I hope I didn't get a lemon

[sfarchie]

The amber light on the upper left side is the EOBD engine diagnostics light. According to the manual, a steady light indicates errors leading to engine lock.

I just checked with my dealer and he said it could be a vacuum leak, so bring it in and have your dealer check it out.

[causeofkaos]

At 400 miles i had a similair nightmare with my 696 when that light comes on you can use the mode button and it will take you to (like u said) a diagnostic screen. If you cant duplicate the problem dealer will be able to tell you what the prob. was after they hook up to the computer. You didn't get a lemon as my service writer said to me " its a brand new model consider yourself a pioneer "

[Old-Duckman]

" its a brand new model consider yourself a pioneer "

That statement would have made me angry. I'm sure he meant it as a joke but a brand new bike should act brand new...no troubles!

Get the bike back to the dealer, don't accept any BS excuses till the bike runs as it should.

I agree that you usually have to learn how the bike wants to be started but warming up till the "lo" temp shuts off or more than a half minute or so should not be necessary for any well sorted out motorcycle.

When the dealer calls you and tells you it is ready to pick up, tell him not to start it prior to you getting there and you start it with him standing by...have your gear and go for a ride. If it still gives you trouble, leave it there and let him know that you don't wanted called again till the thing is right.

[Popeye the Sailor]

That statement would have made me angry. I'm sure he meant it as a joke but a brand new bike should act brand new...no troubles!

Brand new model and brand new bike and you think it'd be trouble free?


Most new models, for cars, bike, etc, come with some problems. This is nothing new-it's part of the inherent risk one takes when they buy something never ever built before. Even the D16 has a recall. Want trouble free? Buy something they've made for four-five years and worked the bugs out on.

[yotogi]

I am still curious if the OP was using the fast idle lever...

[Old-Duckman]

Brand new model and brand new bike and you think it'd be trouble free?


Most new models, for cars, bike, etc, come with some problems. This is nothing new-it's part of the inherent risk one takes when they buy something never ever built before. Even the D16 has a recall. Want trouble free? Buy something they've made for four-five years and worked the bugs out on.

An excuse and I don't buy it.

Lack of quality control, rushing to market with a model that should have undergone further testing and development.

I love my Ducatis but I think Ducati is lacking in the area of bringing products to market before the bugs are worked out...I picked up my S2R1000 in Dec. of 05 and had many problems. Most were covered under warranty. I say most because I feel that Ducati has still not addressed the O2 sensor problems.

I want something trouble free when I pay $10 grand plus for a new motorcycle...I don't really think that is asking too much.

[Popeye the Sailor]

An excuse and I don't buy it.

Lack of quality control, rushing to market with a model that should have undergone further testing and development.

I love my Ducatis but I think Ducati is lacking in the area of bringing products to market before the bugs are worked out...I picked up my S2R1000 in Dec. of 05 and had many problems. Most were covered under warranty. I say most because I feel that Ducati has still not addressed the O2 sensor problems.

I want something trouble free when I pay $10 grand plus for a new motorcycle...I don't really think that is asking too much.

Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda 

BMW if you want to spend more.

I'm not saying it's acceptable, I'm saying it's common.

Searching this board and TOB would bring up numerous S2R issues. In fact, if you pick about any particular model of *anything* and do a google search with "sucks" at the end, IE www.toyotapriussucks.com, you'll find there are complaints about everything.

There are plenty of stories about odd problems on bikes here, and bikes being in the shop for months at a time, awaiting parts, or diagnosis. Again, I think you have a point, but....there's how it should be, and how it is. It's a new bike, new systems, new suppliers, being put together by people new to the bike. Possibly with new tools to do so. I would expect problems.

[Rambler1982]

WOW, everyone is sooooo helpful, this place is great! 

First of all, I began using the cold start lever (is it also referred to as a choke?).  The lever seems to be quite helpful in warming it up.  Couple questions on that...
Do you use the lever before turning the key and starting the engine?
How long do you stand around and wait for the bike warm up?
Do you leave the lever on while beginning your ride? And if so, for how long?

As for the stalling... the suggestion(s) to give it some throttle while letting out the clutch was HUGE! I'm stalling far less frequently now. Now I'm rolling into a take-off, as opposed to "chugging" into it. There is still some stuttering off the line, but I'm sure it'll get more smooth with practice.

Lastly, I'm still having some trouble getting the engine to turn over. Especially first thing in the morning after it has been sitting all night. It's taking 5 or 6 tries to get the engine to catch. Hopefully this is merely a new bike issue or a cold issue, and not an inherent flaw in the bike.

