flaps like a fish and smells like a fish.....then the chances are that it is a fish.

If in doubt walk away.

There's plenty of nice ones out there.

Bike has something wrong with it. Plenty more bikes for sale out there.

They need your money more than you need their bike....

This is no informed engineering opinion BUT: it happened to me once. The bike (900SSie) had been standing for a while. After starting-up I left it running on quite a fast tickover to get it really warm. I panicked a bit when I saw the rear pipe a dull red, but rode off anyway. With the bike warmed-up and on the move, the next time I looked at the pipe - after about a 20 minute ride - it was grey again. Never happened again.
I've used the bike far more regularly since, all year round and no problems at all. Made me think: people say Dukes are temperamental but I reckon they're as good as any other make as long as they're used. Servicing's a bit pricey but the only thing that's ever gone wrong in 13k miles is the Datatool!

Or a lemon.

:o Hope I didn't upset fiscus:D

Last year my SP5 caught fire when the rear cylinder got that hot it set fire to the wiring,before it caught fire it was running like poo.The reason was that the timing was that far out('cos the 2 piece flywheel had come apart,which has the timing triggers on it) that the rear cylinder ran that lean it glowed red hot.There is definately something not right!!

I'm getting a good deal and would really like it to work....but I'm not going to buy a knackered bike.
The mechanic there started getting annoyed because he said they all do it and I said I didn't believe him.



The mechanic got annoyed did he , I wouldn't buy form him now if it was perfect.

Which it instant.

Better one round the corner.

Don't make his day by ruining yours. :D

:frog:

yer if thats the customer service your going to get, it's worth paying a little bit more for some come back if things go wrong, there are some good dealers, I know one thats been go to me,
:flame::burn::burn:

No. No. No. No. No. I've run my 600, 620, and 900 flat out for 40mins at a time and never got close to getting the headers red hot. Definitely running lean (which may have had other adverse effects). As has been said, there's plenty of really nice examples out there, so if in doubt run t'other way and give your hard earned to someone more deserving.

Run away, run away!!!

Go buy a neat example from someone else - plenty of good advice on here.

It is either running very lean (might be a sticking or partly clogged injector) or the igntion timing is far too retarded. Long term will result in a burnt exhaust valve and/or piston damage.
Forget it and look somewhere else that has a mechanic that knows what he's talking about.