I have recently had my 4yr service completed by Ducati Reading. They told me that the throttle bodies needed balancing, or i had an injector blocked ... But it was pretty good when i rode it there! On the ride home i noticed that when i went to overtake the throttle response was lumpy. The next time i rode it (the next dry day) i did the usual warming up routine before jumping on and it kept cutting out and sounded not quite right. Today i have ridden it to work (car out of action so no choice) and just as i got there it is struggling below 4000 revs in first gear ... Im massively annoyed and its booked to go back but it seems like its going downhill fast. Has anyone else had this or does anyone know what it could be?
Surely they should've balanced the throttle bodies as part of the service. Sounds like they fkd it up.
I'm not giving Blade Honda, sorry Ducati Reading, an out but they have only been a Ducati dealer for about a year and I doubt that the mechanics have had much opportunity to exercise their training. Constructive feedback should give them an opportunity to improve so other Ducati owners don't have the same expereince. Failing that find an established dealer recommended by users of this forum like Moto Rapido in Winchester and Snells in Alton. Andy
Hi, Sorry to hear you are having problems, I have a slight conflict of interest as I know someone there very well. What I will say is that I have known them for several years and the mechanics really are first rate. I am sure the Service Manager will be happy to receive some feedback and will try to sort it for you. It may just be a genuine mistake; even great mechanics have an off day. Let us know how you get on.
I didnt say they were rubbish they could of had an off day ... Their customer service was really good, but the bike is now pretty much unridable. i have booked it back into them for investigation work and repair, but i do get the feeling they will try not to blame themselves regardless and try and charge me through the nose for it. i just wish i hadnt bothered about the main dealer only service history and got a local guy to do it because it could of been sorted by now instead of having to wait for the nearest available appointment.
Take it to Nelly at Cornerspeed, even if it is a long ride up the motorway. No matter how good a tech is it depends on how they manage their workflow as ive seen some shocking standards of spannering come out of reportedly excellent places recently. Garages dont get a 2nd chance with me, even if it costs me a bit more in time or money.
Dont get me wrong ... I am taking it back to sprt out their mistake. It wont go back after that. My other options are forza italia, bristol or my local guy. Does anyone have any ideas what it could be causing this problem though? I didnt really want to start a thread bitching about a garage. Lol
As a matter of interest how many miles has it done? I'm losing track of when the evo came out but I suspect at 4 years old it's a non-evo model? There was a common need on the original 848 for a throttle body adjustment due to stalling, but this tended to manifest itself over the first 2 years and maybe up to about 5k miles. I had the throttle bodies adjusted on my last 848 and it cured the problem. no similar problem yet witnessed on my evo which is now 3 yrs old.
Can you let us know how you get on, I can honestly say that I am confident that they will do there very best to help you out. Hope you get it sorted. If you are out of Warranty then there are places you can take it for the next service, however if it's Reading's fault they will own up. Where are you based? the other place I would have always recommended is MotoRapido but I went in there about a month ago and the sales guy didn't have the courtesy to even say hello. Maybe I didn't look like I can afford a Ducati? Also maybe Pro-Twins in Surrey, but again I have heard mixed stuff, some people rave, some not so. Either way, let us know how you get on, and when you go in there say hello to my Blue Triumph Daytona sat eagerly waiting for someone to buy it.
Wow ... Right... I am based in Swindon. I took it to Reading as my two main dealer choices were Reading or Bristol and when i rang Bristol i was on hold for gone 10minutes. The bike is not an evo model, was registered in'09 and has done 6000miles. Im not saying the throttle bodies dont need balancing but it has gone down hill fast and it worries me. It could just be coincidence that it happened just after the service... But the 4yr service covers a few of the major parts that make my engine a living moving piece of equipment so i want it checked. As for changing garages/technicians... The local guy i use i have known since i was a kid. He is very good at what he does but i just wanted to keep up the history. I know i have a reliable tech much closer to home who i will use on a regular basis.
if you live in Swindon then I would recommend JHS, I can't recommend them highly enough infact. James Holland has done all my suspension stuff and serviced my old Daytona and Ducati and they are always friendly and on the ball down there.
Lougi moto just outside bristol. Best bet other than a main dealer, I'm which case I'd recommend moto rapido or snells.
+1 for Louigi Moto. Rich treats your bike as if it was his! Bit of a get to find but well worth the effort!!
Lusty, Louigi Moto is the place to go and all those on here in the know will tell you the same. He is not far from JHS, SW of Bath at Clutton Hill and also is the tuning home of CJS - one of the best Ducati tuners. Both are occasionally on here, if you ask Rich nicely he may be able to drop your bike home for you, he really does treat your bike like his own and will do exactly what you ask him to (plus a lot more) for the best price. Whilst your bike is there consider having it acurately mapped and set up properly to see how much better it can go.
So... Just to update! Dealership weren't able to find the fault and wanted me to leave it with them for a couple of days so that they could swap parts from another 848 until they found the problem. I didn't allow that and took it home I emailed LOUIGI MOTO as suggested by you guys and Rich could not of been anymore helpful. he told me what the problem more than likely was, offered to collect and drop off the bike and gave me a rough cost too... I must say that so far i am impressed with customer service!
