2005 Ducati Monster S2 R

PLASTIC GAS TANK HAS EXPANDED AND WARPED, CAUSING TANK VENTS TO STOP WORKING EFFECTIVELY. GASOLINE NOW LEAKS AND SPRAYS EXTENSIVELY FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK, COVERING THE TANK AND SURROUNDING AREAS WITH GASOLINE. GASOLINE ALSO LEAKS EXTENSIVELY FROM THE OVERFLOW TUBE ONTO MY GARAGE FLOOR. THE EXPANSION HAS ALSO MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO ACCESS THE FRONT TANK RELEASE LATCH. I MAINLY OBSERVE THIS WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS STATIONARY IN MY GARAGE. THE GASOLINE FUMES ARE ALWAYS PRESENT IN THE GARAGE. WHILE I HAVE NOT OBSERVED IT, I SUSPECT THIS LEAKING AND SPRAYING ALSO HAPPENS WHILE RIDING ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. THE CONSTANT PRESENCE OF GASOLINE OUTSIDE THE TANK IS UNSAFE. ON 3-17-17, THE DUCATI DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE THE PLASTIC TANK WITH ANOTHER PLASTIC TANK FOR $1,200. THAT IS NOT AN ADEQUATE SOLUTION. THESE PLASTIC TANKS EXPAND AND WARP OVER TIME. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE REPLACEMENT TANK EXPANDS AND WARPS.

THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK ON THIS AND OTHER DUCATI MOTORCYCLES EXPAND WITH GENERALLY AVAILABLE NORTH AMERICAN GASOLINE, SUCH THAT THE TANK CANNOT BE ATTACHED TO THE FRONT ATTACHMENT AT THE IGNITION KEY AREA, NEAR THE HANDLE BARS. THIS MAKES THE FUEL TANK NOT SECURED TO THE FORWARD PART OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS LEAVES ONLY ONE ATTACHMENT, AT THE REAR HINGE, SO IF THE MOTORCYCLE CRASHES OR IS DROPPED THE FORWARD PART OF THE FUEL TANK WILL POP AWAY FROM THE FRAME, PROBABLY LEAKING AND SUSCEPTIBLE TO RUPTURE BEING PLASTIC. DUCATI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED THESE DEFECTIVE TANKS (INCLUDING MINE) PURSUANT TO A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT. UNFORTUNATELY DUCATI USED OTHER ALSO DEFECTIVE TANKS (SAME EXPANSION DEFECT WITH NO WARNING OF FUEL NOT TO USE - IF THAT IS THE PROBLEM) TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL DEFECTIVE EXPANDED TANKS. DUCATI REFUSED MY REQUEST IT RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. MY MOTORCYCLE IS NOW DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE, A FIRE HAZARD, NOT SUITABLE FOR USE AND WOULD FAIL A SAFETY INSPECTION MAKING IT UNLAWFUL TO OPERATE ON HAWAII ROADS.

AFTER SEVERAL TANK REPLACEMENT BY DUCATI THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. TANK KEEPS SWELLING AND PUTS STRESS ON THE LATCH SO THAT IT CAN'T BE UNLATCH TO GET TO THE BATTERY OR FOR SERVICE . TANK ALSO DOESN'T SIT FIRM ON FRAME AT PIK SWELLING TIME . TANK ALSO LEAKS FUEL AT BOTTOM AROUND SEAL WHILE SWELLING IS AT MAX. FUEL GOES ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND FLOOR .DEALER SALES K 100 FUEL ADDITIVE FOR ETHANOL PROBLEMS SINCE DUCATI PERSIST ON NOT CHANGING TANK FOR A IMPROVED MATERIAL. *TR