2015 DUCATI MONSTER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

The rear brake on my Motorcycle failed before 500 miles. The dealer had to bleed extensively. It failed again a few months later. The second dealer bled it but refused to submit a warranty claim. It failed again and was bled on two occasions and warranty claims were submitted and it was rebled on both occasions with replacement of the master cylinder. The dealer kept the bike for several months checking the rear brake while in storage but not running, and the brake remained functional. When I picked the bike up and started riding it failed once again soon after I got it, demonstrating it to be heat related. It failed again and a fourth dealer bled it. I was informed that the bleeding procedure had been incorrect. Once again the brake failed within a few months. A fifth dealer bled the brakes when it was just out of warranty as a courtesy customer service. The problem recurred leaving me with a the same problem. I bled the brakes three times, each time restoring proper braking function. Each time it failed and each time the reservoir was full of dot 4 fluid, but the line was full of air. I bled the brake elevating the caliper upside down per manufacturer protocol. Approximately 18 months ago I rebled the brake using Castrol React SRF fluid with a dry boing point of 620 degrees. I also put heat shielding on the brake line where it was exposed to heat from the rear cylinder exhaust manifold. The brake has performed correctly since the modification. No warning lamp came on. The cause of the brake failure has been consistent on this model regardless of the brake line part number and is the result of inadequate shielding and the need for fluid with a higher boiling point. My bikes line will have to be replaced with the new part with a metal line around the exhaust and the heat shielding replaced due to heat stress. Loss of any braking function is a serious safety risk.

REAR BRAKES HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED. FRONT BRAKE REQUIRES PUMPING REPEATEDLY. BOTH THESE ARE WELL REPORTED IN ON-LINE DUCATI MONSTER FORUMS AS RECURRENT AND DANGEROUS PROBLEMS. DEALER DECLINES TO REMEDY SITUATION OTHER THAN TO BLEED BRAKES, THAT ACCORDING TO FORUMS WILL RECUR. SOME FORUMS SUGGEST THERE IS A MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATION TO REPLACE BANJO BOLTS WITH IMPROVED PART BUT NO REQUIREMENT FOR DEALER TOPERFORM THIS VITAL SAFETY FIX. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE

REAR BRAKE GOES TO ZERO EFFECTIVE STOPPING POWER OVER TIME REQUIRING A RE-BLEED OF THE SYSTEM...WITHIN 2 MONTHS IT BECOMES INEFFECTIVE AGAIN...AGAIN...AGAIN

THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM CONSISTENTLY AND FREQUENTLY ALLOWS AIR INTO THE SYSTEM AND RENDERS THE REAR BRAKE INEFFECTIVE. THE BRAKES REQUIRES BLEEDING AND ONCE THAT IS DONE THE BRAKE WORKS FOR A TIME. IF THE MOTORCYCLE IS NOT RIDDEN FOR A WEEK OR SO THIS SEEMS TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS OF AIR GETTING INTO THE SYSTEM. VEHICLE SPECIFIC INTERNET FORUMS REPORT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER.