Hypermotard is dead :-(

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Well, I've gotta say, this shift to Ducati hasn't been as plain sailing as I'd hoped:

Dropped it on my second day of ownership (slipping on gravel at home) - resulting in a broken right hand guard, scratched mirror and snapped brake lever.

Fixed the above and opted to fit shorty Titax levers... thought I had wound the adjustment screw out enough on the lever, test ride was ok, but riding to work the next day the front brakes lock on solid! Though thankfully I'd felt something coming and had slowed down and pulled over the the side of the road.

Starting issue developed when the temperatures dropped - starting took about 6-8 seconds of thumbing the starter, as you heard a very lethargic attempt to fire up... replaced the battery with a high torque version, and changed the plugs at the same time (new HiCap leads to arrive from the States still).

Then the day after fitting the new battery and finding she started up in under a second, I am riding home, get about 10 miles into my journey - give way at a roundabout and.... silence! The engine just dies, but the dash remained lit...

Couldn't get her started at the roadside, and nor could the recovery guy - he checked the bike over and fuel pump/battery were fine, eventually got the error 'PKUP' on the dash; had to be recovered home.

Spent yesterday tracing wires, checking connectors and cleaning them - no blown fuses, no error on the dash any more - but the bugger still won't fire up; the starter motor just tries and tries.

So I'm now waiting for a call from Ducati in Bristol, for an idea on whether they can get the bike in for fixing - but despite all this, I still love the thing to bloody bits, and can't wait to hear that noisy *** V twin again

 

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Is there a number after PKUP? Doing a search others report different numbers after that so seems like thats only half of the error code?

Afraid not - seems the sports bikes show 'PK.UP 34', pick up sensor from what I've read, but mine simply shows 'Error' and 'PKUP' on the bottom row

 

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I expect no less from Ducati ownership.

Same here actually But it's such a blitz on the senses, I'd probably forgive it sleeping with the Wife!

 

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That must be that legendary Ducati character

I'm sure I'll have a lovely glow in my heart, when I'm landed with a near grand bill!

Hopefully it won't be that much!

 

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its telling you to phone for a pickup standard ducati breakdown message


hopefully its something simple

Wouldn't surprise me

 

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Well, she was taken off to Ducati Bristol yesterday - the chap collecting her on behalf of Green Flag was actually keen on sorting it himself, which would have probably happened had he not got another job!

Bit more investigation was done before she was loaded into the van and taken away, and the guy found that there's no spark on the plugs - unfortunately the cabling for the coil/distributor/whatever it's called is under the tank - and isn't like a sports bike; it needs a bit more to take it off.

Oh well, hopefully it is simply a cable that's worked loose - I have heard rattling from the front for some time, but assumed it was an infill screw that was missing, and replaced it.

Expecting a fair bill, hopefully they wont take the wee wee with it, as their service for other things has always been brilliant, also asked them to removed a seized rear caliper bolt and repair the thread for the rear brake lever, in the hanger (damaged in the drop).

Here's hoping I will be on two wheels again soon - getting withdrawal and the sun keeps coming out to play!!!

 

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I would love a Ducati, but simply won't buy one because I know it will let me down at some point.

I wanted a 916 for years, then I realised I would only ever look it and not ride it.

To be fair, when I was going through i4s and then my Triple, I heard nothing but horror stories about Ducati's - but only ever saw one konk out (excluding mine now ) - that was an old 748 iirc; with some frankly appalling wiring and overheating issues.

Without researching it myself, I thought that getting a Ducati would mean instant breakdowns aplenty - hopefully this fear won't prove a reality during my time with the Hyper! But I have heard a lot of stories to the contrary and a lot about the newer bikes (1098, 848, 1198 etc etc) having longer service periods; due to being more reliable.

It's a tough call though, as you heart might be saying 'go' but your head 'no' - but for me at least, I'm glad I followed my heart... at the moment at least

 

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To investigate and replace failed crank sensor £221.48 inc vat (cause of my breakdown)
To repair thread to rear brake pedal mount inc timesert repair £87.38
To extract rear caliper bolt and fit new £43.20
To supply and fit rim tape £98.37

Erm... hopefully not too late to get that job taken off of the list

 

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Managed to get it off the list, so I'll give sticking it on myself another crack - can never seem to get it on properly; even with the applicator tool thingymajig!

Other than that, I'm happy to cough up the rest, I want my bike back, and should be at least able to get the cost of parts back from the dealer I got it from.