Another motorbike.....Ducati.... am I mad

[redlig]

I fancied a Ducati, but realistically it's just not worth it, for me. I only have my front garden to park it, so the chances of it being "borrowed" are high, which will in turn hike the insurance cost, plus weather damage no matter how well it's covered.

I'm still not sure what to buy.

A house WITH a garage preferably 4 car size at least .

 

[redlig]

Never really thought of a Commando, always did fancy one though.

Lucky escape.

 

[Morrisman]

Never really thought of a Commando, always did fancy one though.

Couple of my mates had them back in the 80's, both over bored, using something like Lotus Cortina pistons to take them out to 960cc. Loads of stainless bits and pieces, carefully shimmed isolastics, very tidy bikes. They were quick, and I couldn't catch them in a straight line on my Kawa 1100.

However, they did get/need/demand a full strip and rebuild every winter.

I went on many bike rallies with those guys, couple of trips to the south of France, neither of them ever broke down.

 

[stuvy]

Most bike reliability surveys have the Japanese at the top with BMW near the bottom, e.g.
View attachment 341345

Ducati and Triumph not great either. The 851 and 888 are works of art.

Thing is the top 4 jap manufacturers sell more bikes than the others so the fail rate will be higher

I’m still a happy boy a stride a Honda

 

[Rannsachair]

Thing is the top 4 jap manufacturers sell more bikes than the others so the fail rate will be higher

I’m still a happy boy a stride a Honda

Sorry when I said at the top, I meant the best with the least failures. Honda are down at 12% compared to Ducati at 33%.

 

[stuvy]

I get ya

 

[redlig]

Couple of my mates had them back in the 80's, both over bored, using something like Lotus Cortina pistons to take them out to 960cc. Loads of stainless bits and pieces, carefully shimmed isolastics, very tidy bikes. They were quick, and I couldn't catch them in a straight line on my Kawa 1100.

However, they did get/need/demand a full strip and rebuild every winter.

I went on many bike rallies with those guys, couple of trips to the south of France, neither of them ever broke down.

I've often wondered if a Maintenance Hours to Riding Hours Ratio would be useful. This would then have to be broken down into Fun or Necessary Maintenance .

 

[redlig]

Thing is the top 4 jap manufacturers sell more bikes than the others so the fail rate will be higher

I’m still a happy boy a stride a Honda

There is a difference between the fail rate per 100 sales and the actual number of fails in total. Makes a big difference in a bikes reputation.

 

[arther dailey]

a fellow stopped around the other day , modern truimph scrambler style 900 with exhausts up one side , I really liked it as it wasnt overly huge , looked more like a old 650 sizewise , he has had it couple of years and over the moon with it. must admit it was very nice albeit possibly on the noisy side for touring .,but that could be sorted, very comfy seat position. I would have one if monies were plentifull

 

[Robotstar5]

Never really thought of a Commando, always did fancy one though.

Funny story time: back in the 70's one of out mob with the nickname "dirty Bob" rode a Commando and I remember him happily stripping the carbs down to sort a fuel leak with a lit Park drive hanging from his lips, his best mate rode a big Kawasaki and when Bob was pulled for speeding the copper asked what his excuse was "I wor gonna let a Jap bike get past me"

Another Commando owner trying to remain anonymous while he makes repairs...

 

[stuvy]

a fellow stopped around the other day , modern truimph scrambler style 900 with exhausts up one side , I really liked it as it wasnt overly huge , looked more like a old 650 sizewise , he has had it couple of years and over the moon with it. must admit it was very nice albeit possibly on the noisy side for touring .,but that could be sorted, very comfy seat position. I would have one if monies were plentifull

I heard on in traffic a week or two back and it sounded like the bottom end had gone I honestly thought my engine or the fellas engine next to me had let go

Looks yes but sounds awful

 

[jerrytug]

My Commando was totally reliable including two years despatch riding, except for one time..the gearbox basically exploded, totally destroyed, no idea why. A bit of shrapnel cut me on the leg!
I found a used one in a bin of odds and sods, at Hamrax on Ladbroke Grove. Price, £40!!

 

[arther dailey]

I heard on in traffic a week or two back and it sounded like the bottom end had gone I honestly thought my engine or the fellas engine next to me had let go

Looks yes but sounds awful

no knocking on the one I saw , just very 60s rorty/loud

 

[redlig]

My Commando was totally reliable including two years despatch riding, except for one time..the gearbox basically exploded, totally destroyed, no idea why. A bit of shrapnel cut me on the leg!
I found a used one in a bin of odds and sods, at Hamrax on Ladbroke Grove. Price, £40!!

So it was TOTALLY reliable except for blowing it's gearbox to bits. What would qualify as unreliable then ?
I can remember a guy bitterly complaining about a very slight oil damp mark around the base gasket of his CB750 but when I pointed to the oil slick growing under his Norton ( can't remember model but only a year or so old ) ( in 1980) he replied " well I expect that and am not bothered "
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
As for why it broke. the gearbox was designed 70 ish years ago to cope with 30 bhp ish.

 

[jerrytug]

So it was TOTALLY reliable except for blowing it's gearbox to bits. What would qualify as unreliable then ?
I can remember a guy bitterly complaining about a very slight oil damp mark around the base gasket of his CB750 but when I pointed to the oil slick growing under his Norton ( can't remember model but only a year or so old ) ( in 1980) he replied " well I expect that and am not bothered "
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

During two years of being thrashed five days a week as a working bike? £40 on parts (even at 1980's prices) seems reasonable. Apart from consumables of course.
I paid £400 for it, and sold it for £600. Today, add a zero.

 

[Seadog]

My Commando was totally reliable including two years despatch riding, except for one time..the gearbox basically exploded

This was due to the gear geometry if I remember correctly. The layshaft bearing, a puny little ball race, OK in the days of singles and low powered twins. The remedy was to fit a roller bearing with a single lipped centre race to aid assembly.

The gearbox shell was also beefed up around the layshaft bearing.

 

[redlig]

This was due to the gear geometry if I remember correctly. The layshaft bearing, a puny little ball race, OK in the days of singles and low powered twins. The remedy was to fit a roller bearing with a single lipped centre race to aid assembly.

The gearbox shell was also beefed up around the layshaft bearing.

Mick Hemmings . R.I.P. made a good living out of those gearboxes and of course the engines.

 

[roofman]

I have been getting an un-healthy feeling for a BMW 1000sx ...unknown to the wife as of yet. @Rannsachair have you considered the same poison?

 

[Rannsachair]

I have been getting an un-healthy feeling for a BMW 1000sx ...unknown to the wife as of yet. @Rannsachair have you considered the same poison?

the S1000XR? Nice bikes though I have a thing for twins.

 

[roofman]

the S1000XR? Nice bikes though I have a thing for twins.

Sorry yes xr not sx