Are Ducati Monsters expensive to maintain?
Ahhhhh. That is the perpetual question. So let's say up front, they cost more and need more TLC than your typical Japanese bike. How much more depends on where you live, whether you do some of the work yourself, and whether you own a 2 valve (M600->M1000) or a 4 valve (S4, S4R) bike. As with any bike you'll find owners who report nothing but trouble, but the vast majority of folks on this board have solid, trouble free bikes that they maintain scrupulously.

The good news is Monsters are relatively simple bikes and if you're mechanically inclined you should be able to do a lot of the work yourself.

Here's a rough estimate on the scheduled intervals and costs (2V motor):

• 600 Mile service - somewhere between $125 and $350. Most listers recommend that it include a valve clearance check which will put it at the higher end of the range
• 6,000 Mile service - roughly between $450 and $600
• 12,000 Mile service - about $550 to $700 - all the stuff in a 6K service plus cam belts
• Again, 4 Valve motors (S4 and S4R) will be 20-40% higher on the 6 and 12K services.

Each year and model will differ slightly, but for example, here is a simplified list of my bike's maintenance items:

Oil Changes
Even though the manual states oil changes every 6,000 miles most folks on this board do them every 2,000 to 3,000 miles. Once you have the tools (you may already) the parts and oil should run about $25. See the Oil Survey and the step by step Oil Change FAQ for more.