[PERPETUAL MOTION]

Soooo....I got my scrambler home finally. Parked it next to my monster and I immediately noticed that the welds on the exhaust is sub par to the monster. The tubing itself is not even the same quality...it was a bit disappointing. Has anyone else noticed this? Also, how can I remove all the paint they marked the bolts with? Just about every bolt on the bike has these markings.

I also just got back from a five mile ride and the bike was scorching hot!!! I could feel the heat radiating as I was riding. No, my other bike does not do this. Is this normal? Reading the post on the engine failure has me paranoid...or am I?

Thanks

 

[Phil McAvity]

1. Congratulations on your new Scrambler.
2. Remember the price you paid for your Scrambler as compared to your Monster.
3. Elbow grease and persistence will get rid of all the little paint spots that were put there as an indicator to assemblers that each and every bolt was checked for tightness and torque where necessary.
4. This is an air cooled engine and it needs air to keep it cool. This is normal. Short slow jaunts will produce heat. There are ways to avoid this with some good suggestions made on this forum. Look it up.
5. Don't be paranoid. This was an isolated incident.

Happy & safe rides!

 

[ladyeclectic]

Lol you're not paranoid, these bikes run hot. It takes getting them to REALLY high temps though before you have engine problems - you'd be cooking your legs before the motor locks up! As for subpar welds etc, mine doesn't look too bad but I've never been super worried about those kinds of things. As long as the welds don't break, I'm kosher.

And like Phil said, the paint markings on the bolts are there to indicate that each has been turned to the correct specs/torque rates. They're not needed outside the factory (unless you want to use them to make sure you keep things within spec) so go ahead and rub them off if it bugs you. Otherwise, just remember this is a "budget" Ducati, made to ride more than appreciate aesthetically. Well, okay, you can appreciate the aesthetics too because it IS a gorgeous bike.

 

[eisfeld]

I wouldn't remove the torque seals too quickly as they give you a very easy way to spot any bolts that come loose.
I'll keep them on for the first couple thousand kilometers and then when everything is sure to be not moving, remove them.

And yes, the bike gets freaking hot. I think it's the biggest problem with this bike as there's not much one can do about it apart from always moving at over 50km/h. What Monster do you have? 796 or 821? The 796 have the same engine and are also known for getting really hot. The Scrambler though is even more exposed to the heat issue because of the ergonomics I think.

 

[injidup]

Don't forget it's a new engine and will be a little tight until things bed in, which could cause more heat. After the first oil change things should cool down a bit.

 

[eisfeld]

Don't forget it's a new engine and will be a little tight until things bed in, which could cause more heat. After the first oil change things should cool down a bit.

I have more than 4300km on mine and it has not cooled down at all. Still roasting hot.

 

[motojedeye]

Soooo....I got my scrambler home finally. Parked it next to my monster and I immediately noticed that the welds on the exhaust is sub par to the monster. The tubing itself is not even the same quality...it was a bit disappointing. Has anyone else noticed this? Also, how can I remove all the paint they marked the bolts with? Just about every bolt on the bike has these markings.

I also just got back from a five mile ride and the bike was scorching hot!!! I could feel the heat radiating as I was riding. No, my other bike does not do this. Is this normal? Reading the post on the engine failure has me paranoid...or am I?

Thanks

All of your worries/disappointments could have been avoided during your selection process. Didn't you test ride it? At the dealer was the Scrambler not next the other Ducati's- didn't you compare and contrast? One should always do thorough research before handing over their hard earned money for a consumer purchase. I bet you could still sell your Scrambler for what you paid for it. Many people want them and there are not enough bike to meet demand.

Good luck

 

[Johnny5]

It's an air cooled Ducati. They generate a lot of heat. You should feel the heat coming off of my Monster 1100 EVO. Any air cooled bike engine gets hot. Ever ride a Harley? Ooopha... lol.

 

[Jonny Astro]

All of your worries/disappointments could have been avoided during your selection process. Didn't you test ride it? At the dealer was the Scrambler not next the other Ducati's- didn't you compare and contrast? One should always do thorough research before handing over their hard earned money for a consumer purchase. I bet you could still sell your Scrambler for what you paid for it. Many people want them and there are not enough bike to meet demand.

