| #83  12-Aug-2006, 23:21 | ||||
| ||||
| Ok. Since this is a “public forum”, I’ll have my say. What started out as a question about “where can I get my bike serviced” has now evolved into an, in my opinion, unwarranted personal assault from people who have only half the information available to them, rather than answering the original question. I was asked for a quote to service a bike, which I gave, based on the info I have from Ducati UK. Regardless of your own opinions, these people do know what they are talking about. The bike in question is still under warranty and again, whatever your opinion, there is a schedule of service required on all Ducati based on mileage or time. If only half this schedule was completed and then something went wrong, then Ducati would be within their rights to refuse the warranty claim. Period. Yes, I agree it’s expensive. It is a maximum, but as was mentioned earlier, would you rather be quoted £400 then get a bill for £900? I doubt it. There is over £250 within that quote for parts, oils and fluids. There’s a lot of work in the schedule, especially if shims need doing and then the VAT man takes his slice to and there’s nowt I can do about him. Again, most of these parts and fluids are replaced, according to the schedule set out by Ducati, regardless of mileage. Daz has asked me about the air filters. He has a set of DP items fitted to the bike and these wouldn’t need changing hence would come out of the cost. For what it’s worth, 3000 miles may not be a lot, but I check valve clearances regardless. I’ve adjusted shims at under 2000 miles. It’s all well and good “assuming” they should be ok, but proper inspection is the only way to do it right, and that’s what I choose to do. As far as people doing their own servicing goes, then I’m all for that. There are several that have serviced their own bike in my workshop with my tools, taking advice when needed and paid only for the parts they've used. There are quite a few that do there own shimming and use my stock of shims etc. It’s really not that difficult, you only need some feeler gauges.  Despite being tarred with the “thieving money grabbing” tag, it may come as a shock to you that I’d much rather help out someone to keep their Ducati on the road than have to sell it due to not being able to keep it serviced. I spend quite a few hours on the phone each week giving advice, freely, to people working on their own bikes, including many who I’ve never done any work for or think my personal knowledge is “sh*te”. You obviously don’t know me as well as you think you do…………….. Servicing the modern Ducati, completely, is nigh impossible by the home mechanic nowadays. You cannot reset the TPS for instance or set timing belt tensions any more without the specialist diagnostic equipment that is only available to service outlets. This isn’t a ploy to screw the customers. The bikes are getting ever more complex and the equipment required to maintain them is very expensive, the cost ultimately has to be recouped. Throw in all the overheads of just opening the workshop each week, and I doubt you’d even get out of bed for the nett result. I certainly can’t afford to drive a Porsche. Before you go in head first offering to “service” someones bike for them to, bear in mind that if you screw up, can you afford the “no win-no fee” leeches knocking at your door? As for the question over either mine or JHP’s skills or knowledge base……………. Well at least we can both measure and adjust the shims on Ducatis. As to which area of Ducati you think JHP is lacking in knowledge base, god only knows. Maybe you could trade him your expertise in bolting on aftermarket parts for some shimming training?? I’ve since spoken to Daz and discussed the matter with him. Whether he chooses to bring his bike to me is entirely his own choice, as it is with everyone.  |
| #84 12-Aug-2006, 23:36 | ||||
| ||||
| Quote:
Why are you interested in REAL benefits for DSC members, why are you not a DSC member yourself???  |
| #87 13-Aug-2006, 00:49 | |||
| |||
| Hello respect to nelly khushy like me there is a lot of work that can be done by ourselves, personally I enjoy the garage time. One point raised by nelly, "There are several that have serviced their own bike in my workshop with my tools, taking advice when needed and paid only for the parts they've used. There are quite a few that do there own shimming and use my stock of shims etc. It’s really not that difficult, you only need some feeler gauges." which I though is something that not many service centers well offer and possibly missing from the DSC as a club, I would like to see courses run by the DSC for all levels in basic/advanced maintence, sorry can not speak for the new models as mine is a 97yr bip with a 2001yr engine. I did attend a course a few years back in Oxford (valve clearences checking etc) and would be happy to attend again. Some people are under warrenty, some are not, we all love the bikes and I am sure we would all like to know more about keeping them running sweet.  TopiToo Last edited by TopiToo : 13-Aug-2006 at 00:53. |
final_edition
Linear Mode
