NHTSA Complaint #10683812 — 2013 DUCATI MULTISTRADA 1200 ABS

THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN LEAVING MY HOUSE FOR A RIDE. I GOT TO THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY TO FIND OUT MY REAR BRAKE WENT FROM SOFT TO NONEXISTENT. NO RESISTANCE AT ALL. I COULD PUSH THE BIKE WHILE SEATED WITH ONE FOOT WHILE DEPRESSING THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL TOTALLY. AGAIN, NO BRAKING AT ALL. THANK GOODNESS I COVER THE FRONT BRAKE OR I WOULD HAVE ENDED UP IN THE BUSY STREET. IT PROVIDES NO STOPPING ASSISTANCE AT ALL; NO REAR BRAKE AT ALL. I AM ON MY 4TH "BRAKE BLEED" APPOINTMENT WITH THE DUCATI DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE SYSTEM BLED AND CHECKED. LOOKING AT TRADING THE BIKE IN AS THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS UNSATISFACTORY. LINKED BRAKES IN A SYSTEM THAT LOSES PRESSURE IS POINTLESS. THE NTSB SHOULD TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AS IT IS A LONG STANDING ISSUE WITH THE DUCATI MULTISTRADA MODEL. WITH THE REVAMPED 2013 MODEL, I WAS EXPECTING A BETTER PRODUCT, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I RIDE USING BOTH BRAKES BUT HAVE NO FAITH IN THE REAR BRAKE AS IT HAS QUIT ON ME 3 TIMES NOW, 2 WHILE MOVING AND ONE WHILE IT WAS SITTING THE GARAGE. CAN I LIVE WITH IT? YES, BUT WHY SHOULD I LIVE WITH A $20K, HIGH END MOTORCYCLE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED BRAKING COMPONENTS FUNCTIONAL? RIDING IS DANGEROUS ENOUGH, BUT HAVING A BIKE WITH FAULTY BRAKES IS SCARY. ANY ASSISTANCE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED NTSB. *TR