06 S2R 800, front fork mishaps

4545 Views 25 Replies 15 Participants Last post by skdmrks, Oct 28, 2006

Qfactor

Discussion Starter · Oct 4, 2006

all,

just a quick recap of the situation. Purchased a used S2R 800 from a local ducati dealership, low miles, decent price, great condition [thumbsup].

after a couple weeks, I started to feel the front end being inconsistant in its feel/feedback from one turn to another. Then I noticed a clunking coming from the front as well.

Quick phone call to a couple dealers, most likely the head bearings are loose, they need to be tightened (usually done @ 600mi service).

During my free time, I lift the front end off the ground and pull/push on it to feel any kinda of free play in the stem....nothing. weird.

take it to close by dealership, one of the mechs is someone I know, he checks out the bike and tells me that the front obviously has a dampening problem. Takes it for a spin around the block, comes back and tells me that my right side fork is either empty or very very low ??? :embarassed:

Dropped the bike off yesterday at above mentioned place. I call today to check up. they opened up the right fork and it's missing a bunch of parts, valve and nuts, upon closer inspection, it seems that those parts were never installed. The left fork is fine.

They are ordering parts but aren't sure of the ETA quite yet.

I rode hard, and sometimes really fast with some sketchy forks.... wow! :angel:

Q

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

theelmgren

· #2 · Oct 4, 2006

scary, glad nothing happened while you were riding... will the dealer eat this?

test-reg

· #3 · Oct 4, 2006

Parts? Dude, I'd be pushing for Ducati to replace the entire fork, at their cost.

Buzzi

· #4 · Oct 4, 2006

I upgraded my fork on my '05 M620. After removing the original fork, I compressed both fork legs to see the difference in compression with my new fork. One of the fork leg has damping, but the other fork leg just bounced up and down. I didn't see any leak from the bad fork leg and I didn't bother to open it and see if there're enough oil or missing parts. The bike only had 4000miles when I replaced them with fully adjustable fork. Too bad I didn't know it before I took them off the bike. I would had bring my bike into the dealer to get a warranty repair.

Buzzi

lifes_an_ocean

· #5 · Oct 4, 2006

Isn't the dealer supposed to check out the bike before selling it? Chances are they they sold it initially and serviced it too so they probably knew the bike but wow!! Missing parts in the front fork is a pretty glaring ommision! You are lucky to not be in a really bad way, man. EvilSteve is right, they owe you more than the replacement parts! And then some...

Qfactor

Discussion Starter · #6 · Oct 10, 2006

everything was covered under warranty, the dealer is doing the work as we speak. I mean, it only took 1.5 week to get it done.

they are replacing everything that could have worn abnormally due the missing parts.

Q

Supero100

· #7 · Oct 11, 2006

Buzzi said:
I upgraded my fork on my '05 M620. After removing the original fork, I compressed both fork legs to see the difference in compression with my new fork. One of the fork leg has damping, but the other fork leg just bounced up and down. I didn't see any leak from the bad fork leg and I didn't bother to open it and see if there're enough oil or missing parts. The bike only had 4000miles when I replaced them with fully adjustable fork. Too bad I didn't know it before I took them off the bike. I would had bring my bike into the dealer to get a warranty repair.

Buzzi

I've heard of this before, done on purpose at the factory. I guess the theory is that one fork will damp, the other will rebound, and the axle & triples will moderate the action of the two so you get roughly appropriate rebound & damping.

I wouldn't like that on my bike though

sconly

· #8 · Oct 11, 2006

has anyone considered that maybe the fork isnt missing any parts but instead Ducati decided to have one fork do all the dampening and the other one just used as a spring preload back up? I know it is a far fetched thought but I have seen it on Mountain Bike forks.

second I get the opportunity to work on a good amount of forks, I have never worked on Ducati forks though, anyway I have found that half the forks out there dont have half the amount of fluid in them that they should that is if your going by the specs in the service manual for that given bike. Plus they dont use synthetic oil so it sludges up real quick, fork oil should be changed at a minimum of every two seasons in my book providing you actually do a decent amount of riding.

Qfactor

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 19, 2006

Alright latest update:

I got to look at the internals that came out of the forks compared to the new ones sent from DNA. Totally different parts, the ones removed from the forks are completely unknown by any of the ducati mechanics at the shop.

They ordered all new internals and caps from DNA. Those showed up a week later with the wrong caps. Another week later the correct caps show up.

After they thought they had it all set and on it's way. The P/Ns for the internals didn't match what should be in an S2R. They need the bike to change everything again. I have to wait another week before the new parts come in.

I am very very upset with Ducati at this point. I had bought the monster as my primary transportation, I have been vehicle less for 3 weeks now.

I wrote an email to DNA this morning as soon as I heard from the dealership.

waiting on the reply, will post step by step info.

Q

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test-reg

· #10 · Oct 19, 2006

I'm sorry to hear you're having problems gfactor, keep us informed. Good luck.

krista_k

· #11 · Oct 19, 2006

If you're firm but very polite, there's a chance Ducati can get you a bike to borrow in the interim. Barring that, I can loan/sell you my OEM S2R forks. Some trick S4R forks found their way onto my S2R.

