Ducati incoming

Shropshirebiker · 13-08-2018, 06:53 AM

Hi! I’m looking at getting my first Ducati. In fact it will be first bike after my full test. Looking at either the 696 or 796. They look a good bike to start with. I have read plenty of reviews on both and also enjoyed reading all the information on the forum. I would appreciate any advise as to what to look for on both these models, obviously FSH would be a must but are there anything specific to Ducati I should take note of and does a higher mileage one present any issues? Thank you!

Ron1000 · 13-08-2018, 11:48 AM

696 & 796 are good starting bikes, bear in mind air cooled tho so different to the new water cooled and miles away to anything from japan.

FSH is a given, check it starts nice a cleanly, ask if any electrical gremlins and see if there is anything untoward on the list of service items.

With regards to mileage as long as they've been serviced and had the belts done, the air cooled engines as pretty solid.

Personally I like some tasteful extras on bikes I buy and tend to swerve bikes with tat on them. If they've went cheap with things like levers etc what else have they went cheap on.

AndyC_772 · 13-08-2018, 12:06 PM

Occasional caretaker of a 70,000 mile 696 here...

As with any bike, the finish does start to look a bit rough if it's ridden all year round and not kept clean. Obviously that's just cosmetic, and it's up to you whether or not it really bothers you.

On higher mileage bikes (think 30,000+ miles), electrical items do start to fail. The reg/rec and alternator can be expected to go at 30-40k miles, and I've just replaced a starter motor at ~65k. The rear shock might want replacing around 30k too, and the front forks will be ready for a service.

Rough running can be caused by a perished vacuum hose on the MAP sensor, which is related to age rather than necessarily mileage. It's a ridiculously cheap and easy fix once you know where to look, but the symptoms (huge thirst, unburned fuel and smoke from exhaust) might make it seem more serious. It might do no harm to budget about £3 and 25 minutes as a preventative measure.

If you ride all year round, think of wheel bearings as consumable items.

With all that in mind, though, there are plenty of very low mileage bikes out there, which are highly unlikely to give any trouble for some time to come.

Personally I find the 696 a bit small; the 796 is set up to be a little taller, which suits me better.

Shropshirebiker · 13-08-2018, 08:31 PM

Thanks for the information. I’ve seen conflicting advise regarding servicing, some say every 2 years others go on mileage.

Ron1000 · 13-08-2018, 09:32 PM

I go by mileage for service (slightly naughty) but strictly two years for belts no later.

BeePee · 13-08-2018, 09:35 PM

My pal has a Monster 1000 that must be well over 130,000 miles by now. Wear and tear items but at 120,000 the engine was still unopened. Geoff is an engineer mind so very meticulous with his bikes. Oh and his 1098 Tricolore must be at 70,000 by now too.

MrsC_772 · 14-08-2018, 11:35 AM

Don't let AndyC_772's post put you off a 696.

I had more electrical problems in a shorter space of time and fewer miles with my Suzuki Bandit 400 (which my first 696 replaced).

My first 696 is now on 71,500 miles (not 70,000) ... I liked it so much I bought a second one in May (which had less than 600 miles on the clock, now on about 4000).

Belt tensioning bearings have gone twice (each time after about 30,000 miles) - one reason the belt check service is important, not just for the belts, but for these bearings.

Some service items/checks are age related, some mileage related. As I've tended to do at least 7,500 miles per year, they often coincide for me.

Shropshirebiker · 14-08-2018, 03:35 PM

Good to see so many with big miles and obviously being used. I'm hoping to see a 796 this week, but there are a few 696/796 about which might be possible options, just that they seem to be miles away so getting to see them will take a bit of time.

mickj · 14-08-2018, 05:15 PM

Welcome to the forum Shropshire biker.

BeePee · 14-08-2018, 08:57 PM

796 has the stylish single sided swingarm too remember

Shropshirebiker · 15-08-2018, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjgt

Welcome to the forum Shropshire biker.

Thanks for the welcome to your nice and friendly forum

Shropshirebiker · 15-08-2018, 03:12 PM

Were the Marchesini's wheels a Ducati option or an aftermarket one as I have seen a couple of bikes with them.

BeePee · 15-08-2018, 09:07 PM

They are standard on certain models

13-08-2018, 06:53 AM	#1
Shropshirebiker Registered User Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Shropshire Bike: No Bike Yet! Posts: 5	Ducati incoming Hi! I’m looking at getting my first Ducati. In fact it will be first bike after my full test. Looking at either the 696 or 796. They look a good bike to start with. I have read plenty of reviews on both and also enjoyed reading all the information on the forum. I would appreciate any advise as to what to look for on both these models, obviously FSH would be a must but are there anything specific to Ducati I should take note of and does a higher mileage one present any issues? Thank you! Last edited by Shropshirebiker; 13-08-2018 at 07:01 AM..

