NHTSA Complaint #11398804 — 2014 DUCATI MULTISTRADA 1200

MOTORCYCLES REAR BRAKE POWER IS VERY POOR AND IN MANY REPORTED CASES NON-EXISTANT. THE REAR BRAKE IS SO WEAK AS TO BE NORMALLY INCAPABLE OF EVEN ACTIVATING THE ABS SYSTEM AT THE REAR WHEEL. STOPPING THE MOTORCYCLE USING THE REAR BRAKE IS EFFECTIVELY IMPOSSIBLE IN NORMAL TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. I HAVE A DEGREE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND HAVE BEEN A MOTORCYCLE RIDER FOR OVER 50 YEARS. I AM QUALIFIED AND ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THIS REAR BRAKE AS POORLY DESIGNED AND INCAPABLE OF PRODUCING PROPER STOPPING POWER. THE BRAKE HAS BEEN PROPERLY BLED, ABS SYSTEMS PROPERLY PRIMED AND BLED, ONLY THE HIGHEST QUALITY BRAKE FLUIDS HAVE BEEN USED (I.E. CASTROL SRF), THE VERY POOR BRAKING POWER PERSISTS. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE MOTORCYCLES AND IS DISCUSSED IN LENGTH ON PUBLIC FORUMS WHERE OWNERS ARE TRYING TO FIND A FIX. NO SUITABLE FIX TO THE EXISTING SYSTEM IS KNOWN TO MY KNOWLEDGE OR SUBSTANTIAL RESEARCH. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION.