Ducati v.s Aprilia v.s MV Agusta v.s Japanese bikes Maintenance Costs

[loving_girl9009]

I don't know about maintenance costs on any other bike since the only bike I've had in the past 3 years was a Duc. I can, however, tell you this much. I bought the bike with 8700 miles on it.

At 12000 miles, I got my valve service and bought a new rear tire. Cost? About $1100 at Peak Performance in Simi Valley.

At 15k, I got the oil change/ belts. I needed new brakes. Cost? Just under $500.

At 18k, the bike needed another 6k service. Cost? Around 900. Add another $1400 for clutch and sprocket.

This was all in just over a year's time, as I drove the bike every day. Sooo...one year and almost $4k in service, repairs, and maintenance. That is rival to maintenance on a Ferrari 308, which I believe costs in the neighborhood of $4500 every 15k at least the last time I checked...almost bought one off ebay a few years back). I can't think of one single Jap bike that would cost that much.

Also, according to the dealers that I've spoken with and the mechanic who serviced my bike, the 2V Ducs are much less labor intensive and also less costly to maintain. Just my .02, but that makes bikes like the MH900e and the Sport Classic a lot more desirable.

 

[The Joker]

2003 RC-51
Valve adj. = 16,000 miles

I rode the piss out of it for 19,000 miles (commuting, traffic, S.Florida heat, hauling ass, sustained high speeds) before having the valves checked. I usually didn't get to my oil changes in less then 4,000 miles. I used a synthetic blend (except for the first oil change where I used regular oil.)

Service: (again, 19,000mi)
All valves were not only within clearance but were spot on factory set. Experienced mechanic worked for $65/hr. If shims needed replacing, they would have been swapped.

Total cost of full service: (valves plus everything else/fluids etc.)
$650.00
____________________
2000 Ducati 748
Valve adj. = 10,000 km (roughly 6,000 mi)

Cost to replace under manufactured valve return fork that all the Duc mechanics I talk to (with any experience) say wear out if you ride the bike in an ungrandmotherly manner.
$200 ea. (roughly)...

"oh, really...? well, if it's just the shims you can swap them out, right?"

Hell no! they wear out too.
$25 ea.

Labor = $95/hr
Valve check (if nothing is wrong/needs replacing) $600
chance of valves needing adj. if you actually ride the bike:
high

Oh, you need to replace the 2 $75 belts

Regardless, my quote for the 10,000k service = $2200.00 (and that is the low quote, i went to 3 shops.)

Wait, there's more!

Total clutch failure at 11,000 miles. While I do ride a lot and put any bike through its paces, I have never had a clutch fail.