Harley forum compairing Monster 1000s and HD XR1200!

[Raux]

This is from the Ducati site. I highlighted several things that are pretty clear ALL Ducatis are part of these reduced cost.

OWNING A DUCATI IS EASIER THAN EVER BEFORE
With service intervals extended to 7,500 miles (12,000) and fewer parts required, owning a Ducati is easier than ever before*.

Reducing the cost of service when you visit your Ducati dealer for maintenance is one way to measure the new quality of Ducati. It also contributes immensely to making the Ducati ownership experience as satisfying as the Ducati riding experience.

Research and development is the number one investment at the Ducati factory. This investment in performance and quality includes our factory processes, machinery and the people who build each Ducati. By ‘engineering-in’ quality through design, materials and testing, every Ducati owner will enjoy significant and quantifiable improvements in every Ducati motorcycle.

To a rider, the best measure of quality is by the riding experience. You can feel a new smoothness to the legendary Ducati L-Twin, a more progressive nature to the powerful brakes and more confident road holding in every turn. Reliability and quality â€" one ride is all the proof you will need.

*See your Ducati dealer for details.

[bigiain]

The Big 4 all use different style of shims and most likely change the design more often than Ducati..

You may well be right, my Honda uses screw and locknut adjusters, so does my girls Kawasaki, so I've never actually had to deal personally with shims on Japanese sportsbike motors, but I've got a distinct memory of one of my friends using Kawasaki shims in _something_ else... I can't remember what though - he goes thru bikes like they're fashion accessories so I can never keep track of what he's riding now, never mind what he _used_ to ride... For all I know he was using the Kawa shims in his collection of Fiats...

big

[NYCmonster]

I have about 13K on the 3 year old Sporty. Dealer cost $0. Followed the maintenance schedule. Very very basic: fluid changes, check/adjust primary & secondary belt/chain tension, etc.   

Recently had 6K service for the monster. Think it was a little under $600. Ok, funk that, I'm going to buy the manual and try to do the belts myself next time (I think valves are beyond my skill level for now). Manual is $170  Are you freaking kidding me. Got another manual instead. 

[the_Journeyman]

I also know that some of the Japanese bikes and the Rotax that powers RSVR's requires removal of the camshaft for shim changing IIRC.  My Suzuki GS1150 had screw & locknut adjusters.  Hard part was working the valve cover off the motor with the 1/8" clearance once you lifted to clear the cam gears.

NYCm - Get the manual the 2V valve check & adjustment really simple, as is the belt changes ~

JM