13-08-2018, 09:35 PM	#6
BeePee Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: GALSTON Bike: S2r Posts: 215	My pal has a Monster 1000 that must be well over 130,000 miles by now. Wear and tear items but at 120,000 the engine was still unopened. Geoff is an engineer mind so very meticulous with his bikes. Oh and his 1098 Tricolore must be at 70,000 by now too. __________________

14-08-2018, 11:35 AM	#7
MrsC_772 Silver Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Farnborough Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 713	Don't let AndyC_772's post put you off a 696. I had more electrical problems in a shorter space of time and fewer miles with my Suzuki Bandit 400 (which my first 696 replaced). My first 696 is now on 71,500 miles (not 70,000) ... I liked it so much I bought a second one in May (which had less than 600 miles on the clock, now on about 4000). Belt tensioning bearings have gone twice (each time after about 30,000 miles) - one reason the belt check service is important, not just for the belts, but for these bearings. Some service items/checks are age related, some mileage related. As I've tended to do at least 7,500 miles per year, they often coincide for me. Last edited by MrsC_772; 14-08-2018 at 07:44 PM..

14-08-2018, 05:15 PM	#9
mickj Registered User Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Clevedon Bike: M1200s Posts: 565	Welcome to the forum Shropshire biker. __________________ Keep the rubber side down. Mick

14-08-2018, 08:57 PM	#10
BeePee Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: GALSTON Bike: S2r Posts: 215	796 has the stylish single sided swingarm too remember __________________

13-08-2018, 11:48 AM	#2
Ron1000 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Livingston Bike: M1100evo Posts: 867	696 & 796 are good starting bikes, bear in mind air cooled tho so different to the new water cooled and miles away to anything from japan. FSH is a given, check it starts nice a cleanly, ask if any electrical gremlins and see if there is anything untoward on the list of service items. With regards to mileage as long as they've been serviced and had the belts done, the air cooled engines as pretty solid. Personally I like some tasteful extras on bikes I buy and tend to swerve bikes with tat on them. If they've went cheap with things like levers etc what else have they went cheap on.

13-08-2018, 12:06 PM	#3
AndyC_772 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Farnborough Bike: No Bike Yet! Posts: 213	Occasional caretaker of a 70,000 mile 696 here... As with any bike, the finish does start to look a bit rough if it's ridden all year round and not kept clean. Obviously that's just cosmetic, and it's up to you whether or not it really bothers you. On higher mileage bikes (think 30,000+ miles), electrical items do start to fail. The reg/rec and alternator can be expected to go at 30-40k miles, and I've just replaced a starter motor at ~65k. The rear shock might want replacing around 30k too, and the front forks will be ready for a service. Rough running can be caused by a perished vacuum hose on the MAP sensor, which is related to age rather than necessarily mileage. It's a ridiculously cheap and easy fix once you know where to look, but the symptoms (huge thirst, unburned fuel and smoke from exhaust) might make it seem more serious. It might do no harm to budget about £3 and 25 minutes as a preventative measure. If you ride all year round, think of wheel bearings as consumable items. With all that in mind, though, there are plenty of very low mileage bikes out there, which are highly unlikely to give any trouble for some time to come. Personally I find the 696 a bit small; the 796 is set up to be a little taller, which suits me better.

13-08-2018, 08:31 PM	#4
Shropshirebiker Registered User Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Shropshire Bike: No Bike Yet! Posts: 5	Thanks for the information. I’ve seen conflicting advise regarding servicing, some say every 2 years others go on mileage.

13-08-2018, 09:32 PM	#5
Ron1000 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Livingston Bike: M1100evo Posts: 867	I go by mileage for service (slightly naughty) but strictly two years for belts no later.

14-08-2018, 03:35 PM	#8
Shropshirebiker Registered User Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Shropshire Bike: No Bike Yet! Posts: 5	Good to see so many with big miles and obviously being used. I'm hoping to see a 796 this week, but there are a few 696/796 about which might be possible options, just that they seem to be miles away so getting to see them will take a bit of time.

15-08-2018, 03:12 PM	#12
Shropshirebiker Registered User Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Shropshire Bike: No Bike Yet! Posts: 5	Were the Marchesini's wheels a Ducati option or an aftermarket one as I have seen a couple of bikes with them.

15-08-2018, 09:07 PM	#13
BeePee Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: GALSTON Bike: S2r Posts: 215	They are standard on certain models __________________