What are the Italian's like to live with?

[Whosthedaddy]

I always imagine their bikes (like their *cars) are attractive and a little different from the norm but somehow not backed up with durability and quality and may be a little fragile over time. I dont mean just the Ducati, but what of the likes of Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Laverda, Benelli...

Are the service bills and availability of parts a nightmare once in the dealers hands.

This is in comparison to the likes of the more common Japanese counterparts.

Always fancied a little bit of something else or a little yesteryear exotica.

So, can you live with an Italian bike?









*Not super and hyper cars!
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Clanger]

If it's being given to me, I wouldn't say no, it'd be plain rude!
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[WishayKillie]

I can honestly say they (Ducati) are no harder to live with than any other manufacturer as far as I know. Build quality and craftsmanship are second to none IMO. For example the paint and decal on a Ducati compared to a Suzuki is far superior, how many people on here have made comments about the durability of their Suzuki paint work. I also had umpteen electrical problems with my Triumph and my 1098s has never missed a beat.
I think when people hear of a problem or recall on an Italian bike then everybody jumps on the bandwagon to slate them even though they have never owned one.
As for servicing I am very fortunate to have a fantastic dealership in the form of Ducati Glasgow, who are absolutely top notch and get nothing but positive reviews. If you have a look on any of the Ducati owners sites, Ducati up North, Ducatisti ... etc you'll see some of the praise they get.
Cost wise:
12month service 150-180 quid
24month service 180-210 quid
I don't have anything to compare that too, but to me that reasonable for a full factory service. Plus you also get cakes to eat in the shop.
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Current; 10' Aprilia Dorsoduro 750.
Previous; 05 Triumph Daytona 600, 08' Ducati 1098s.
"Needs a check-up, fae the neck up!"

[strag]

I have an Aprilia, Tuono. I've had various Jap bikes and tbh I have noticed no difference in terms of servicing, quality etc.

There are many more Jap bikes on the market so when Italian bikes go wrong the difference is far more noticeable.
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carbon bling

[Kickstart]

Hi

We have had a load of Italian 125s. Aprilias, Cagivas and Gileras. Build quality wise they are far better than the Japanese equivalents, but then they were also a lot more expensive (eg, an early AF1 was almost 50% more than a TZR125).

Reliabilty wise it varies. Engines have not been that reliable, but then not really anything with equivalent power / cc from Japan to compare them with. Electrically only had any major issues with the Gilera. On the Aprilias we have had issues with the earth wire to the clocks (Japanese clocks very similar to early GSXR ones on the early AF1, and the loom that breaks looks like it is part of the clocks), one failed regulator / rectifier, one failed stator and a crumbled connector to the regulator / rectifier.

Basically, difficult to compare but to me with the bikes we have had well within what is acceptable.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Seb]

It had few stupid little foibles but for the most part my old Aprilia Futura (effectively a Millie cross dressing as a Sprint ST) was pretty much impeccable, I had to call breakdown a couple of times but it was always simply down to the battery being flat rather than something properly serious.

Getting shot of it was a bit of a mistake really, it was more comfortable than most cars, had plenty of power and was more than happy to surprise a few far sportier bikes in the twisties. I'll most certainly be keeping my eyes out for another over the winter.

My biggest beef with it would have to have been the price of some spares, but then that was more down to the rarity of it than it being italian, even the CBX1000s outnumbered my Fut at last year's Megaride

It does seem to be the norm for Italian bikes to have their quirks and design flaws though, the Fut's biggest one was potentially very nasty, a plastic quick release connector on the fuel line located over the top of the engine that quite literally disintegrated from the inside out. 60 quid got me a beautifully machined replacement part shipped over. The OE part fell apart like tissue paper as I took it off (It had already snapped when the tank was moved). Moral of that story, do your homework and be prepared.
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[Whosthedaddy]

[blutonium92]

tbh, im not fussed if its Japanese or Italian. You will probably pay abit more on parts but there not hard to get by any means.
Reliability and quality seems to be the same, people criticize some Italian bikes saying they are unreliable. Most the time they are referring to 125s, the RSs and Mitos which of course are going to have reliability issues when people put BBKs on them or decide to put mineral oil in them so they blow.

My personal opinion is go for the bike you like the most. I always like bikes that are uncommon, just nicer see something other than the standard GSXRs, ninjas and R6s.
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Now - Ducati 748, Laverda 650 Sport
Had- 56 Aprilia RS50, 03 Aprilia RS50, Hond VFR 400 NC30, Aprilia RS250, Suzuki SV650

[hellkat]

Good cooks.
Great shags.
Good looking.

A bit up themselves, and mind out for those waving hands.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Part of the problem is that it becomes "fashionable" to slate some bikes and not fashionable to slate others.