Good luck

Thorough research MotoJedeye? My thorough research consisted of seeing the dealer's demo Icon uncrated when I just happened to be there. I went back the next day for a test ride and gave them a deposit there and then... (admittedly I had already decided to buy a bike at the time).
I have about 3k miles on it now and I LOVE it, despite it not being perfect.
As noted, it's air cooled so the heat comes off the engine rather than out of the radiator. (All bikes used to be like that)
The paint blobs are part of the QA in the production process - Audi will no doubt have a hand in that now.
Quality-wise, you get what you pay for. For GBP 7k (about USD 10k I guess?) it's never going to be top-notch, but from my POV it's pretty satisfactory and as I'd expect.
It's a recreational vehicle - just enjoy it, and don't worry about it.
Jonny

 

[motojedeye]

Mine was on the showroom floor. I test rode it twice on the same day. First in the morning ( 20 minutes). After that I tested a couple other bikes I was cross shopping. I took a break for lunch, thought everything over and after lunch gave the bike a real visual "look over", and tested rode it again about 30 minutes.


After the second test ride, I knew I wanted it. I made a motovlog covering what led me to the Scrambler and my initial impressions. Anyways my point is, unless you do thorough research and testing, you might end up with buyers remorse.

 

[Jonny Astro]

Agreed... (Caveat emptor as the Romans say).
But sometimes I let my instincts prevail, and this time at least I was not disappointed.
Jonny

 

[DHS1981]

I think it's normal as you get used to a new bike to notice the things that are not perfect -- and every bike has a few (or more than a few). I'd give it a few months before making any hard and fast decisions. I had a number of concerns during the first few months of owning my 2014 Yamaha FJR1300, and now after about 13,000 miles I love it, and wouldn't dream of selling it. I agree that the Scrambler generates a lot of engine heat -- not one of its better qualities. However, that same engine heat will feel pretty good November thru April (I ride year round). Just give it some time, if the bike doesn't grow on you, I agree that you won't have trouble selling it.

 

[ricardoportu]

Soooo....I got my scrambler home finally. Parked it next to my monster and I immediately noticed that the welds on the exhaust is sub par to the monster. The tubing itself is not even the same quality...it was a bit disappointing. Has anyone else noticed this? Also, how can I remove all the paint they marked the bolts with? Just about every bolt on the bike has these markings.

I also just got back from a five mile ride and the bike was scorching hot!!! I could feel the heat radiating as I was riding. No, my other bike does not do this. Is this normal? Reading the post on the engine failure has me paranoid...or am I?

Thanks

Hi, I use the exhaust wrap and works perfect for me. (I know the majority of the forum don't like it but work) I'm thinking on do the ceramic coating (145$) and maybe the wrap on top

 

[PERPETUAL MOTION]

Okay..that makes me feel better. Thank you for everyone's input. It's not necessarily a cheaper bike than the monster 696 but I get what you guys are talking about. My concern was the bike being built other than Italy and that the excessive heat was not prominent on my 696. Selling the bike is not really in the books right now but if someone were to offer me a deal I cant refuse...I can always buy another one later.

I rode the bike on the freeway today for the first time and I have to say that it held its own. It's a very interesting bike as far as handling. The suspension is a little stiff but that will get changed soon after reading the posts on premature wear on the rear shock. Got some sliders, tail tidy and other parts for it already. Looking forward to riding it more.

 

[vibration]

I've only put 450 miles on mine so far, but I'm loving it. A new bike is sort of like a new remote control. At first it's easy to be put off over the differences in layout, nomenclature, and handling from what you may have been used to. But in time you get used to it and it starts to make sense and becomes intuitive. For example I, like others, grumbled initially about the throttle response and stiff suspension, but now I'm used to it and it's not an issue. My only concern is that this bike is suspiciously under-priced for what it is. I worry that it's going to be like a razor or a printer where they make their margin on the follow-up care and feeding. Expensive maintenance, secret reset codes, special mapping...things I never worried about with the uncomplicated bikes of my youth. I fear the Scrambler business model is "don't pay us now...pay us later". I hope that's not the case, but I guess time will tell.

 

[PERPETUAL MOTION]

Ducati's have always had the stigma of having "expensive" maintenance. However the public takes that in their own different ways. The reality of it is that its part of owning one. It's not a Honda Cub 50 that will run even used kitchen oil/grease. As far as pricing, yes it is under $10K but so is the Monster.

The allure of the scrambler seems to be with its heritage. The bike that they did not make and we did not have for at least four decades. I like them because its different. Its not an in your face "I'm faster than you" like most crotch rockets are; but rather I am going from point A to point B in style.