2007 Ducati Multistrada 1100 S brought back to life

[JulesMaximus]

My good friend and riding buddy had been looking for a Ducati Multistrada 1100 S for a couple months and he finally found a nice one with low miles about a month ago. I took him up to see it and he ended up buying it and rode it home that day.

He parked it in his garage and started stripping it down because it needed some maintenance and a couple things addressed. Anyway, after a few weeks, a valve adjustment, new belts, new clutch slave cylinder and rear brake bled he fired it up yesterday for the first time since he brought it home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=276Naxc1kHc

I have no doubt that the work we did to get this bike sorted would have cost a couple grand at a Ducati dealership which is probably why the previous owner was selling it. Maintenance that costs 25% of the value of the bike is a tough pill to swallow.

Anyway, he has done the valves and belts on 2 air-cooled Ducatis now so he's getting pretty good at it. I helped him replace the clutch slave cylinder and bleed the rear brake (which is actually kind of tricky on these bikes). Between the 2 of us we have the tools and knowledge to do just about any routine maintenance on these bikes.

It still needs the chain cleaned and lubed and a new front tire.

 

[silicon]

are these ducatis maintenance hogs or will they give good performance for a reasonable time without a lot of fiddling?

 

[JulesMaximus]

are these ducatis maintenance hogs or will they give good performance for a reasonable time without a lot of fiddling?

The older air-cooled bikes are simpler and other than the valve adjustments/belt replacement they don't really require anymore maintenance than any other motorcycle. The 4 valve liquid-cooled bikes are definitely more expensive to maintain but the newer ones have longer maintenance intervals than the older bikes (15,000 miles between valve checks/belt replacement). Most Japanese bikes have 15,000 mile valve adjustment intervals too but seem to cost less for parts and are easier to work on.

If you put a lot of miles on your bike and take it to the dealer for service it will cost you a lot to keep it in excellent running order. Whether you do it yourself or take it to the dealer for service, you definitely need to stick to the manufacturer's recommended service schedule.

Ducatis are definitely more fiddly. Stupid crap like broken shift return springs and weak charging systems (mostly on earlier bikes) can sideline you from your riding.

 

[JulesMaximus]

By the way, the rear wheel nut on this bike is 46mm (which no B&M store will have in stock). I ordered one that is 46mm on one side and 41mm on the other, cost me almost $50 but will allow me to remove the nut on the right side of the bike, which is the one holding the rear wheel on. The 41mm is for the left side which holds the sprocket and carrier assembly on.

Torque on that 46mm nut is 176nm but at least now I can remove the wheels to have the tires replaced instead of having to take it to my local Ducati dealer every time I need a new tire. Difference between this bike and mine is I have to remove the mufflers to remove the rear wheel on my bike.

 

[twinrider1]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=276Naxc1kHc

And that sound, ladies and gentleman, is why inline engines blow and v-twins rock.

 

[theApp]

Desmoquattros and Testretta engines are basically as easy to work on as the 2V ones, only a little more electrical stuff. Belts and valves are the same techniques though, just a couple more shims to check the newer engines though need a bit more specialized tools.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Desmoquattros and Testretta engines are basically as easy to work on as the 2V ones, only a little more electrical stuff. Belts and valves are the same techniques though, just a couple more shims to check the newer engines though need a bit more specialized tools.

I know, but the dealership charges quite a bit more for a valve adjustment on the 4 valve motors. Friend of mine had a 1098 and it cost him over a grand for the valve adjustment/belt replacement (15,000 mile service) and he removed all the plastic before delivering the bike to the dealership for service.

And that sound, ladies and gentleman, is why inline engines blow and v-twins rock.

It does sound sweet!

 

[Fenixgoon]

it lives!!! sounds fun

 

[rstrohkirch]

And that sound, ladies and gentleman, is why inline engines blow and v-twins rock.

Guess I've been riding dirt bikes for too long now. The only bikes that sound good to me are 2 strokes and 4 stroke singles.

 

[deerslayer]

Cool bike.

 

[FiLeZz]

I have yet to take my 1098 in for service. Still hanging in on the 6800 mile marker. I have had a set of tires put on. I also have had 4 oil changes. and coolant changed.

The rectifier went out when it was about 4 months old it was a recall at the time.

My gas tank was replaced where the ethanol eat the plastic tank and it was leaking gas it was covered by Ducati.

One battery in the time of ownership since 2008.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I have yet to take my 1098 in for service. Still hanging in on the 6800 mile marker. I have had a set of tires put on. I also have had 4 oil changes. and coolant changed.

The rectifier went out when it was about 4 months old it was a recall at the time.

My gas tank was replaced where the ethanol eat the plastic tank and it was leaking gas it was covered by Ducati.

One battery in the time of ownership since 2008.

Did you have the replacement tank coated? Because they replaced bad tanks with basically the same tank so you will have this issue again if you didn't have it coated. The ethanol doesn't eat the plastic, it distorts, swells and/or warps it.

The tank on my Monster 1100 had swelled, it was stretching out the plastic painted panels that cover it to the point they may have split so Ducati replaced it under warranty. I paid $300 out of my pocket to have it coated so it won't expand again. Looking on the Pro Italia website (they have a pdf parts list for my bike) there have been 4 revisions of the fuel tank for my bike and it was manufactured in 2011 as a 2012 model.

How is the rear brake on your bike?

Dealerships rape you on service. Belts for my bike can be purchased for about $90 for the pair, they charge twice that at the dealership. The 15,000 mile service for my bike is about $900, it is just a valve adjustment and belt change. Yours will be well over $1000.

The 1098 isn't more difficult to service (just 4 more valves to check/adjust) but you have to remove all the plastics and put them all back on and that adds labor. I work with a guy who had a 1098 S and he removed all the plastics before taking it in for service. A lot of guys do that actually. Saves them some money.

 

[FiLeZz]

My plan was to get a carbon tank when I need the next tank.