2006 Ducati Sport Classic

THE GAS TANK HAS EXPANDED TO THE POINT THAT IT DOES NOT STAY IN THE HOLDING BRACKETS. THE TANK IS LOOSE AND IS A DANGEROUS DRIVING HAZARD. DUCATI IS REPLACING THE TANK WITH THE EXACT SAME MATERIAL WHICH DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. A TANK MADE OUT OF THE SAME MATERIAL WILL RESULT IN THE SAME PROBLEM ALL OVER AGAIN. A PERMANENT SOLUTION SHOULD REQUIRE A CHANGE IN THE GAS TANK MATERIAL USED. *TR

FUEL TANK OF SAID 2006 DUCATI SPORT CLASSIC, 1.) FUEL TANK HAS EXPANDED NO LONGER FITTING INTO THE BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE FUEL TANK SECURELY IN PLACE. (FUEL TANK WOULD MOVE ABOUT) 2.) FUEL TANK DEVELOPED DEFORMATION ALONG THE TOP PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK APPROXIMATELY A 10 MM IN LENGTH AREA (LEFT OF FUEL FILLER CAP). 3.) FUEL TANK DEVELOPED PROTRUDING DIMPLES ALONG RIGHT SIDE AND LEFT SIDE OF FUEL TANK. 4.) FACTORY DECAL ON FUEL TANK DEVELOPED A 1.5 MM DIA. X .3 MM PROTRUDING BUBBLE ON THE FRONT PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR

NOTED FUEL LEAKING WHERE FUEL PUMP HOUSING ATTACHES TO COMPOSITE FUEL TANK. FUEL PUMP HOUSING, CONNECTIONS, AND FITTINGS HAVE NEVER BEEN REMOVED OR ALTERED IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM BY THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE (OWNED 4/12/2007 TO PRESENT). ISSUE APPEARS BE RELATED TO COMPOSITE (NON-METALLIC) FUEL TANK DEFORMATION OVER TIME. LEAKING FUEL IS A SERIOUS SAFETY-ISSUE THAT MAY CAUSE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS INJURY, HARM, OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OPERATOR, VEHICLE, AND OTHER PERSONS AND/OR PROPERTY. *TR

ON OCTOBER 28, 2011, WHILE OPERATING MY 2006 DUCATI SPORTCLASSIC I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LOOSE TOWARDS THE FORWARD PART OF THE FUEL TANK. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, I OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS NO LONGER SECURED BY EITHER THE LEFT-SIDE OR RIGHT-SIDE MOUNTING BRACKETS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FRAME. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE DIMENSIONS OF THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK OVER TIME HAS WARPED OR CHANGED TO SUCH AN EXTENT AS TO RENDER THE TWO FORWARD SECURING BRACKETS INEFFECTIVE IN THEIR PRESENT STATE. THIS RESULTS IN THE FUEL TANK DEPENDENT SOLELY ON A SINGLE REAR MOUNTING BOLT TO SECURE THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE. AS A CONSEQUENCE, IT IS CLEAR THAT ANY OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE RISKS INJURY SHOULD THE FUEL TANK COME LOOSE OR BECOME UNSTABLE WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. IT HAS ALSO BEEN OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL TANK DIMENSIONS HAVE OVER TIME WARPED TO SUCH AN EXTENT AS TO NOW IMPEDE THE FULL USE OF THE VEHICLE STEERING MECHANISM. THIS ALSO RESULTS IN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO ANY OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS CLEAR THAT AN EFFECTIVE, PERMANENT SOLUTION IS REQUIRED OF THE MANUFACTURER TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY ISSUES RELATED TO THIS FUEL TANK AS ITS PRESENT DESIGN, MATERIALS, AND MANUFACTURE IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2006 DUCATI SPORTCLASSIC FROM A DUCATI DEALER IN 2006, AND HAVE SINCE PUT APPROXIMATELY 2700 MILES ON THE BIKE. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND PREMIUM FUEL USED. THE MOTORCYCLE'S GAS TANK IS MADE OF SOME SORT OF PLASTIC OR FIBERGLASS, AND SO IT HAS SPREAD TO THE POINT WHERE THE RUBBER CUPS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HOLD IT TO THE FRAME ON EITHER SIDE ARE NO LONGER IN PLACE. SINCE THE TANK IS ONLY HELD ONTO THE FRAME VIA ONE SCREW MOUNT, THE TANK CAN BE ALMOST COMPLETELY LIFTED OFF OF THE FRAME IN THE FRONT. THE TANK HAS ALSO WARPED ON THE TOP RIGHT SIDE, IN A "WAVY" PATTERN. DUE TO THE LOOSENESS OF THE TANK, IF THIS BIKE WERE TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT, THE TANK COULD COME OFF AND RESULT IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY BECOME A BOMB. IN ADDITION TO THE LOOSE TANK, SINCE IT HAS SPREAD ON THE BOTTOM, THE HANDLE BAR ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE NOW COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE TANK, WHICH COULD CAUSE AN AESTHETIC BLEMISH, AND REDUCES THE TURNING RADIUS, IN ADDITION TO POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURY AT SLOW SPEEDS IF THE RIDER CATCHES HER HAND BETWEEN THE BAR AND TANK. I HAVE CONTACTED A DEALERSHIP NEARBY, AND THEY WILL TAKE PICTURES OF IT, AND HAVE TOLD ME THAT DUCATI WANTS THE DEALERSHIP TO "SHIM" THE TANK FIRST, MEANING THAT THEY WOULD ADD WASHERS ON EITHER SIDE TO TRY TO STABILIZE THE TANK. IF THIS IS UNABLE TO BE FIXED, DUCATI *MAY* REPLACE THE TANK WITH A TANK OF THE SAME TYPE OF MATERIAL, AND THE PROBLEM WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. IF THE BIKE, WHICH IS A 2006, IS OUT OF WARRANTY, DUCATI MAY MAKE ME PAY FOR THE "REPLACEMENT" TANK (APPROX $1800), AND HAS (TO DATE) OFFERED NO REAL SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE (I.E. A TANK MADE OF DIFFERENT MATERIAL). *TR

THE FUEL TANK ON MY 2006 DUCATI PAUL SMART MOTORCYCLE IS DEFECTIVE. THE TANK HAS WARPED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS NO LONGER PROPERLY ATTACHED TO THE MOTORCYCLE'S FRAME. THIS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS, PERHAPS EVEN FATAL, INJURY TO THE RIDER. MY DUCATI DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL TANK UNDER THE 5 YEAR EMISSIONS WARRANTY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TANK THAT DUCATI PROVIDED IS MADE FROM THE EXACT SAME COMPOSITE MATERIAL AS THE ONE THAT WENT BAD. I BELIEVE THE ETHANOL IN TODAY'S GASOLINE IS CAUSING THIS ISSUE OF TANK WARPAGE AND SEPARATION. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND HAVE DUCATI RECALL ALL THEIR SPORT CLASSIC MOTORCYCLES (WHICH INCLUDES MY 2006 PAUL SMART MODEL) TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK WITH ONE THAT IS NOT AFFECTED BY ETHANOL. NOTE THAT MY MOTORCYCLE HAS FEWER THAN 350 MILES OVER THE 5 YEAR PERIOD. THIS IS A TRAVESTY ON DUCATI'S PART. SHAME ON THEM. *TR