2008 Ducati Monster 696

VEHICLE: 2008 DUCATI MONSTER S4RS TRICOLORE (MOTORCYCLE) ISSUE: EXCESSIVE EXPANSION OF THE FUEL TANK CAUSING MATERIAL YIELD AND FITMENT PROBLEMS _______________________________________________________ 1) NORMAL USE OF GAS TANK (REFUELING) OVER A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS. 2) FUEL TANK IS: A) EXPANDING (TO THE POINT OF WITNESSING EXTERNAL CRACKS, RIPPLES, AND BUBBLES ) B) ELONGATION OF THE FUEL TANK CAUSES ACCESS TO COMPONENTS UNDER IT FROM BEING ACCESSED READILY (AS DESIGNED). C) CONDITION IS CONSTANT AND GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. D) RUPTURE/LEAKING HAS NOT OCCURRED, BUT IS EXPECTED. E) CONSIDERING THIS IS A MOTORCYCLE WITH THE FUEL TANK LOCATED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE RIDER, A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WOULD BE EXPECTED. 3) MOTORCYCLE WAS: A) RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR REVIEW, UPON WHICH A DECISION WAS MADE TO REPLACE THE TANK AT THE MANUFACTURE'S EXPENSE. B) THE MANUFACTURE WILL SWAP THE DEFECTIVE TANK FOR THE REPLACEMENT UNIT. *TR

MY MOTORCYCLE HAS A PLASTIC GAS TANK WHICH HAS BEGUN TO EXPAND. THE OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS OF THE TANK HAVE INCREASED AND IT NOW DOES NOT SIT CORRECTLY IN THE FRAME AND IT PRESSES AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH. PREVIOUSLY IT OPENED AND CLOSED WITHOUT PROBLEMS, NOW I HAVE TO WEDGE IT AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH TO CLOSE IT. THE RUBBER MOUNTS NO LONGER SIT CORRECTLY ON THE FRAME. I HAVE NOT MODIFIED MY MOTORCYCLE AND I HAVE MADE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE FUEL TANK OR FUEL PUMP. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER WHO SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO DUCATI NORTH AMERICA (THE IMPORTER/FACTORY) AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TANK. I WAS NOT GIVEN A REASON. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO THE SAFETY OF THIS MOTORCYCLE NOW. THE TANK'S SWELLING HAS MADE IT SO THE HANDLEBARS DO NOT TURN CORRECTLY. IF THE TANK SWELLS ENOUGH, IT WILL SPLIT OPEN AND I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE I AM RIDING. *TR

THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK ON MY 2008 DUCATI MONSTER S2R1000 (SELECTED MONSTER 696 AS VEHICLE SINCE S2R1000 WAS NOT AN OPTION) IS SWELLING TO THE POINT IT IS RUBBING AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH HOUSING AND NO LONGER SITS ON THE FRAME FOR PROPER SUPPORT. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE FIRE RISK IF THE TANK WERE TO WEAR ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND ALLOW GASOLINE TO SPILL ONTO MY IGNITION WIRING AND HOT ENGINE. OBVIOUSLY, A FUEL LEAK OCCURRING WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE COULD RESULT IN A CRASH, INJURY OR DEATH, AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. I ALSO CANNOT LIFT THE FUEL TANK AS DESIGNED BY DUCATI TO SERVICE THE MOTORCYCLE. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A PROBLEM AFFECTING SEVERAL DUCATI MODELS FROM 2005 TO PRESENT. MY MOTORCYCLE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2008, CURRENTLY HAS LESS THAN 700 MILES ON IT, HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED , AND, OTHER THAN THIS SERIOUS DEFECT, IS IN BRAND NEW CONDITION. *TR