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Max Sluiter
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Welded Aluminum is not that great either. There was a TSB or recall for these:
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1971 911S, 2.7RS spec MFI engine, suspension mods, lightened Suspension by Rebel Racing, Serviced by TLG Auto, Brakes by PMB Performance |
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10-12-2011, 09:53 AM
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Registered ConfUser
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Waterlogged
Posts: 23,842
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The 900ss/cr/sp bikes get frame cracks at the steering head and pull head studs like 911's. BMW (bikes) have fueling and clunky gear boxes. None of which affect
every bike. Fill a plastic tank with ethanol gas and let it sit in a humid garage, the alcohol will absorb water that will leach into and distort the plastic liner. I'm fortunate to have a pure-gas source 2 miles from home which should minimize the risk. |
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10-12-2011, 11:10 AM
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Former Options Trader !!!
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Bucks County PA
Posts: 6,757
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As usual with anything I could not resist taking the thing apart. After 2 months of dodging rain storms and 1000 miles on the Duc I started pulling it apart last night. I had some steam coming off the bottom end when I started the bike each evening and I cant find the source of the condensation which burns off right away so now I have a totally naked ST4 which I find pretty cool. I may have to relocate the battery and run it as a naked bike for a while. If I could only figure out how to get it into my living room for the winter you would not recognize it after the winter was over.
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Current:88 Guards Red Coupe, 89 Coupe Track Rat, 76 Caddy Eldo Convert. 2015 Aprilia Tuono Wrecked 1987 Targa Guards Red, 2003 Ducati ST4S Sold 1987 Granite Green Targa, 993's, 93 RSA, other 964 coupes, 89 911 Turbo Ruf mods, 90 e30 M3, 07 BMW R1200S STOLEN 94 Speedster |
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10-12-2011, 11:34 AM
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I see you
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: NJ
Posts: 30,079
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like this?
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Si non potes inimicum tuum vincere, habeas eum amicum and ride a big blue trike. "'Bipartisan' usually means that a larger-than-usual deception is being carried out." |
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10-12-2011, 03:44 PM
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winter-hater club member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: salt lake city, utah
Posts: 24,705
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Quote:
d.
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2000 Corvette - ????, 2007 Buell XB9R - Astrid, 1996 Discovery - Piglet, 2000 Forester "COOL PRIUS!" - Nobody Ever |
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10-12-2011, 05:25 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Mid-life crisis, could be anywhere
Posts: 10,382
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My Hypermotard has a plastic tank.
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'95 993 C4 Cabriolet Bunch of motorcycles |
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10-12-2011, 05:32 PM
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All the sport classics have a plastic tank. I had the tank replaced twice on my Paul Smart. The second time it was coated on the inside first. But, ive heard that even the coated tanks are starting to warp and that Ducati is pretty much done replacing them on their dime......I know retail on my tank is $1800......
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Michael |
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10-12-2011, 06:45 PM
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winter-hater club member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: salt lake city, utah
Posts: 24,705
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oh, that sucks. any idea on a 749 tank?
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2000 Corvette - ????, 2007 Buell XB9R - Astrid, 1996 Discovery - Piglet, 2000 Forester "COOL PRIUS!" - Nobody Ever |
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10-12-2011, 06:53 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Mid-life crisis, could be anywhere
Posts: 10,382
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All Superbikes should have a metal tank.
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'95 993 C4 Cabriolet Bunch of motorcycles |
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10-12-2011, 06:54 PM
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Registered
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Not sure about any of the superbikes. Oh there ya go
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Michael |
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10-12-2011, 06:56 PM
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Driver
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Regarding the tank issues: I have a buddy with a 1098R and an 848. I think he may have had to have one of the tanks replaced. I'll give him a call tomorrow to double check. I don't think his 999R (which he had previous to the 1098) had a plastic tank, so I'd guess a 749 should be metal, as well. His Bostrom certainly was metal.
IIRC Ducati started sourcing plastic tanks somewhere around '04. Acerbis actually makes them for Ducati. Perhaps not every tank will deform--I've got a buddy trying to sell me his Paul Smart replica with 600 miles on it who has a perfect tank--but it's certainly an epidemic here in America; at least there seems to be a lot of internet vitriol against the factory. Some class action lawsuit was settled recently. I don't recall the details, but the internet consensus seems to be that the only ones who made out on the deal were the lawyers. Another buddy who used to own a Ducati dealership (BCM) is pretty ticked off. He feels this is something swept under the rug by Ducati. Like Mr. Marsh has indicated, replacement tanks go for almost $1900. So far, Ducati is good-faith warranting them. But that'll last only so long, I'd imagine. After all, they stopped warranting the cracked 900SS frames around 2006...when they started picking up the tab for replacing deforming plastic tanks. And even if it's a "free" new tank, there's the hassle and time involved in leaving your bike with a dealer, having the dealer ship the bad tank back to Italy, and waiting for a new tank to arrive for installation. You can coat the insides of the tank with some Caswell product (at your cost--not Ducati's). But there have been one or two guys (who have had it done professionally)...and their coated replacement tanks have started to warp, too. At least that's what I've heard from Pro Italia. The solution is to avoid ethanol. But in Kalifornia, for example, that's realistically impossible. Fortunately the OP has a local source of pure gasoline. I don't, so I made a deliberate decision to go with a metal-tanked bike. Plus, my tank bag is magnetic.
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1987 Venetian Blue (looks like grey) 930 Coupe 1990 Black 964 C2 Targa Last edited by Noah930; 10-13-2011 at 12:26 AM.. |
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10-13-2011, 12:21 AM
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: atlanta
Posts: 1,982
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All the 749-999 bikes are metal tanks. Plastic tank monsters have it the worst because when the tank enlarges there is very little room front to rear and you are left with a tank you cannot latch down. Sport Classics can have the front mounts spaced out with washers to make the tank fit tightly again.
Since this thread is getting "enhanced" with other people's Italian bikes... here's mine.  To the original poster: I see you are in Georgia, I've been a professional Ducati mech since the late '90's if you are looking for someone to service or modify your new monster. |
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10-13-2011, 07:07 AM
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And we wont start on the valve guide issue. Thats another bomb thats awaiting low milage bike owners. That will only set you back about 3 k on your dime....
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Michael |
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10-13-2011, 10:25 AM
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Slackerous Maximus
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 18,232
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Quote:
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2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 2012 Harley Davidson Road King 2014 Cayman S, PDK Mercedes E350 family truckster Steam locomotive. Yes, you read that right. |
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10-13-2011, 10:35 AM
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Slackerous Maximus
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 18,232
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I've had 3 Ducati, and none of the problems anyone has mentioned. But I have heard the tank issues are a real problem. You would think they could come up with a tank lining solution that would last.
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2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 2012 Harley Davidson Road King 2014 Cayman S, PDK Mercedes E350 family truckster Steam locomotive. Yes, you read that right. |
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10-13-2011, 10:39 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Mid-life crisis, could be anywhere
Posts: 10,382
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My Aprilia RS250s have plastic fuel tanks, and they are also prone to expanding and leaking, although it hasn't happened to me in nearly 10 years of ownership.
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'95 993 C4 Cabriolet Bunch of motorcycles |
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10-13-2011, 11:24 AM
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Quote:
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10-13-2011, 11:29 AM
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1971 Porsche 911S
72 Porsche 911T 3.2 
V70R
Ducati
1987 Porsche 930 3.3T
1979 Porsche 911SC 3.0
