Quote from: cdc on September 30, 2008, 09:52:37 PM
Bonnie,

I don't know if your clutch problem was worse than mine on the ST4S during the AR trip.  It was impossible to find neutral when I came to a stop but as I was rolling to a stop, if I had enough room, I was able to get neutral.  Bleeding the brakes solved my problem for now.  I'll have to ride it some more to see if the problem comes back.

cdc

Wow, didn't know you were having that problem on the trip....sorry..... .  I usually kick the bike into neutral when slowing to a stop, but the 1098 was having none of that.  I thought about turning around and changing bikes, but I didn't have time, and I really didn't want to get off the bike (sometimes I have self-control problems......who knew?? )  Anyway, we'll try and bleed the clutch again and hopefully that will help. l am glad your bike is running well now!  How's the monster?  I have a ducati performance, carbon fiber, front fairing you are welcome to use if you would like - it's the shorter one though...just let me know!

Quote from: Bonwilder on September 30, 2008, 10:07:37 PM
Wow, didn't know you were having that problem on the trip....sorry..... .  I usually kick the bike into neutral when slowing to a stop, but the 1098 was having none of that.  I thought about turning around and changing bikes, but I didn't have time, and I really didn't want to get off the bike (sometimes I have self-control problems......who knew?? )  Anyway, we'll try and bleed the clutch again and hopefully that will help. l am glad your bike is running well now!  How's the monster?  I have a ducati performance, carbon fiber, front fairing you are welcome to use if you would like - it's the shorter one though...just let me know!

Over the years, I have had a list of troubles with my Ducs and maintenance cost are tempered only by the fact that I only put maybe 6K - 7k miles on all of them.  So when distributed among the three, it is less painful.  I had a ZX6R which was as fast as my first 916 and easier to ride but the Duc held a promise that if I mastered it, all would be right in my world.  14 yrs later, I am still trying. 

The ST4S on the AR trip had the clutch problem which I was afraid would ruin the whole trip but it held together.  Every morning I would talk to the bike and tell her how proud I was that she had held up and to please start today.  On the last day Monday, Patrick was standing beside me when I thumbed the starter and she did not fire up.  I thought I was toast.  But I wispered to her and she finally started up and the my day was once again made. 

Ducs have issues and I understand people being upset when they pay so much and the bike doesn't work like they have come to expect their refrigerators to.  Over the past ten years, I have come to expect all of it.  But owning another brand just doesn't interest me.

On the Monster, the estimate came back as $4,4** to put Humpty back together again.  My deductable is $1K.  I've been burning the phone lines to Indy and my insurance.  I'd like to get this off my plate by Friday before I leave town but I am not hopeful. 

cdc

cdc

Bleed it again - mine did it around 6500 miles and it took quite a bit of bleeding to feel like it was full again.  I was having to hit the kill switch at stoplights to avoid rolling through intersections.  Strange thing is that it went from not a problem to "no clutch" on a hot afternoon ride and I haven't had trouble from it since. 

Well, until last Friday, when I was heading out I-30 last week about 9:30 pm at around 85mph and all of the lights went out.  Coming in off the highway with no signals, brakelights - nothing but the moon to guide me was no fun    I'm thinking loose battery cables again.

Quote from: IZ_keith on October 01, 2008, 03:57:52 PM
about 9:30 pm at around 85mph and all of the lights went out.  Coming in off the highway with no signals, brakelights - nothing but the moon to guide me was no fun    I'm thinking loose battery cables again.

what did you find out?

Quote from: IZ_keith on October 01, 2008, 03:57:52 PM
Well, until last Friday, when I was heading out I-30 last week about 9:30 pm at around 85mph and all of the lights went out.  Coming in off the highway with no signals, brakelights - nothing but the moon to guide me was no fun    I'm thinking loose battery cables again.

   Big Pucker Moment! Glad you're OK! Any luck with a fix?

Go pop for an aftermarket clutch slave (Evoluzione, etc.). You need to bleed it anyway so you might as well upgrade to a more powerful clutch slave. It will also reduce the clutch lever effort by 20-25%. It was some of the best $$$ I have spent on my Ducs... other than gas. [moto]

+1

Quote from: pipeliner1978 on October 02, 2008, 08:27:50 AM
what did you find out?

I found out that I really needed to get those new tires on the Monster and park it until I get a chance to take it in    The Monster has been neglected for the past 6 weeks.  Maybe the bike is telling me it "needs a break" and I should ride other bikes...

I had one of the original 1098 lot with bad starters and it happened the first time after that was replaced about a year ago - loose crimping on the battery connections, I believe.  On the way home last week, it happened a couple more times on 75 again - this time behind a 40mph landscaping truck - seriously, who the F landscapes after 9pm on a Friday??  I found that revving the engine rattles the connection to bring it back on temporarily - and nothing scares cars more than that noise followed by sudden evil eye headlights behind you.

Now, if I had an on/off switch for it - that might be fun  ...and a red light going back and forth across the front...

Quote from: L'Smart on October 02, 2008, 01:25:04 PM
   Big Pucker Moment! Glad you're OK! Any luck with a fix?

Mag Lite and Duc Tape - mounted on the bottom of the fairing to give it that "ground effects kit" look.  I tried neon but it only lights the area underneath.  Next mod is a subwoofer under the seat then I can hang with the NOPI kids.