I'm interested in buying a used Ducati 620 bike, but I'm concerned about the egineering and mechanics of Italian bikes. Can anyone make recommendations, tell me things to watch out for or specific years to avoid?
Ducati Monster?
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51
Ducati Monster?
find a owners group on the web Ducs are very good and they sound awsome If you buy one you will not be in the boy racer crowd
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Scooby don\'t
Ducati Monster?
I bought a 916 when they were first out, it cost me over £12,000, I bumped that upto £15000 with tuning and waited over 3 months to get my bike. I ride alot and all year round. I only covered about 4000 miles on my 916 before selling it 8months later for £8,000, I was desperate to get rid off it because it spent most of it's time back at the dealers or sitting in the garage unable to start. I know they're better now but you can't beat the jap bikes for reliability. I've also got a Harley that's done 30,000 miles in 3 years and everyone thinks they're unreliable.
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ryry
Ducati Monster?
Ducatis take a little more attention in the maintenance department than your average bike. If buying used, look for one with a detailed maintenance record. First thing to check is valve adjustments--they need it every 6,000 miles. And it isn't cheap--about $500 for each 6,000 mile service, after you throw in the oil change.
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Bandit600
Ducati Monster?
Adhere to the service intervals like your life depended on it. If you don't you WILL regret it.
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jason c
Ducati Monster?
Ducati 620's are no different than any other Italian motorcycle in that they need to be serviced and maintained in accordance with there service intervals.
Before you buy one make sure it has not been in an accident, has a full service history and is not an import (km not mph).
Ducati's are a thing of beauty and like anything beautiful requires love and attention.
Before you buy one make sure it has not been in an accident, has a full service history and is not an import (km not mph).
Ducati's are a thing of beauty and like anything beautiful requires love and attention.
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wozza59
Ducati Monster?
I've had a number of Ducati engined machines 1975 Ducati 500 GTL. 2x 650 cagiva allazzuras, Ducati 750 F1, Ducati 916, Bimota DB2 final edition and Cagiva 900 Gran Canyon. They were all beautiful machines, well the 500gtl wasn't, but not for reliablity reasons (miss the 650 Allazzuras the most).
All were reliable, so the 620i monster should be absolutely fine. Do check that it has a bit of a service history and when the belts were last replaced.
Ducati engined bikes aren't as reliable as a Jap bike suffering a veriety of foibles over the years, but they are not as bad as people make out either. With Ducati the later the bike the better the quality is usually the norm. However, I personally prefer the bikes from the late 80's and I never had a problem with any of them. Look after it and they should generally look after you.
So I would say go for it, but as I have already mentioned check for a bit of a service history and when the cam belts were last changed.
All were reliable, so the 620i monster should be absolutely fine. Do check that it has a bit of a service history and when the belts were last replaced.
Ducati engined bikes aren't as reliable as a Jap bike suffering a veriety of foibles over the years, but they are not as bad as people make out either. With Ducati the later the bike the better the quality is usually the norm. However, I personally prefer the bikes from the late 80's and I never had a problem with any of them. Look after it and they should generally look after you.
So I would say go for it, but as I have already mentioned check for a bit of a service history and when the cam belts were last changed.
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llordlloyd
Ducati Monster?
What everyone says here is correct: get a service history and so on. But even so, there are many Ducatis that are just lemons. It's part of being Italian. You can justify it as 'they area thing of beauty' or 'it is temperamental like a fiery Italian vixen', but bear in mind those who have speed and reliability will be quietly laughing at you.
I have had dozens of bikes in 18 years- and worked at three shops- and European bikes just aren't as reliable and consistent as Japanese- but Italian bikes are a step behind the German and British bikes. Ducati was purchased by the Texas Pacific Group in (I think) 1999 and they imposed better production discipline on the factory.
But personally I'd just get a Cagiva Raptor- best V-twin ever made, in a bike styled by the same man who designed the Monster.
I have had dozens of bikes in 18 years- and worked at three shops- and European bikes just aren't as reliable and consistent as Japanese- but Italian bikes are a step behind the German and British bikes. Ducati was purchased by the Texas Pacific Group in (I think) 1999 and they imposed better production discipline on the factory.
But personally I'd just get a Cagiva Raptor- best V-twin ever made, in a bike styled by the same man who designed the Monster.
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Easy
Ducati Monster?
I own a 9 year old high milage 748 Ducati. Have had it from new.
In my experience the recent, i.e. less than 10 year old bikes are as reliable as any other as long as they are serviced and maintained correctly.
The only breakdown I have had was due to a failed relay in the Japanese made alarm/immobiliser unit fitted when new.
If you get a bike with a genuine service history you should be absolutely fine....the old tales of poor Italian build and reliability just do not apply these days.
Just for the record, a lot of my mates own/have owned Ducatis over the past 10 years and none of us have had any real problems
In my experience the recent, i.e. less than 10 year old bikes are as reliable as any other as long as they are serviced and maintained correctly.
The only breakdown I have had was due to a failed relay in the Japanese made alarm/immobiliser unit fitted when new.
If you get a bike with a genuine service history you should be absolutely fine....the old tales of poor Italian build and reliability just do not apply these days.
Just for the record, a lot of my mates own/have owned Ducatis over the past 10 years and none of us have had any real problems