2004 Ducati 749

Defect. CERTAIN CRG FRONT BRAKE LEVERS, MODEL RB-511 DESIGNED FOR USE ON 2004-2006 YAMAHA YZF-R1 MOTORCYCLES, AND 2005-2006 YAMAHA YZF-R6 MOTORCYCLES. MODEL RB-512 IS DESIGNED FOR USE ON 2003-2006 DUCATI 749 AND 999 MOTORCYCLES, AND ON 2004-2006 APRILIA MILLE R MOTORCYCLES. DUE TO A MISALIGNMENT OF THE PIVOT BORE, THE BRAKE LEVER COULD BECOME SEIZED IN THE BRAKE ENGAGED POSITION, THEREBY PREVENTING THE FRONT BRAKE FROM DISENGAGING.

Risk. A NON-RELEASE CONDITION COULD CAUSE DRAG ON THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM, WHICH COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. CRG WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE ROCKER FOR THE FRONT LEVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONCACT CRG AT 831-763-7811.

Defect. CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, A SIGNIFICANT QUANTITY OF OIL LUBRICANT CAN LEAK ON TO THE REAR WHEEL AND TIRE FROM THE OIL COOLER.

Risk. OIL LEAKAGE CAN CAUSE DANGEROUS RIDING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE OIL COOLER AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DUCATI AT 408-343-4411.

I AM REPORTING THIS INCIDENT AS HAVING INVOLVE 0 DEATHS, BUT IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MOTORCYCLES, OIL SPILLING OUT TO THE REAR TIRES AS A RESULT OF A BLOWUP WITHIN THE FIRST 700 MILES SINCE PURCHASED NEW SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE AND CAN BE POTENTIALLY FATAL FOR THE RIDER. I EXPERIENCED THIS ON MY 2004 DUCATI 749 DARK. AN OIL COOLER WAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED ON THE MOTORCYCLE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR IT TO FAIL AND SPILL OIL INTO THE PATH OF THE REAR TIRE. I AM QUITE SURPRISED THAT HAVING A "BLOWUP" WHERE OIL FROM THE CRANKCASE SHOOTS OUT THE AIRBAG DUE TO INADEQUATE VENTILATION AND/OR BAD PISTONS FROM THE FACTORY HAS NOT YET BEEN ADDRESSED. AT WHAT POINT DOES THE NEGLIGENCE SHIFT FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY INVOLVED IN ENSURING OUR SAFETY AND PROTECTION FROM DEFECTIVE VEHICLES? I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT REQUESTING YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER AS EVEN THE DEALER FROM WHERE I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE ADMITS THAT THIS HAPPENS ON OCCASION WITH THE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF MY MOTORCYCLE AS WELL AS THE 999 MODEL SINCE THEY'RE SIMILARLY DESIGNED. IN THE INTEREST FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHER RIDERS OF THIS MOTORCYCLE, YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION IS WARRANTED. I WOULD LIKE A CALL BACK TO VERIFY THAT SOMEONE FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS ACCEPTED THIS CASE TO PURSUE AGAINST DUCATI. OTHERWISE, I WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO MAKE PUBLIC THE NEGLIGENCE OF NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS MATTER UNTIL AFTER SOMEONE DIES FROM IT. I ANXIOUSLY AWAIT YOUR CALL. *AK

I WISH TO LODGE A COMPLAINT AGAINST DUCATI MOTORCYCLES BASED ON A RECENT EXPERIENCE I HAD WITH MY 2004 DUCATI 749 DARK. THE MOTORCYCLE ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY 650 MILES ON IT WHEN I EXPERIENCED A FAILURE FROM THE OIL CRANK CASE, RESULTING IN OIL BEING DISCHARGED IN THE PATH OF MY REAR TIRE, AS WELL AS TO THE ENTIRE MOTOR, PRESENTING A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. I ORIGINALLY SUSPECTED THE PROBLEM TO BE BASED ON AN OIL COOLER THAT WAS RECALLED BACK IN AUGUST DESPITE MY MOTORCYCLE BEING PURCHASED LAST MONTH (NOVEMBER). HOWEVER, IT TURNS OUT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS UNRELATED TO THE RECALL AND WAS BASED ON A DIFFERENT PART FAILING WHERE A CHANGE WAS MADE TO THE 2005 MODEL ADDRESSSING THIS ISSUE. DUCATI'S PROPOSED SOLUTION WAS TO HAVE THE DEALER FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE DRILL HOLES INTO THE CRANK CASE TO MAKE IT SIMILAR TO THE 2005 MODEL RATHER THAN PROVIDING THEM WITH A REPLACEMENT PART. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE SOLUTION AS THIS CAUSES THE PART OF THE MOTORCYCLE TO NO LONGER BE "FACTORY" GRADE. WHAT'S EVEN MORE TROUBLING IN THIS MATTER IS THAT MY MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT THE FIRST TO EXPERIENCE THIS FAILURE FOR THE 2004 MODEL. DESPITE THIS, THERE IS NO RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THIS DEFECTIVE CRANK CASE DESIGN THAT COULD PRESENT FATAL RESULTS.*AK

EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP WHILE RIDING MY 2004 DUCATI MONSTER S4R, THE SEAT COMES LOOSE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAVE HAPPEN WHILE RIDING A MOTORCYCLE. *LA