[bergmjs]

Hi Everyone,
So I bought a new Monster 821 Dark in April and absolutely love the bike, but i've noticed that the paint scratches REALLY easily. I had a Monster 696 Dark before it that never scratched at all really.

When I say it scratches easily I mean just my jeans rubbing on the base of the tank has chaffed the paint away almost down to the metal. Up near the keyhole the cloth of my riding jacket sleeve (I have no metal clasps) is marking up the top of the tank. I also have various scratches lengthwise on the tank in places that I don't even touch. It seems to scratch from washing it with a brand new microfiber cloth and matte specific soap. I also have some scratches that extend UNDER the tank stickers from the factory.

I have a complaint into Ducati about it, but I'm just curious if anyone else has noticed their Dark finish is super easy to scratch and I just got a soft one or something.

Thanks

 

[Raz1966]

I got a red 821 monster, I noticed the decals on the tank are not that great, I am very careful with my bike and I noticed the "E" of monster on the tank is coming off. I don't think the decals are lacquered over at the factory. Not good

 

[RogueTS1]

Maybe the factory forgot the top coat?

 

[bergmjs]

Yea, the "I" and "A" on my tank stickers were peeling off too and the dealer submitted a warranty request on those. I thought the gloss finishes had the stickers under the final clear coat?

But anyways, the dealer worked a deal to get a spare tank already painted in Dark Stealth. So I have a new, scratch-free tank waiting for me, but I'm afraid the new one will scratch up just as easily. My current tank is like 2 months old and it looks like its 2 years old at least already.

The dealer offered to strip the stickers, light sand prep, and put a full gloss clear coat over the new tank for $800, which seems rather steep to me.

I'm trying to figure out if my first tank was just a fluke that didn't get cured all the way at the factory or not before I drop another $800 on a clear coat. So if nobody else on here is having issues with the dark stealth, that helps.

 

[Motosonic]

Mine scratches really easy too.. except my dealer was not as... helpful as yours. What did you say/do to negotiate that deal with the tank? They told me to go to Colorite and get a pen.. I did, it looks like shit now.... and I'm very irritated about it.

 

[bergmjs]

My family has just bought several bikes brand new from the same dealer and serviced them all there, so we're pretty friendly with the service manager. That being said, the dealer couldn't do anything until I lodged a formal complaint to Ducati about it. After submitting a letter about it to the Ducati site I got a call from Italy, then a call from California, then the dealer took pictures of everything and sent it off to corporate for review. Ducati was actually very prompt about addressing it and they provided a new tank as one-time-only customer satisfaction claim meaning it's not a real warranty claim and thus does not carry any further warranty against similar issues. It also means they never fully admitted that their paint sucks.

The service manager advised me to complain to Ducati and say that I love everything else about the bike, stroke their ego a bunch about how awesome it is and that it's not my first Ducati, then compare it against their competitors like BMW or KTM.

Maybe if enough owners complain they'll actually do something about it.

 

[King Luis]

i heard the 899 matte scratches easily too. mine has a few minor scratches but i'm enjoying it like crazy.

my R on Monster is a little iffy but it's getting replaced.

 

[GMercer9]

I bought the questionable Simoniz coating when I purchased my bike. Wasn't convinced it was really worth it, but it does come with a kickass warranty on the paint. Only had it a few months, but still looks showroom fresh. But I keep it garaged.

 

[LYK2BOOZ]

When I purchased my 821 Dark, the dealer had 1 model in the showroom and I noticed the D was peeling off the tank. They ordered me a new bike and a year later none of my letters have peeled. I would like to eventually swap the tank stickers for the Stickers that come on the Diavel tank.

I do have some minor scratches on my tank but I thought that was normal.

 

[volambre]

have any of you found were you can buy the 1200 or diavel stickers online. i would like to change mine. the letters have begun peeling just a little also.

 

[bergmjs]

Seems like the stickers and paint are a major quality issue on the new monsters. For a premium product they can't even get a sticker to stay put? I'm not impressed with this iteration of paint/decals so far.

 

[ekobesy]

No issues with the stripe so far, although I can tell they skimped on the clear. No more than two coats. If the dark is matt finish then there is no clear top coat which is an issue with decals and paint will scratch easily unless they mix clear with the final color coat .

 

[cgmodeling]

Same issue for my 821 red, le sticker is just stick over the clear? Wtf ducati! At this price tag! Anyone tried to put clear coat over decal?

 

[ekobesy]

You will have to wet sand the entire tank before doing so.

 

[bergmjs]

So I got my new tank and fender from Ducati and had an independent shop spray a clear coat over it then put the stickers on. Came out pretty good if you ask me:

Those pics are right after getting home from the dealer before I waxed it. After 2 coats of wax it's even shinier now. Super happy with the gloss look and protection over the matte.

 

[0v3rc10ck3d]

Anyone know where I can get some decent touch up paint? The dealerships send me to colorrite and they dont have it listed on the website and wont return my phone calls on the 821 Dark

 

[Motosonic]

I brought my bike to the dealer and showed them the scratches.. they claim Ducati has never seen or heard of this and rejected my claim.

 

[Hold Fast]

I brought my bike to the dealer and showed them the scratches.. they claim Ducati has never seen or heard of this and rejected my claim.

Have you heard any dealer say anything other than that? That's why legally binding recalls exist ...

 

[Motosonic]

Have you heard any dealer say anything other than that? That's why legally binding recalls exist ...

No.. is there an actual recall on the paint for this bike? I have a general feeling that this dealer laughed off my issue and didn't contact Ducati at all. There are two Dealers in my state and they're both pretty far away...the one I went to was the one I bought the bike from...but I had contacted Ducati prior to contacting the dealer and Ducati was the one that told me to bring it in.

 

[bergmjs]

Complain straight to Ducati and when they contact you tell them which dealer you're working with and they will contact them about it. I had a Ducati of North America manager calling me and the service manager until the issue got resolved.