Mirror Vibrations-Complaint Filed

9979 Views 38 Replies 25 Participants Last post by Ed K, Oct 5, 2017

mike in o.c.

Discussion Starter · Jun 15, 2017

I went on the Department of Transportation's NHTSA web site and filed a complaint regarding the mirror vibrations. The more of us who go on there and file a complaint the more likely they will open up an investigation that could maybe lead to a recall. I did this because I don't know of any other way to pressure Ducati to fix this problem. I contacted Ducati North America which only led to being told to contact my dealer which led to the dealer not being able to fix it (big surprise). I recommend that anyone living in the USA file a complaint; which is about the only way of maybe being able to get this problem fixed by the manufacturer.
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/

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MasterMind

· #2 · Jun 15, 2017

I don't think I've ever seen someone actually take the liberty to file a report on the NHTSA website but good on you for taking the initiative. We'll definitely need a lot of people to make a complaint though.

klev

· #3 · Jun 15, 2017

Done! Fingers crossed

Fredinfrance

· #4 · Jun 15, 2017

Be careful doing that. It might turn out that the only way to smooth out the mirror vibration is a de-tune to 90 bhp. They might have a compulsory recall and you would not be happy then!

Reactions: 3

klev

· #5 · Jun 15, 2017

Fredinfrance said:
Be careful doing that. It might turn out that the only way to smooth out the mirror vibration is a de-tune to 90 bhp. They might have a compulsory recall and you would not be happy then!

I dont think this would end up as a compulsory recall, since the issue exists based on riding conditions. If someone sticks to riding below 50-60,mph dont know why, then this wouldnt be a problem.

BTW ive seen the vibrations even in urban mode, 75 bhp

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Anders59

· #6 · Jun 16, 2017

Personally I hadn't given it much tought until the issue came up in this forum. I had sort of accepted the problem in a V-Twin configuration and I've experienced way worse tha how itis with the SS. Although you may not be able to read the licens plate number you can still see if there's anything behind you of concern. It's nothing like on a Harley where rear view mirrors truly are useless at most speeds.

I have a hard time seeing that Ducati would ever resolve this issue. The vibrations you experience is a more or less inherent trait of V-Twins. The only way I can imagine for Ducati to fix it would be to have the mirror glas fixed to the covers and some design where adjustment would requir tools to unlock and lock. This is may first Ducati with fairing but I suspect Panigales are the same as well as their predecessors.

Reactions: 2

psyopper

· #7 · Jun 16, 2017

Anders59 said:
Personally I hadn't given it much tought until the issue came up in this forum. I had sort of accepted the problem in a V-Twin configuration and I've experienced way worse tha how itis with the SS. Although you may not be able to read the licens plate number you can still see if there's anything behind you of concern. It's nothing like on a Harley where rear view mirrors truly are useless at most speeds.

I have a hard time seeing that Ducati would ever resolve this issue. The vibrations you experience is a more or less inherent trait of V-Twins. The only way I can imagine for Ducati to fix it would be to have the mirror glas fixed to the covers and some design where adjustment would requir tools to unlock and lock. This is may first Ducati with fairing but I suspect Panigales are the same as well as their predecessors.

If you watch more closely, it's not the mirror glass that's vibrating, it's the entire mirror stalk. My 1994 Ducati 900SS with it's fairing mounted mirrors do not vibrate nearly as much as these. In fact, they vibrate at full speed probably as much as the 939 mirrors do at idle.

Reactions: 2

klev

· #8 · Jun 16, 2017

psyopper said:
If you watch more closely, it's not the mirror glass that's vibrating, it's the entire mirror stalk. My 1994 Ducati 900SS with it's fairing mounted mirrors do not vibrate nearly as much as these. In fact, they vibrate at full speed probably as much as the 939 mirrors do at idle.

Thats correct, however I dont see any vibrations at idle. Its very clear until im in the 4-6k range and then gets better when closing in to peak power band.

1uglybastard

· #9 · Jun 16, 2017

Fredinfrance said:
Be careful doing that. It might turn out that the only way to smooth out the mirror vibration is a de-tune to 90 bhp. They might have a compulsory recall and you would not be happy then!

de-tuning a bike due to mirrors seems pretty far fetched to me. they'd risk losing sales by selling a weaker bike. I think they'd find a way to dampen it, be it at the glass, mirror stem, or maybe part of the framing that holds the upper fairing.

Has anyone tried aftermarket mirrors? or maybe a rubber padding between the mirror and upper fairing?

psyopper

· #10 · Jun 16, 2017

I've noticed it's a combination of both RPM range and throttle position. The more I open the throttle at a given RPM, the more shake I get, though I agree it's worse between 4-6K RPM.

It's seriously laughable. When a cager cuts me off to distract myself from feeling aggrieved I just rev the motor and watch the mirrors to have a little chuckle at how ridiculously they shake. Sometimes I don't even need to feel aggrieved and do it just for kicks.

Reactions: 1

macraige

· #11 · Jun 16, 2017

Ducati is capable of making fairing mounted mirrors that do not vibrate, as they did with the ST series. We have a ST3s and previously had an ST4s. The mirrors have very little vibration. They do not fold and are spring mounted to allow them to move upon impact. Don't really appreciate the design difference, but just know that the ones on the ST work just fine.

