[Pierre Col]

Hi guys!

Last week-end, riding in the Beaujolais countryside (more pics on http://pcol.free.fr/desmo16/hautbeaujolaisfev2010/ don't be afraid by the snow on the roadsides) there wre no cops but gearbox decided to limit my speed



It begun when I was suddenly limited to 1st-2d gear, then after 10 km trying to select the 3rd I succeed but was then limited to 2d-3rd, etc.

I brought the bike on Tuesday to Ducati Lyon, they immediately found a small gearbox selection spring broken, under the "outside case" of the gearbox.

Waiting for the replacement spring, they are putting on my bike its 4th front tyre and a new chain + sprockets kit (it suffered from riding 3000+ km under rain and on salted roads, even if I greased it as frequently as I can).

I still hope to pass 24000 km before April 2011, in order to include the expensive engine service in the 3 year included maintenance. I'm not scottish, even if I look like, but I prefer to save my money to ride more on this fabulous bike

[Fogs1966]

Hi Pierre. Hope the bike is back on the road soonest. It's great you're riding as much as possible. I've had mine a year now and I love riding it, even if Singapore is a little cramped.
At least I can easily cross the border into Malaysia to open her up -- and the fantastic Sepang circuit is only about 320 km away (Singapore will be building its own race circuit, set for completion in 2011).
I've got about 6,500 km on the clock so far and on my second set of tyres. I've replaced and repositioned the regulator, fitted an STM SBK slipper clutch and just bled the clutch hydraulic line (the heat cooking the fluid).

[Pierre Col]

Originally Posted by Fogs1966

I've replaced and repositioned the regulator, fitted an STM SBK slipper clutch and just bled the clutch hydraulic line (the heat cooking the fluid).

A France ducatist suggests to try this kind of stuff to protect clutch pipes from overheat :
http://www.deltec.fr/index.php?id=11&rubrique=produit

[Fogs1966]

Thanks Pierre for the tip. Good idea.

[Pierre Col]

My dealer has been told last week there is a 6-week delay to receive the miserable gearbox spring my bike needs.

It is my 47th birthday today, and I won't be able to ride my Desmosedici. If there is no good news next week, Mr del Torchio and his managers will read an e-mail from me...

[Pierre Col]

Just received a Ducati Lyon phone call, missing spring arrived a few minutes ago, nice birthday gift from Ducati !

[Endyrr]

Happy Birthday Pierre!

[mmaltersmd]

happy birthday

[Sedici]

My next birthday is 3 weeks before my 3 year warranty (feb/2011) expires, I wonder if I'll be so lucky ? (early production number w/bad valve train spring/thingy, not yet replaced)
Oh and, Happy Birthday Pierre !

[Pierre Col]

Thanks guys. Nice ride today, to go to a bike show in the neighborhood, pics here (from a phone) : http://pcol.free.fr/Villefranche2010/

I had a 30mn chat with retired Regis Laconi, a very nice guy. We talk about the 998... I also met Confederate bikes : amazingly small bikes !

16463 km :-)