While rarely a thread occurs about Ducatis without people saying about the electrics, yet how often when someone mentions an R6 does someone say about the dodgy gearbox, or with Hondas and dodgy regulator / rectifier units.

I have thought about the Tornados myself. Thought they were pig ugly at first but they have grown on me, performance is adequate, etc. There do appear to have been loads of reliability issues with them, but not sure how much of that is down to poor support from the original factory and / or poor support from the previous importers.

As to Italian bike spares, quite often been surprised how cheap they are, but it seems to vary. When Aprilias first came to the UK the spares prices were quite a bit cheaper than the Japanese makes, but the prices have gone up (while the bikes have barely gone up in price, maybe Aprilia have moved to reducing the prices of bikes and profiting from spares like the Japanese competition).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[MarkJ]

I've got an Aprilia RSV Mille and the build quality on it is miles better than my Honda Hornet. Everything on it is thought out much better, the quality of the components are far superior.

The parts aren't much more expensive than Jap parts, however if you're having to get them shipped out from Aprilia be prepared for a wait.

Seb, is the fuel connector an issue on the RSV? I haven't seen it mentioned on any of the RSV forums I'm on.

[patch]

ducati's for the money are a bag of shite.

[WishayKillie]

[MarkJ]

[rac3r]

125,000 miles...nuff said

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2001-DUCATI-MONSTER-600-BLACK-runs-well-but-needs-tlc_W0QQitemZ220440009920QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Motorcycles?hash=item33533f9cc0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A1|66%3A2|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A2|294%3A50
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[mrtEE]

[Seb]

[Blau Zedong]

The problem is that the Italians will unleash bikes on the public with faults the Japanese would piss themselves laughing at, i.e. the chain adjusters on early belt drive 900ss being unable to cope with a fast start or the early 748's, one of which destroyed it's valve gear within 3000 miles in the hands of one of the bike mags. To be fair though they do at least take on board and deal with faults rather than ignore them like in the 70's. I'd consider a 90's belt drive duc if the price was right.....
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[kawakid]

Isn't the main issue on the ability to get replacement parts.

Going back a couple of years, i've heard of people waiting months for Ducati parts.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[WishayKillie]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

When I had the Mille it was exactly the same as owning a Jap bike except for the crap sidestand and the quality of some of the little bolts wasn't as good as a jap bike. Apart from that it was awesome.
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[JAMSXR]

I have had an RS125 and now an RSV-R 1000.

The build quality on my RSV far better then both the K series Suzuki's I owned, and marginally better then my 05 636.

The black finish on the frame is a far better finish then all of the Jap bikes I have owned, which usually only takes a rubbing brake line to take off paint. There are also nice touches like clip on frame protectors which are located where your heels would usually rub up against the swing arm. Mechanically the bikes is sound and capable of racking up thousands of miles, I would however say it dose have it's niggles like a shit side stand and in some cases a weak back brake, although mine is fine. Depending on the model spares can also be pricey but it's the same for some Jap bikes, unfortunately for me a new rear wheel from Aprilia would cost over £2000!!!! Which is daft when you can get a decent RSVR for around £3000.

The feeling I get with Jap bikes is that they take neglection far better then an Italian bike. Most of the time Italian bikes need to be well maintained otherwise things start to go wrong, but I feel most of the Jap bikes I have owned would carry on running until the end of time!
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Honda SFX50 > Aprilia SR125 > Aprilia RS125 > Honda RFV400 > K4 GSXR600 > KTM Duke > C1H 636 > K3 GSXR1000 > Aprilia RSV-R > Triumph Street Triple R > Ducati 899 Panigale > Aprilia Tuono 1100 > Triumph Daytona 675R > KTM SuperDuke 1290 2.0

[MarkJ]

Jam, you can put a Fireblade sidestand on to make the sidestand a million times better. There's a post on rsvzone about it.

You need to take the back brake off and make sure the nipple is the highest point when bleeding it. Still shouldn't have to do it though.

[JAMSXR]

Cheers Mark, I have actually seen that article. BigHam also enlightened me to the fact the American sidestand assembly will bold straight on and is your more conventional sidestand.

Have you attached the modified yours yet?
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Honda SFX50 > Aprilia SR125 > Aprilia RS125 > Honda RFV400 > K4 GSXR600 > KTM Duke > C1H 636 > K3 GSXR1000 > Aprilia RSV-R > Triumph Street Triple R > Ducati 899 Panigale > Aprilia Tuono 1100 > Triumph Daytona 675R > KTM SuperDuke 1290 2.0

[MarkJ]

Nah, still using the shitty standard one. I really should get around to changing it.