They can also do much worse, as the ones on my 848 were totally useless. Very small, positioned where you couldn't really see anything and vibrated to the point of useless. They do look very cool however.

Interesting how some work well, others no so much. We have 2 SS-S and I find the mirrors to be OK, but there is indeed some vibration.

IMHO, given the level of vibration on a lot of motorcycle mirrors, I would not hold my breath on the NTSB.

klev

· #12 · Jun 16, 2017

psyopper said:
I've noticed it's a combination of both RPM range and throttle position. The more I open the throttle at a given RPM, the more shake I get, though I agree it's worse between 4-6K RPM.

It's seriously laughable. When a cager cuts me off to distract myself from feeling aggrieved I just rev the motor and watch the mirrors to have a little chuckle at how ridiculously they shake. Sometimes I don't even need to feel aggrieved and do it just for kicks.

Agree, its when the engine it trying to catch up and settle in the powerband.

steeve

· #13 · Jun 20, 2017 (Edited)

Mirrors don't have to vibrate, it's an easy thing to identify all the frequencies that cause the mirrors to vibrate then design it out.

The fact that that mirrors are not stable under normal operating conditions means they do not comply with USA, EU or U.K. Vehicle regulations. The loss of rearward vision could be classed as a serious safety issue.
File that report.

I previously had a BM R1200RS and they were stable at 140 mph. BMW were quite proud of this. So it is possible.

duc696

· #14 · Sep 7, 2017

Yea - 100 miles in on this bike and I think of the mirrors as more or less a binary tool. Either there is an object in my blind spot or there is not. I may be able to make out a color if there is enough contrast - otherwise its yes or no. Don't ask me for any detail about what I see. It maybe a Honda Fit or Silverado 2500.

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se7en

· #15 · Sep 7, 2017

duc696 said:
Don't ask me for any detail about what I see. It maybe a Honda Fit or Silverado 2500.

Or a flying saucer....

klev

· #16 · Sep 7, 2017

After reading suggestions of pulling the clutch in to use the mirrors I thought of a test. While riding, pull the clutch without dropping the revs, I noticed that the vibes were not that bad, very little and I could see the vehicles behind me fine, not blurred. As soon as I engage the clutch, the mirrors vibrate again. Does this mean the engine is not the primary reason, but the engagement with the gearbox causing it? Can this be fixed as the gearbox level?

Thoughts

Rhino

· #17 · Sep 18, 2017 (Edited)

Giro Widget Weight)

Ok some food for thought. I was speaking to a guy today and he was telling me how he had cracked his mirror on his Suzuki and couldn't easily get a replacement so he went to a glazier and got a mirror cut and replaced it himself as he had done before in the past. He then said but he felt stupid as he forgot to place the Vibration counter weight to the mirror and it was useless couldn't see Hardly anything through all the vibrations. !??! ( Counter Vibration weight) this sparked my interest for obvious reasons. So it seems that if the correct counter weight thingy (lets call it a Giro widget weight .. Patent pending

) is placed on the back of the mirror lens to counter the Vibration, Harmonic, Buzz etc its got to sort out the Fuzzy mirrors. Ok so I worked it out Someone clever make the fix.

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psyopper

· #18 · Sep 18, 2017

Rhino said:
Ok some food for thought. I was speaking to a guy today and he was telling me how he had cracked his mirror on his Suzuki and couldn't easily get a replacement so he went to a glazier and got a mirror cut and replaced it himself as he had done before in the past. He then said but he felt stupid as he forgot to place the Vibration counter weight to the mirror and it was useless couldn't see Hardly anything through all the vibrations. !??! ( Counter Vibration weight) this sparked my interest for obvious reasons. So it seems that if the correct counter weight thingy (lets call it a Giro widget weight .. Patent pending ) is placed on the back of the mirror lens to counter the Vibration, Harmonic, Buzz etc its got to sort out the Fuzzy mirrors. Ok so I worked it out Someone clever make the fix.

I still wonder if we are talking about the same thing. The issue is not a fuzzy mirror face. The whole danmed front fairing shakes, windshield included, and the effect gets magnified by the additional length of the mirror arm.

amoslws

· #19 · Sep 18, 2017

Rhino said:
Ok some food for thought. I was speaking to a guy today and he was telling me how he had cracked his mirror on his Suzuki and couldn't easily get a replacement so he went to a glazier and got a mirror cut and replaced it himself as he had done before in the past. He then said but he felt stupid as he forgot to place the Vibration counter weight to the mirror and it was useless couldn't see Hardly anything through all the vibrations. !??! ( Counter Vibration weight) this sparked my interest for obvious reasons. So it seems that if the correct counter weight thingy (lets call it a Giro widget weight .. Patent pending ) is placed on the back of the mirror lens to counter the Vibration, Harmonic, Buzz etc its got to sort out the Fuzzy mirrors. Ok so I worked it out Someone clever make the fix.

To get the mirror out to place the weight you will break the casing.....Myself and OLDNDUMB looked into this month's ago.

Reactions: 1

Rhino

· #20 · Sep 18, 2017

amoslws said:
To get the mirror out to place the weight you will break the casing.....Myself and OLDNDUMB looked into this month's ago.

Yip everything shakes and no you can't get the mirror out to put a weight on it but Ducati can while assembly. If they did that with success we would all be getting a recall letter saying take your bike to the nearest dealer for our replacement mirrors.

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