2014 DUCATI HYPERMOTARD — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT AT LOW SPEED THE BIKE SEEMED TO BE DRAGGING WITH VERY LITTLE FREE MOMENTUM. UPON INSPECTION THE REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. AFTER DISMOUNTING THE CAUSE OF THE FLAT WAS DISCOVERED TO BE THAT THE TIRE VALVE STEM WAS SHEARED COMPLETELY OFF BY THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER, WHICH HAD DETACHED WHILE THE BIKE WAS IN MOTION AND IMPACTED THE VALVE STEM. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT THIS OCCURRED AT VERY LOW SPEED AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE REAR CALIPER HAS NEVER BEEN SERVICED SO THE BOLTS WERE INSUFFICIENTLY TORQUED PRIOR TO CUSTOMER SALE, EITHER AT THE FACTORY OR THE DEALER. PHOTOS ARE ATTACHED.

THE MOTORCYCLE IS THE HYPERSTRADA MODEL WITH A FACTORY INSTALLED CENTER STAND. THE LEFT SIDE CENTER STAND ATTACHMENT BOLT LOOSENED AND FELL OUT WHILE RIDING. THE BOLT RETENTION WAS NOT SUFFICIENT AND IT WORKED IT'S WAY LOOSE AFTER 1.5 YEARS. THE ENTIRE CENTER STAND DROPPED TO WITHIN 3-5 MM OF THE DRIVE CHAIN. IF IT WOULD HAVE CONTACTED IT WHILE RIDING AT SPEED THE REAR WHEEL COULD HAVE LOCKED UP. A TEMPORARY BOLT WAS INSTALLED BY THE OWNER TO PREVENT ANY SAFETY ISSUES.

INCIDENT DESCRIBED IN UPLOADED PHOTO. JUST PICKED BIKE UP FROM DEALER FROM RECALL THROTTLE PROBLEM. DAMAGE RESULTED. CONTACT INFO.

SAT. 5 AUG 2015 AFTER A 15,000 MILE SERVICE, RIDING ABOUT 240 MILES THE BIKE SUDDENLY STARTED ACTING STRANGE. THE DCT LIGHT FLASHED FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THE BIKE BUCKED ERRATICALLY. I STOPPED, AND SWITCHED IGNITION OFF, THEN STARTED UP AGAIN. IT STARTED NORMALLY. AFTER A FEW (50?) YARDS THE DCT AGAIN FLASHED MULTIPLE TIMES, AND THE ABS AND DCT BOTH TURNED THEMSELVES OFF. RESTARTING AGAIN, THE BIKE SEEMED NORMAL FOR A HALF MILE OR SO, THEN THE BIKE WENT INTO A SLOW DRIVING MODE AND WOULD NOT GET ANY SPEED. CALLING THE SHOP -THE TECH MANAGER ADVISED ME THEY HAD NO WAY TO PICK UP THE BIKE, AND I SHOULD RIDE IT IN (ABOUT 200 MILES). I WAS TAKING OFF FROM A STOP IN SLOW-MODE WHEN THE DCT FLASHED, AND THE SLOW MODE DISENGAGED SUDDENLY CAUSING THE BIKE TO LUNGE SUDDENLY (A LOT LIKE A TWO STROKE MIGHT DO FULL THROTTLE) - I PULLED A KNUCKLE JOINT BUT MANAGED TO HOLD ON AND CONTROL WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A FALL INTO ACCELERATING TRAFFIC FROM THE LIGHT. THEN THE 'CHECK ENGINE LAMP WAS ON UNTIL I MADE IT ANOTHER 10-20 MILES OR SO TO THE SHOP. THE SHOP SAID THAT THE RETAINING CLIP ON THE SPEED SENSOR WIRE HAD COME LOOSE (IT'S A 'C' CLAMP MADE OF NYLON) AND THE WIRE WAS RUBBING THE ROTOR, UNTIL IT SHORTED AND CONFUSED THE COMPUTER. BECAUSE THE IS A THROTTLE-BY-WIRE CONTROLLED ENGINE, THAT WIRE AND CLIP SHOULD BE BETTER SAFEGUARDED. I HAVE ADDED A ZIP-TIE TO KEEP IT IN PLACE MORE SECURELY. THIS SHOULD BE RETROFITTED TO ALL THESE MACHINES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. ALSO, ANY PROBLEM PLACING A BIKE INTO SLOW-MODE SHOULD ONLY BE RE-SET BY THE TECH AT THE SHOP. IT SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SELF-CANCEL - THAT'S POTENTIAL DEATH.

SAT. 5 AUG 2015 AFTER A 15,000 MILE SERVICE, RIDING ABOUT 240 MILES THE BIKE SUDDENLY STARTED ACTING STRANGE. THE DCT LIGHT FLASHED FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THE BIKE BUCKED ERRATICALLY. I STOPPED, AND SWITCHED IGNITION OFF, THEN STARTED UP AGAIN. IT STARTED NORMALLY. AFTER A FEW (50?) YARDS THE DCT AGAIN FLASHED MULTIPLE TIMES, AND THE ABS AND DCT BOTH TURNED THEMSELVES OFF. RESTARTING AGAIN, THE BIKE SEEMED NORMAL FOR A HALF MILE OR SO, THEN THE BIKE WENT INTO A SLOW DRIVING MODE AND WOULD NOT GET ANY SPEED. CALLING THE SHOP -THE TECH MANAGER ADVISED ME THEY HAD NO WAY TO PICK UP THE BIKE, AND I SHOULD RIDE IT IN (ABOUT 200 MILES). I WAS TAKING OFF FROM A STOP IN SLOW-MODE WHEN THE DCT FLASHED, AND THE SLOW MODE DISENGAGED SUDDENLY CAUSING THE BIKE TO LUNGE SUDDENLY (A LOT LIKE A TWO STROKE MIGHT DO FULL THROTTLE) - I PULLED A KNUCKLE JOINT BUT MANAGED TO HOLD ON AND CONTROL WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A FALL INTO ACCELERATING TRAFFIC FROM THE LIGHT. THEN THE 'CHECK ENGINE LAMP WAS ON UNTIL I MADE IT ANOTHER 10-20 MILES OR SO TO THE SHOP. THE SHOP SAID THAT THE RETAINING CLIP ON THE SPEED SENSOR WIRE HAD COME LOOSE (IT'S A 'C' CLAMP MADE OF NYLON) AND THE WIRE WAS RUBBING THE ROTOR, UNTIL IT SHORTED AND CONFUSED THE COMPUTER. BECAUSE THE IS A THROTTLE-BY-WIRE CONTROLLED ENGINE, THAT WIRE AND CLIP SHOULD BE BETTER SAFEGUARDED. I HAVE ADDED A ZIP-TIE TO KEEP IT IN PLACE MORE SECURELY. THIS SHOULD BE RETROFITTED TO ALL THESE MACHINES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. ALSO, ANY PROBLEM PLACING A BIKE INTO SLOW-MODE SHOULD ONLY BE RE-SET BY THE TECH AT THE SHOP. IT SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SELF-CANCEL - THAT'S POTENTIAL DEATH.