Ducati MultiStrada 1200

I just found out that you are required to get that 15,000 mile, $1200-$1300 service at 24 months regardless of mileage. I guess these engines wear even when they aren't running!

Of course, that would only be relevant if you had an extended warranty, since the factory warranty expires at 24 months anyway.

That might be for the timing belts, as they can deteriorate (rubber) even when not moving.

I guess that might be part of it. But don't most timing belts on other vehicles usually go for like 5 years or 60,000 miles or something like that?

Also, they specify that the valves have to be checked/adjusted every 24 months, regardless of mileage, plus a bunch of other stuff too, I think. I just don't get that.

The other testastrettas have a2 year "limit" on the belts....so that makes since....I guess.

Well, it DOES sell a lot of them high-priced belts, anyway.

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The MTS is making my Tiger very uneasy. :eek1

Which is exactly why I called the first time I heard about Ducati's "New Lower Maintenance Cost" propoganda/hogwash. Just how do they figure $1200 every 15k is lower than $600 every 7.5k?

And 9 hours to service???

Me, my inner luddite, and my accountant are quite happy with the sub-$200/sub-3-hour/can-be-done-with-hand-tools-in-the-driveway service requirement of my Multi Classic.

Per the new Ducati Multistrada 1200 Service Tech class, belts are changed at the 5 year mark. They have a video of testing at the Pirelli test track with multiple riders. 25,000 miles logged at full throttle before failure. The failure was the belts and one chain went also. I think that's quite reasonable.

I'll break it down AS WRITTEN BY DUCATI in the tech training for the Multistrada:

600 mile service = 1.4 hours
7500 mile (or annual) service = 1.5 which is an oil change
15,000 mile service (no time requirement) = 6 hours which includes the desmo valve service

Coolant and fluids at 36 months/ 3 years
Belts at 60 months/ 5 years

The talk about the 15,000 mile service being required at 24 months is incorrect. What is required at 15,000 or 24 months is the third oil and filter change (600 mile, 7,500 mile, 15,000 mile, etc...). The actual 15,000 mile service including valves has no time requirement - it is at 15K miles.

The fact that the service time for the 15,000 mile service is spec'ed at 6 hours @ flat rate means that it is truly half of the previous service requirement (which was actually spec'ed a little over 6 hours).

Hope this calms some of the fears about 12 hour services - they don't exist.
This is an extremely easy Ducati to service, it was designed very thoughtfully with maintenance in mind.

Thanks Stagecoach for the data from Ducati on the service requirements.

My local Ducatti dealer in Sunnyvale, CA is nice enough to be a little more thorough I suppose, because they let me know they have a 9 hour charge for every MTS 1200 15K service. I'm so happy my dealer is concerned enough about my bike to put in the extra 3 hours over and above what Ducati recommends.

They try to rip you off (as you seem to know when I read your line correctly). As they tried to rip me off when I wanted to buy an ST1300 from them:

$11999 advertised price ("new" 2007 model, no ABS, last summer)
+ $4500 fees and tax.

OTD price at a different dealer for the same bike was $12799.

I rather ride a Vespa scooter for the rest of my life before I buy anything from them.

Gadget Boy,

Brake bleeding is at 36 months/ 3 years (I would recommend 2 years personally). Bleeding the brakes is as easy as a non-ABS system. No separate transmission oil - all in one.

As a side note - every Multi comes with 3 lock cylinders (the S Touring has 2 already installed in side cases) for a top and sidecases to key the same as the gas cap (no actual keyed ignition, fob only). Of course, you can replace the gas cap with a fob-activated lock unit - so you would only need a key for the bags.

Along with the fob (which has a pop-out key) you receive a back-up "red key" that can activate the ignition when waved over the dashboard. This is not the old red key that, if lost, meant buying a new ECU - merely a back-up. If you have ridden away from your fob after it activated the ignition, the dashboard will warn you that you have exceeded the operational proximity. In that case, ride back or the next time you shut it off, it's off. The back-up solution to that situation is to set a PIN. You can then enter that PIN on the dash to activate the ignition (for 15 seconds after entering the number). So conceivably you don't need a key or fob, but it's a bit of a pain.

Isn't this an interference engine? Valves can hit the pistions if the belt breaks? If thats the case your not only stranded but skrewed......I figured it was but it would be great if it isn't, what about a Ducati 2v 900 (in my GC) I'd be happy to find out it's not, always assumed it was but i'm no duc expert by a long shot.

I'm just going to throw this out there, you make the call...
I work at a Ducati dealership that does moderate service volume, including Desmosedicis and racebikes. Since the advent of the current Ducati belt system starting with the Paso in 1988, we have seen 0 (zero) belt failures. Same belts in World Superbike Racing. Belts can break if something else larger fails, but not likely on their own. To worry about belt failure on this bike is a poor allocation of your time

Interference, yes.

Many, many interesting features on thus bike. I'm getting a black S Touring. Should be arriving first week of May. I can't wait, and from what I've seen, I have no worries about the electrics, maintenance, or durability.