My Ducati 998 will not start in the morning. It could be 30 or 100 degrees outside and still give me problems. Once its jumped, it'll work fine all day (never need another jump that day). Next morning, the same thing all over again. What could be draining my battery overnight? I have a new battery in it. It sounds like there isn't enough juice to crank it over. When I jump it, you could hear the starter crank faster and the bike starts right up. Installed a new starter a few days ago. Same problem. Now I have 2 starters. Can anyone help? Frank

from the solenoid to the battery. And also connected a new ground. I left the original ground cable in place and connected the new one to one of the bolts in the clutch cover. After measuring with a multimeter this was the best one I found. I used 16 mm thick power cable that's normally applied in cars. Twice as big as the stock wiring with huge connections for maximum contact. When I tried to start the bike it fired up like never before. Waaauw. Measured the battery voltage at 3000 rpm and read 13.7 V on the multimeter must be enough. I didn't bother to measure the regulator, cause the charging system seems to be working just fine. Took the bike for a spin around the block, stopped, shut it off and started right up again. Before the cable transplant , even getting it started with a warm engine was a hassle. Now you can really hear the starter click without effort. Also tested at high speed/revs, the rev needle doesn't jump up and down anymore. The dashboard light doesn't flicker anymore. Well, juuuust a little bit, but not more than it should. The clock didn't jump to 00:00 anymore. So I guess the faulty ground, corroded connections and the original wires were causing most of my problems. Luckily I have a week off from work next week, so I got all the time to test the bike. I even think I'll put the fairing right back on tomorrow morning, if the bike starts at first attempt after a cold night in the garage. It's sure a good test to build my confidence back up. Quite important if my bike should get me to work every morning. Thanks again for all the advice guys. I hope I'll still have good news in 3 or 4 days, after I properly tested my red fury. For everyone else who has read this thread. Keep your connections clean and change your stock wiring to bigger wires even if you don't have starting problems (yet)!,It does sound like the battery may not be holding it's charge very well. If it's not very recent it may be due for replacing. A 10W40 oils should be ok for both winter and summer and is what is specified by Ducati for temperatures down to -10C. Although a 5w40 might give the starter an easier time, I suspect that the real culprit is the battery.,,,

from the solenoid to the battery. And also connected a new ground. I left the original ground cable in place and connected the new one to one of the bolts in the clutch cover. After measuring with a multimeter this was the best one I found. I used 16 mm thick power cable that's normally applied in cars. Twice as big as the stock wiring with huge connections for maximum contact. When I tried to start the bike it fired up like never before. Waaauw. Measured the battery voltage at 3000 rpm and read 13.7 V on the multimeter must be enough. I didn't bother to measure the regulator, cause the charging system seems to be working just fine. Took the bike for a spin around the block, stopped, shut it off and started right up again. Before the cable transplant , even getting it started with a warm engine was a hassle. Now you can really hear the starter click without effort. Also tested at high speed/revs, the rev needle doesn't jump up and down anymore. The dashboard light doesn't flicker anymore. Well, juuuust a little bit, but not more than it should. The clock didn't jump to 00:00 anymore. So I guess the faulty ground, corroded connections and the original wires were causing most of my problems. Luckily I have a week off from work next week, so I got all the time to test the bike. I even think I'll put the fairing right back on tomorrow morning, if the bike starts at first attempt after a cold night in the garage. It's sure a good test to build my confidence back up. Quite important if my bike should get me to work every morning. Thanks again for all the advice guys. I hope I'll still have good news in 3 or 4 days, after I properly tested my red fury. For everyone else who has read this thread. Keep your connections clean and change your stock wiring to bigger wires even if you don't have starting problems (yet)!,It does sound like the battery may not be holding it's charge very well. If it's not very recent it may be due for replacing. A 10W40 oils should be ok for both winter and summer and is what is specified by Ducati for temperatures down to -10C. Although a 5w40 might give the starter an easier time, I suspect that the real culprit is the battery.,,,

from the solenoid to the battery. And also connected a new ground. I left the original ground cable in place and connected the new one to one of the bolts in the clutch cover. After measuring with a multimeter this was the best one I found. I used 16 mm thick power cable that's normally applied in cars. Twice as big as the stock wiring with huge connections for maximum contact. When I tried to start the bike it fired up like never before. Waaauw. Measured the battery voltage at 3000 rpm and read 13.7 V on the multimeter must be enough. I didn't bother to measure the regulator, cause the charging system seems to be working just fine. Took the bike for a spin around the block, stopped, shut it off and started right up again. Before the cable transplant , even getting it started with a warm engine was a hassle. Now you can really hear the starter click without effort. Also tested at high speed/revs, the rev needle doesn't jump up and down anymore. The dashboard light doesn't flicker anymore. Well, juuuust a little bit, but not more than it should. The clock didn't jump to 00:00 anymore. So I guess the faulty ground, corroded connections and the original wires were causing most of my problems. Luckily I have a week off from work next week, so I got all the time to test the bike. I even think I'll put the fairing right back on tomorrow morning, if the bike starts at first attempt after a cold night in the garage. It's sure a good test to build my confidence back up. Quite important if my bike should get me to work every morning. Thanks again for all the advice guys. I hope I'll still have good news in 3 or 4 days, after I properly tested my red fury. For everyone else who has read this thread. Keep your connections clean and change your stock wiring to bigger wires even if you don't have starting problems (yet)!,It does sound like the battery may not be holding it's charge very well. If it's not very recent it may be due for replacing. A 10W40 oils should be ok for both winter and summer and is what is specified by Ducati for temperatures down to -10C. Although a 5w40 might give the starter an easier time, I suspect that the real culprit is the battery.,,,

998 is a great bike... they arn't super fast top speed is 162mph and its gear limited not electronically limited. It will take you a while to get to 162mph quarter mile is 11.5 sec @ 135mph, so I'd guess, 15 sec or so too 162mph, from a stop. You can get a modern-day corvette to do better,,,