[Ducati] Misc ponderings about regulators

[Garth Williams]

My Dear List:

I was wondering the other day about regulators.  Italian bikes in 
general, and Ducati specifically, tend to have issues with their 
regulators "letting all the smoke out."  As my old shop teacher told me, 
"smoke makes electrical systems run- that's why when they let all the 
smoke out, they don't work no more."  He was kidding...I think. 

Why is this an Italian characteristic.  No slur against gli italiani 
here, I just see this as something that's pretty common among Italian 
bikes. Is it a specific manufacturer that Ducati goes to that just does 
bad work? Is it bad Ducati design?  Are there things one can do to 
prevent this badness from happening?

I personally haven't had the issue crop up, but I have a three-phase 
bike, which as I understand it is a little less prone to killing 
regulators. 

Anyway, respond as you wish.  Thanks in advance. No hurry.  :-)


Garth