Again, thank you so much for your exceptionally helpful advice. It is much appreciated.

[wisdesign]

Glad some of that advice is helping!  Also sounds like your dealer didn't spend much time going through the bike with you... which is lame.  Yeah... you'll want to set the cold start lever BEFORE you fire the engine, although I've heard Ducati used to recommend firing the engine first and then using the lever on the older model Monsters.  Notice that it's not an on/off switch and you can adjust the rpm with it once you've got the engine going. I let mine sit for about 2 mins on a colder morning at 2,000 rpm before turning the cold start lever to the "off" position and then listen for a nice consistent idle.  I also remember that I had a few times when the bike wouldn't fire on the first try when the bike was new.  May be as someone else suggested... that it's just a little "tight" until you're through the break-in.   You should NOT ride with the lever on. 

[Statler]

If it still gives you trouble, leave it there and let him know that you don't wanted called again till the thing is right.

I understand your point, but not your tone about it.

To be honest, if I were a dealer and I got half the attitude in this post, and it ended with that declaration, I'd put the bike in the back corner and tell the staff to not call you for at least two months.

These are toys.  And there are lots of equivalent toys out there that are the biking equivalent of a Honda Civic (of course our Civic needed 2K in warranty work and my law degree to get it fixed).   Remember when Lamborghini 'tested' cars on their customers?   Ducati is well past that stage, but not Honda by any means.

The initial problem in this post shows why I say it's all about the dealer with DUcati, not the bike itself.   If the dealer said bring it by and let's have a look, and then went over the starting procedure, discussed the motor lugging at low rpm, etc.etc., this would be a post about how cool Ducati is, not worrying about having a broken new bike.   It's be great if most dealers offered as much info as the DMF...Alas, not so much.

[booger]

WOW, everyone is sooooo helpful, this place is great! 

First of all, I began using the cold start lever (is it also referred to as a choke?).  The lever seems to be quite helpful in warming it up.  Couple questions on that...
Do you use the lever before turning the key and starting the engine?
How long do you stand around and wait for the bike warm up?
Do you leave the lever on while beginning your ride? And if so, for how long?

As for the stalling... the suggestion(s) to give it some throttle while letting out the clutch was HUGE! I'm stalling far less frequently now. Now I'm rolling into a take-off, as opposed to "chugging" into it. There is still some stuttering off the line, but I'm sure it'll get more smooth with practice.

Lastly, I'm still having some trouble getting the engine to turn over. Especially first thing in the morning after it has been sitting all night. It's taking 5 or 6 tries to get the engine to catch. Hopefully this is merely a new bike issue or a cold issue, and not an inherent flaw in the bike.

Again, thank you so much for your exceptionally helpful advice. It is much appreciated.

Do you have an owner's manual for that bike, and did you read it? The manual for my bike gives the startup procedure and how to use the cold start lever. Also, it's pretty common knowledge among those who ride motorbikes that you can't merely let the clutch out when starting off. You must give it some throttle as well. An easy exchange of clutch and throttle is how I would describe it, much like driving a car with a manual transmission. Seems your inexperience is 2/3 of your problem.
With that said I'd get the coil issue checked out. The check engine light could be something else entirely.

[Popeye the Sailor]

You should NOT ride with the lever on. 

I may be mistaken, but I think my manual mentioning riding with this on until warmed up was okay. If not, I woul dhave to wait for it to warm up much longer to get it to the point where it would idle with the cold start lever off.

[somegirl]

I ride with the cold start lever on all the time while my bike warms up, helps keep me from stalling at the first couple of stop signs. 

I just keep adjusting it down as the idle increases, after a few minutes I shut it off entirely.

[Rambler1982]

Do you have an owner's manual for that bike, and did you read it? The manual for my bike gives the startup procedure and how to use the cold start lever. 

I do not have an owner's manual. The dealer didn't provide one when they sold me the bike, but said they'd mail it to me.

Also, it's pretty common knowledge among those who ride motorbikes that you can't merely let the clutch out when starting off. You must give it some throttle as well.

I was not taught that in the MSF course that I took 2 weeks ago. On the bikes we rode we would simply start moving if you just slowly let out the clutch.

[swampduc]

I do not have an owner's manual. The dealer didn't provide one when they sold me the bike, but said they'd mail it to me.
I was not taught that in the MSF course that I took 2 weeks ago. On the bikes we rode we would simply start moving if you just slowly let out the clutch.

Those bikes in the MSF courses are significantly lighter and therefore, you can get away with less throttle on takeoff, same as you can in a lighter car.
I have also found that my M696 takes longer to warm up than previous bikes I've owned, but I can live with that. More time for