I hope I didn't get a lemon

[mitt]

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.

+1

plus, my dealer cranked the adjustment on the lever so that fully on gives about 3000rpm, and I can use it as a ghetto style cruise control for short periods to stretch or adjust 

mitt

[somegirl]

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.

That should be a good exercise in clutch control on your current bike, too.  Try riding slowly around a parking lot with your right hand behind your back.

[Statler]

That should be a good exercise in clutch control on your current bike, too.  Try riding slowly around a parking lot with your right hand behind your back.

maybe on G's 620...could do that all day long.

Not something I'd recommend on my RS.

Not all bikes will be happy to do that.

The technique I like to see people be able to do is have quite a bit of throttle but to then control speed with the clutch.  You can move at just a slow crawl at high rpm.    Not great for the clutch to do all day every day as practice, but great to be able to adjust a little if you start from a stop into a turn at a light or stop sign.   Makes for smooth and controlled takeoffs on any surface and any incline etc.etc.

[Rambler1982]

That should be a good exercise in clutch control on your current bike, too.  Try riding slowly around a parking lot with your right hand behind your back.

I can try it, but I think there's no way my bike would tolerate letting out the clutch without giving it any throttle. It'd just stall and tell me to go f-myself 

On those bikes, the clutch would engage almost as soon as I let it out, and by the time I let it out all the way I was off and moving. That's FAR from the case with my 696.

[Howie]

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.

You can download the manual here:
http://www.ducati.com/en/bikes/service/manuals/2008.jhtml?family=manuals

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.

That was an excersize in learning clutch friction point.  If you want to get going in a reasonable ammount of time or on an incine you must use the throttle.

[il d00d]

Please don't take this as a dig, but I think you are still working on your rider skeelz - it sounds like it may not be a mechanical problem.  I did the same thing - a few weeks after my MSF, I was mounting my 620.  I was a stalling/swearing machine for the first few hundred miles.

Something you might try to get over the instinct to go light on the throttle - practice starting out in second gear, where you are going to have to give a bit more juice.  When your brain recognizes that aggressive throttle ≠ death, I think it will be easier to get good starts going in first gear.  Good luck, and congrats on the new bike  

[booger]

Like Howie stated earlier, the MSF exercise was to find and get the feel of the friction zone of the clutch. It was not meant to be presented as proper startoff technique. You can't get a ~360 pound bike moving by letting off the clutch at 1000-1500 rpm. It will stall out. Question: have you ever driven a car with a manual transmission? Sounds like you don't quite have clutching technique down yet. When you let off the lever you have to gently roll on the throttle in concert, helps to rev it up a bit beforehand. It may take a while to get the technique down. Try driving a car with a stick, it may help. 

[Rambler1982]

Please don't take this as a dig, but I think you are still working on your rider skeelz - it sounds like it may not be a mechanical problem.

Not taken as such at all. Nowhere did I claim that I don't need to work on my riding skills. In fact, I openly admitted that this is something that will come to me with time, practice and patience. Additionally, I was able to get it down a lil better with a few helpful tips from the kind and knowledgeable people here.

I'll give your suggestion a try. Thanks.

Now I'm more concerned about the engine taking so many attempt to get it to turn over.

[Rambler1982]

Question: have you ever driven a car with a manual transmission? Sounds like you don't quite have clutching technique down yet.

I have not. And it's probably contributing to the learning curve in figuring this out. But I'm getting better and will continue practicing. 

[Howie]

Rambler, the fast idle lever is an essential part of your cold start system.  The computer on your car takes care of both cold idle enrichment and idle speed.  On your 696 cold idle speed is left up to you.  If you try and start the bile without using the lever you will not have sufficient throttle opening to maintain proper idle speed and the mixture may be off enough to not even want to start. 

Glad to hear you are getting the feel of the clutch down.  Not only is the friction zone towards the end of the lever, but it is also difficult to feel.  For now, a little more throttle than you think you need will help, just let the clutch out slowly so you don't take off quicker than you want.  Your wet clutch will take the abuse.  As said before, a reduction in gearing will help, down one tooth on the front sprocket or up two in the rear.  This should make low speed maneuvers easier for you also.

[Old-Duckman]

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.

Well reading through the latest posts it seems the bike is fine and the OP is just learning the basics of living with a motorcycle...I'm glad for him and glad the bike is not a "lemon".

That said...If you were a dealer, my dealer, and you pulled that "bike in the back corner and not call for 2 months" it would be the last time you saw me...or my money, in your shop. I would also tell anyone who would listen, how I was treated by your dealership.

I treat my dealer with respect but I expect to be treated likewise from them. Whatever happened to "The customer is always right"?

I am a good customer, I am good pay and I want my dealer to make money...because I like his service and want him to stay in business. However should I be disrespected and not appreciated...there are others to choose from who will treat their customers right and be happy to take my money.

I don't think it is unreasonable at all to tell someone working on your vehicle that you ddon't want to be called until the bike is right...Why waste my time and his?

[Statler]

no...you're right...I think I was reading more attitude into it than intended.

I absolutely don't think the customer is allways right.   So when I hear catch phrases like it's a 10,000 bike it should be perfect and don't call me until it is fixed, I hear it said rather gruffly.   And often that style of customer just isn't worth the money.

So if it was meant as a respectfull discussion with the dealer saying "hey, Ducati effed this one up, I know you'll be working on figuring out what's wrong and doing any needed warranty work, but let's get this fixed 100% so we don't go back and forth with one of us allways unhappy." then cool.   If it was an angry drop the bike off and yelling "don't call me until it's right" and a storm out the building....it gets nothing done specifically so the guy would go elsewhere.

I am sorry if I read into it the wrong category.

[Popeye the Sailor]

You know, when you guys are all reasonable and adult like, it kills the chance of the bystanders watching an amusing and pointless internet argument.




Did you consider the masses before getting all reasonable?

[Craig Thomas]

The other day, when it was 90*F, the bike had to idle for a good few mins with the fast idle turned up, and still, she stalled when I went to take off.  The bike is geared too tall, IMO.  So when the motor is still cold, it exacerbates the stalling issue. 

Bike has the Termingnoni/ECU setup, btw.

[DesmoDisciple]

Really lame that your dealer did not have a manual. Thats unforgivable. A Ducati is a premium bike, and I would expect a certain level of service if I were buying new from a dealer.