Log Item: All suited up and ready to roll, I walked out to the garage and noticed that the Diavel's rear tire was flat. Not a tragedy, a flat tire. My plans for the day were shot.
I hadn't given much thought to changing the rear tire, and the owner's manual that Ducati provides gives no hints on the matter...neither does YouTube. Closer inspection revealed that I will need a special socket to pull the rear tire. Are they available -- anywhere? Apparently not. Ducati is reluctant to sell them. They would prefer that I have a flat bed tow truck haul my bike twenty miles to the dealership so that they can do it for me.
While I understand rice bowls and their interest in protecting Ducati's, this one is ridiculous.
For the record, I understand that the actual removal of the tire so that it can be patched involves quite a process. I don't plan to do that at home, but simply throwing the bad tire (mounted) in the back of my truck and driving it to the dealer is much easier than flat-bedding it to their shop.
At the moment, I'm frustrated, and will be casting about on the internet for the proper "star socket" so that I can pull the tire.
It seems that an investment in a bike trailer, or one like you were looking for a few months ago, might me in order. Or can you go to the dealer and buy the star wrench?
ReplyDeleteThe dealer is reluctant to order it for me. I will apply pressure in the coming week. Yes, I could buy a bike trailer, but at present the driveway has my highly modified 07 FJ Cruiser, my 14 Raptor and my 15 Honda Accord (touring) on it. My kid's cars line the street in front of the house. I don't know where I would park a trailer or I'd have one by now. I do have a 3 car garage but it holds the Diavel, my workshop and household goods for my kids. Woe is me...not really. I just need a socket wrench. That's all.
Deletehere ya go: http://www.motomfg.com/DUCATI_TOOLS_s/1.htm, now get crack'n bucko!
ReplyDeleteThank you Brig. Acting on your advice, I bought a tool from motomfg.
DeleteHow ridiculous indeed.
ReplyDeleteI took Brig's advice and the socket that I need is in the mail, on its way from New York City to Los Angeles. I suspect there is some fear that if I do the work with a socket I buy from Ducati that if I screw it up, I'll sue Ducati.
DeleteIf Ducati engineered that machine so that the owner can't even change the rear tire, it's time to swap it out for a Honda. Or Kawasaki. Or maybe even a Zundapp.
ReplyDeleteRidiculous. Please tell me that you got your star socket (likely available from Grainger as well, and Ford has many star socket parts, likely Ford can provide one as well), and changed it yourself. If you cave and trailer it to the dealership, please keep that to yourself.
I have the socket, which is a custom CNC cut, in hand. I have not yet changed the tire because I have a cold (which arrived from a grandson - now referred to as "patient zero") and didn't feel like doing it. The scooter is in the garage, waiting patiently for me.
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