Ducati Wear & Tear

P

PINK*SCORPION*

New member
Hey everyone,

The noob here again

I have a question. What sort of wear and tear should I expect on my bike from riding around? Obviously, tires, and brake pads.. but with a car, there were ways we handled our cars to keep it clean and looking new... they were the following.

Be careful getting in and out not to scuff anything, scratch your leather seats.
Don't sit on the leater sheats incorrectly to avoid the leather creasing and ripping.
Look when putting your key in not to scratch stuff.
Don't spill stuff
Don't sit on your car to avoid scratches/swirls
Cover it in the garage
Park far away.
Don't tailgate to avoid rock chips.

I know the bike probably carries over a few rules.. for example
When I get on I make sure my boots dont hit the second seat and skuff
I try not to tailgate to avoid rock chips

What else can happen? What about tank wear or wear from having your legs rub up against portions of the bike.. any thoughts on this and protection?

What do you guys to do keep your bikes looking new? I have a limited bike, and would like to enjoy it for more than 5 years.

Thanks
-Joey
 
The paint is incredibly tough imo, I hate the look of the tank protectors and so don't use em. After 1,300 miles still looks like new.

If you're worried about small scratches, get Zaino Z5 and then Z2, problem solved. I wash n wax it once a week, but don't give it a second thought when riding.

Don't sweat it. Although I'd agree on the gararge cover, I got this on works great.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/63/7325/ITEM/Dowco-Guardian-Weatherall-Plus-Cover.aspx
 
Since I'm pretty much dirt tracking my 1098 I don't expect much but I did put a 3M static stick clear piece of plastit on the tank and after two years it looks mint.

There's a company called Tankslapper that makes these 3M clear sheets already cut to cover your whole bike if you want real protection.
 
Well, unlike your P-car, not as many things to worry.

- DON'T park far away...park as close to the front entrance. It's hard to lift a car, but it ain't hard for thieves to lift a bike onto a truck/van.
- Shouldn't tailgate, period...car or bike. And that's not to avoid rock chips, but really to avoid slamming into a vehicle or even worse you stop in time with a hard brake, but the person behind you doesn't.
- I don't have a cover...cuz I take it out for a ride before major dusts settles on it. And if it's too dusty or dirty, wash it. If you're going to use a cover, make sure the bike is clean before covering it. If you have dust/dirt on the bike and you remove your cover, that cover is going to be scraping the dirt across the plastic which could cause scratches to occur. Pretty much why I don't use a cover for anything....I just stick to washing it when dirty/dusty.
- If you don't have a tank protector, just be careful when wearing a belt or pants with a metal button. Make sure you have a shirt between the tank and your belt/pants....even a pant button can scratch it. The Tankslapper is a good product...nearly unnoticeable until you are up close to the bike.
 
Agree with Rye on the cover issues and tank protections. I use a CF tank protector that wraps around the sides where I tend to slide my knees for gripping during canyon riding.

Really if its that much a worry to you, maybe invest in take-off/race plastics and have them done up like your factory stuff, then put the factory ones up in the closet out of direct sunlight? B/w that and not riding it at all will be your best protection. I do understand what you mean, my 1098 is a base model, plain old red, but I really want to keep it nice looking, the first rock divet from another rider to the nose of my bike really hurt, so you just have to realize the more exclusive you get, the more you worry or less you ride. Shits going to happen, bug spatter sits too long and etches into the paint or rock dent to the nose/fender etc.. it sucks, but accept it or roll it into the living room, surround it in glass case and admire from the couch while watching WSBK, AMA and MotoGP.
 
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