The Deal that was Not

[wethogs]

Hi all .. I have been a member for while .. mainly to educate myself about the MTS 950.

Today, Saturday April 21st, I did a test ride of a MTS 950. It was good. However there are three things about the bike that I would have to accept.

1.   Rear brake foot brake lever .. why so low? Removing the rubber pad from the stock foot peg would probably help. Remember that this was a demo bike.
2.   Heat. Today in the Scotland the temperature was 20C / 70F. After the bike got up to temperature and I was stuck in traffic it was hot enough for the radiator cooling fan to come on which is great. However I sure could feel the heat radiating from the rear exhaust manifold under the seat. In hot weather when in slow city traffic it must not be pleasant.
3.   My motorcycle trousers have a leather on the inside of the calf. The leather kind of gets caught on the rubber bung that is located side of the bike at a frame joint.

The above points have been documented on this forum so it is really a case of living with it and it was not a surprise to me today. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

When it came to deal time .. I was looking for a red MTS 950 with five accessories: center stand, engine bars, aux/fog lights, heated hand grips and LED turn indicators. The accessories are fitted by the dealership. The center stand and heated hand grips were on back order (from Italy) with no guaranteed delivery time. That for me was deal breaker. I am doing a two week solo road tour in June and really would need the center stand for lubricating the chain. The amount for my trade-in/part exchange and the price for the bike was acceptable. The unknown delivery of accessories to my mind was not good. There have been some forum threads from folk waiting for accessory parts from Ducati so I was not willing to wait. A lost sale on the day due to supply issues by Ducati. Pity. Maybe I will try again later on in the year.

[Beitsta]

Hi Wethogs,

Hopefully, you won't need the heated grips before June (I'm always an optimistic fool about the weather) and the stand is a common stock item - which Ducati dealer did you talk with?

Having said that, you are going to miss a wonderful bike for the beautiful summer months - go on, forgive them and order it up - you won't be sorry!!

[wethogs]

The Dealership, Ducati Glasgow, sources all their accessories / parts directly from the Italian factory in Bologna. The arrival date from the factory of said parts was unknown.

[Lambert]

Have you tried other dealers?
Worth a few mins to have a ring round.

[Xtourer1200]

Or you could just buy mine? It already has a centre stand.
😁😁😁😁

[BrownTrousers]

I did a deal which included heated grips and sat nav holder. Turned up to collect bike and neither were fitted due to being on backorder from Italy. Will have to be fitted at first service.
I understand your disappointment although it didn't put me off enough to stop me riding away on the bike.

[wethogs]

Originally Posted by Lambert

Have you tried other dealers?
Worth a few mins to have a ring round.

I have not tried other dealers. I am Stirling Scotland ... other than Glasgow. The nearest dealers are Carlisle and Newcastle which are  2 hours plus away.

I guess the point of my post is that any company that is selling stuff in this day and age really should have their supply chain sorted. But it seems that this is the Ducati way.

[wethogs]

Originally Posted by BrownTrousers

I did a deal which included heated grips and sat nav holder. Turned up to collect bike and neither were fitted due to being on backorder from Italy. Will have to be fitted at first service.
I understand your disappointment although it didn't put me off enough to stop me riding away on the bike.

I am doing a two week solo motorcycle trip in the first weeks of June. A centerstand sure makes lubing that chain a much easier task. I have a totally good bike at the moment so I will play the patient game.

[Lambert]

Originally Posted by wethogs

I have not tried other dealers. I am Stirling Scotland ... other than Glasgow. The nearest dealers are Carlisle and Newcastle which are  2 hours plus away.

I guess the point of my post is that any company that is selling stuff in this day and age really should have their supply chain sorted. But it seems that this is the Ducati way.

I understand where you are coming from, pretty poor in this day and age to not even be able to give an actual supply date. I have had bikes delivered, deal done via phone, email etc. Most will deliver for free or a small fee.

[Conman]

Italians     

Aprilia wasn't any different, took them six weeks to get me a replacement radiator which came battered in the box - no packing. So that was another six weeks plus one week arguing about it.

If you accept that's the way they operate, once you get the bike it's all forgotten - until the next time