Stick with it, the S2R is a wonderful motorcycle. TWO people close to me rode mine and then had to go buy one of their own. One bought 2.

;D

Best luck with it all ...
Chris

qfactor said:
Alright latest update:

I got to look at the internals that came out of the forks compared to the new ones sent from DNA. Totally different parts, the ones removed from the forks are completely unknown by any of the ducati mechanics at the shop.

They ordered all new internals and caps from DNA. Those showed up a week later with the wrong caps. Another week later the correct caps show up.

After they thought they had it all set and on it's way. The P/Ns for the internals didn't match what should be in an S2R. They need the bike to change everything again. I have to wait another week before the new parts come in.

I am very very upset with Ducati at this point. I had bought the monster as my primary transportation, I have been vehicle less for 3 weeks now.

I wrote an email to DNA this morning as soon as I heard from the dealership.

waiting on the reply, will post step by step info.

Q

Qfactor

Discussion Starter · #12 · Oct 19, 2006

I love the S2R and the Duc bikes in general.

but I am $300 in the hole spent in rental cars, I have missed 2 weekends of the most beautiful riding in New England.

It's just very very depressing knowing that you buy a new bike to have less problems and just ride it without doubts, just to have the bike in the shop for almost 3 weeks.

On a side note: I discussed this with a legal adviser who explained to me how the lemon law works in MA. If the vehicle isn't returned to the owner within 15 open business days, I can legally get a refund or a replacement bike.

I talked with Eastern Cycle Ducati, they don't have loaner bikes (physically) and I also asked them for maybe just loaner forks, which they don't have either, just what is on the new S2R on the showroom floor. No goo either.

Chris,

where are you located w/ those stock forks?

Q

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Charlief

· #13 · Oct 19, 2006

WOW....now I have heard this before from another local guy. I believe his DML handle is Jammen. He has since moved to CA. I only met him a couple times at a local hang out (MM) and he told me that his 620 had always felt a little light in the front end. This kid rode ALOT....like 30K miles in a 18 months...something like that.

Any way...he brought his bike to the dealer (BCM) to get some suspension upgrades and upon taking the front apart ...one tube had little or no oil in it....I'm not sure about the hard parts. I'm typing this all from memory but I'm sure thats the story.

Eastern Cycle does all my work and I'm happy with them.

C

krista_k

· #14 · Oct 20, 2006

qfactor said:
Chris,
where are you located w/ those stock forks?
Q

San Diego. But for forks, I'm only a ups truck and a few days away.

Jammen

· #15 · Oct 20, 2006

Charlief said:
WOW....now I have heard this before from another local guy. I believe his DML handle is Jammen. He has since moved to CA. I only met him a couple times at a local hang out (MM) and he told me that his 620 had always felt a little light in the front end. This kid rode ALOT....like 30K miles in a 18 months...something like that.

Any way...he brought his bike to the dealer (BCM) to get some suspension upgrades and upon taking the front apart ...one tube had little or no oil in it....I'm not sure about the hard parts. I'm typing this all from memory but I'm sure thats the story.

Good memory man. [thumbsup]

Yeah, I had the same deal with my '05 620 front end. Always felt a bit soft in the front, figured it was just under sprung. When I took it to BCM they had never seen the cartridge setup before, one fork was doing rebound, and the other was doing nothing. [cheeky]
Eric had to make a bunch of phone calls before DNA could even give him the correct part number for the replacement cartridge. Once the new bits were swapped in the bike felt soooo much better!

If you're still having issues you may be able to call Eric up at BCM for the correct part numbers and such. Just tell him there's another screwball 620 on the loose. [laugh]

Qfactor

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 20, 2006

Nope, in this case it's both forks are doing dampening, but they were both oddball internals??? not from a 620, not from a 750, not from anything ducati.

Bravo Ducati Bravo [clap]

Q

bobspapa

· #17 · Oct 20, 2006

People pay extra for baseball cards that have mistakes on them...... A set of f'ed up Ducati forks should be worth quite a pretty penny.

They must have built yer bike the day AZ_? visited.

RobJohn3

· #18 · Oct 20, 2006

This really sucks....I sure hope DNA helps you out.

Rob

Qfactor

Discussion Starter · #19 · Oct 26, 2006

Well, ;D

I got the bike back, finally.... 14 days out of 15 to qualify it as a melon.

It's all set now, the dealership apologized even tho they had nothing to do with this.

I am still awaiting some kind of reply from DNA, I sent them a couple emails and left some phone messages... I am pretty disappointed, I expected at least a returned email or something.

Just a heads up to all S2R 800 guys, There IS an error in the DNA database concerning the fork internals. If you are have to order fork internals or related parts make sure to tell your dealer to double check all part numbers...

that's all, back to motoring...

Q

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krista_k

· #20 · Oct 26, 2006

Cool, glad to hear you're sorted!

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