Just Ducati things...

[Hawkman]

Yes, I know that every bike make has it's foibles.

My latest discovery is that Ducati would very much like you to get your chain adjusted via the dealers. In order to adjust the chain on a 950 Multistrada, you need a 36mm 12 point socket and a torque wrench so you can tighten it up to a high setting (156Nm iirc - I've seen comments in another thread).

Anyone got any other joys of owning a bike that's made you wonder what the engineers were thinking? Any other particular joys I need to look forward to with Bologna's finest engineering?

[MrLongbeard]

Anyone got any other joys of owning a bike that's made you wonder what the engineers were thinking

IIRC I've got to remove my fuel tank to replace 2 of the 4 spark plugs on the Harley

[Skub]

On a first gen ZX10R the engine mounts need to be removed to access spark plugs 1 and 4,that's after removing tank,airbox,injectors and fairing. You may as well check valve clearances while you are there and you still need fingers like a spider monkey.

[weeksy]

Yes, I know that every bike make has it's foibles.

My latest discovery is that Ducati would very much like you to get your chain adjusted via the dealers. In order to adjust the chain on a 950 Multistrada, you need a 36mm 12 point socket and a torque wrench so you can tighten it up to a high setting (156Nm iirc - I've seen comments in another thread).

Anyone got any other joys of owning a bike that's made you wonder what the engineers were thinking? Any other particular joys I need to look forward to with Bologna's finest engineering?

156 is nothing. the 916/996/998 was a 46mm socket with 220Nm needed.

[Count Steer]

Is it a common thing to have to take the tank off to change the battery? (BMW R1150GS).

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Anyone got any other joys of owning a bike that's made you wonder what the engineers were thinking

IIRC I've got to remove my fuel tank to replace 2 of the 4 spark plugs on the Harley

Chevrolet made a car that you had to take the engine out to change the spark plugs.

[Mr Moofo]

To replace the rear plug on a Diavel, you have to take the side air intake pods off (5 bolts each), You have to take the petrol cap cover off. The top instruments display has to be unbolted and unplugged , the bottom display also has to come off in a same way.
The two side panels by the seat need taking off. And then you can hing the tank back and just about get space to take the plug out. But you also might need a special tool to do that as well.

it's just a tad stupid

[Gregor]

I’ve heard getting to the spark plugs on the new 700 Tenere is a lengthy job.... not what you want on an “adventure” bike.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Chevrolet made a car that you had to take the engine out to change the spark plugs.

That's pretty common on some supercars...get that massive engine in that tiny engine bay. Ferrari flat 12s are famous for it.

WRT to the OP, my 90's era Triumph Speed Triple with a single sided swingarm and a big nut is very similar (I know the Multi is not SSSA). In fact any bike with a SSSA and a single nut is gonna be like that, you'd got to do that big nut up tight! The VFR solution with 4 bolts is a smarter, if less sexy, idea. Fortunately in the Triumph's case a socket intended for breaking ball joints on a Metro is almost exactly the right size and way cheaper

To replace the plus in that bike you have to take the tank, coils and airbox off.

It's not really "stupid" per se. It's the compromise you have to make if you want to squeeze all that performance into something smaller and ligher. Big stiff frames, big airboxes, big throttle bodies, big bore cylinder heads, low weight...something has to give right? Being able to get to the plugs easily doesn't really sell a bike!

[Rockburner]

Is it a common thing to have to take the tank off to change the battery? (BMW R1150GS).

If you want mass centralisation then you have to make allowances,

Easy to change the plugs though!

[Count Steer]

Is it a common thing to have to take the tank off to change the battery? (BMW R1150GS).

If you want mass centralisation then you have to make allowances,

Pretty daft on a commonly replaced part though. I reckon they could have worked it out better. (Is it a common thing on other bikes? Never had to take the tank off on any others - but I didn't have to replace the battery on some).

[Gregor]

We all know the easiest bike to work on is the early BMW K yeah ?

[David]

Yes, I know that every bike make has it's foibles.

My latest discovery is that Ducati would very much like you to get your chain adjusted via the dealers. In order to adjust the chain on a 950 Multistrada, you need a 36mm 12 point socket and a torque wrench so you can tighten it up to a high setting (156Nm iirc - I've seen comments in another thread).

Anyone got any other joys of owning a bike that's made you wonder what the engineers were thinking? Any other particular joys I need to look forward to with Bologna's finest engineering?

Why would you not have a 36mm12point socket?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Chevrolet made a car that you had to take the engine out to change the spark plugs.

That's pretty common on some supercars...get that massive engine in that tiny engine bay. Ferrari flat 12s are famous for it.

WRT to the OP, my 90's era Triumph Speed Triple with a single sided swingarm and a big nut is very similar (I know the Multi is not SSSA). In fact any bike with a SSSA and a single nut is gonna be like that, you'd got to do that big nut up tight! The VFR solution with 4 bolts is a smarter, if less sexy, idea. Fortunately in the Triumph's case a socket intended for breaking ball joints on a Metro is almost exactly the right size and way cheaper

To replace the plus in that bike you have to take the tank, coils and airbox off.

It's not really "stupid" per se. It's the compromise you have to make if you want to squeeze all that performance into something smaller and ligher. Big stiff frames, big airboxes, big throttle bodies, big bore cylinder heads, low weight...something has to give right? Being able to get to the plugs easily doesn't really sell a bike!

It was the Monza with the big block V8 (7 litre), I think they only produced them so that it could race in a production based class.

[Count Steer]

We all know the easiest bike to work on is the early BMW K yeah ?

Err...yes

(Never did any work on the K1200LT or the K1200GT - just had them serviced )

Edit: But the early ones were the opposite of mass centralised!

[Hairybiker84]

Is it a common thing to have to take the tank off to change the battery? (BMW R1150GS).

If you want mass centralisation then you have to make allowances,

Pretty daft on a commonly replaced part though. I reckon they could have worked it out better. (Is it a common thing on other bikes? Never had to take the tank off on any others - but I didn't have to replace the battery on some).

Spark plugs are no longer considered a commonly replaced part - the ones on my Impreza are 60k miles (at least you can almost get to them!)

[Count Steer]

If you want mass centralisation then you have to make allowances,

Pretty daft on a commonly replaced part though. I reckon they could have worked it out better. (Is it a common thing on other bikes? Never had to take the tank off on any others - but I didn't have to replace the battery on some).

Spark plugs are no longer considered a commonly replaced part - the ones on my Impreza are 60k miles (at least you can almost get to them!)

True for spark plugs. I suppose it's not unreasonable to expect a battery to last 5 years or more. But it's a bit of a pain when one fails and you have to strip the tank off.

[Hairybiker84]

I had to change the clutch on my 1200GS, now that's a pain in the ass! And it had only done 18k

[Ditchfinder]

Blimey and I thought carbs off for an air filter change on my Sprint was a ballache!

[Horse]

We all know the easiest bike to work on is the early BMW K yeah ?

The old early 80s airhead R took about 30 seconds to get the tank off.
- raise seat
- disconnect rubber fuel hose
- undo at back of tank
- slide tank back off front bungs

But you only needed to for access to electrical bits (relays etc) along the frame spine.