A note on throttle spacers

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Pretty convinced that spacers are snake oil and the main reason people put them on is to get back a bit of that "tinkering in the shed" feeling. Apart from putting makeup on these bikes the step to really getting into them above most casual riders and for the most part completely unnecessary. The engines are basically bulletproof and sorted, the electronics are locked down so you're limited to putting on pipes, and upgrading suspension and whatnot on the more serious side. If you want to play dress ups there's any number of shopping channel threads on this site where you can ooh and aaah over packaging, so the throttle spacers like see through clutch covers etc offers the average Joe a chance to play MotoGP mechanic ha ha! Anyway I think you get my point, Ive mentioned it in a few threads on spacers, Ive had them and I wouldnt bother. Any problems with the throttle are in your head. Ducati did not make a mistake with this.
 
KarlKani said:
it is, you just might not ride in a way that it matters....
Click to expand...

That's a little pissy and dismissive. I'm all up to listen to the advice and experiences of other riders, but I don't like people that .... all over someone else for the sake of their own ego.

There was a time free play was necessary so when you turned the bars you weren't inadvertently giving the bike throttle. With ride-by-wire, that day is gone.

If someone doesn't want any freeplay, how does that even remotely effect you?
 
Paul G said:
Pretty convinced that spacers are snake oil and the main reason people put them on is to get back a bit of that "tinkering in the shed" feeling. Apart from putting makeup on these bikes the step to really getting into them above most casual riders and for the most part completely unnecessary. The engines are basically bulletproof and sorted, the electronics are locked down so you're limited to putting on pipes, and upgrading suspension and whatnot on the more serious side. If you want to play dress ups there's any number of shopping channel threads on this site where you can ooh and aaah over packaging, so the throttle spacers like see through clutch covers etc offers the average Joe a chance to play MotoGP mechanic ha ha! Anyway I think you get my point, Ive mentioned it in a few threads on spacers, Ive had them and I wouldnt bother. Any problems with the throttle are in your head. Ducati did not make a mistake with this.
Click to expand...

Lol!! I'll pay that dig. And yes, you've caught me out. I'm an IT dude with very little mechanical hands on experience and/or technical knowledge. It's just that when I come out of the garage with a bit of grease on my smooth hands, my wife looks at me different haha!

Anyway, all that aside, yes, the bike is just fine stock, and has more than what I need. But I have mentioned on a few posts that I 'sometimes' have trouble getting off the mark quick/smooth etc... and many people have said this was a good bang for buck mod for them (many also have not). I figure I'll give it a go, and either it works for me or it doesn't. No harm no foul.
 
Nadsy said:
Lol!! I'll pay that dig. And yes, you've caught me out. I'm an IT dude with very little mechanical hands on experience and/or technical knowledge. It's just that when I come out of the garage with a bit of grease on my smooth hands, my wife looks at me different haha!

Anyway, all that aside, yes, the bike is just fine stock, and has more than what I need. But I have mentioned on a few posts that I 'sometimes' have trouble getting off the mark quick/smooth etc... and many people have said this was a good bang for buck mod for them (many also have not). I figure I'll give it a go, and either it works for me or it doesn't. No harm no foul.
Click to expand...

I think it was a better mod for the 1199 Panigale before all the fueling and mapping was sorted out. With the V4s it seems to be less of an issue.

In my experience, try adjusting the clutch lever so its closer to the bar. If there's less dead space in the clutch lever's travel before you get to the friction zone it makes for a MUCH more direct feeling to launch from a stop.
 
bp_SFV4 said:
In my experience, try adjusting the clutch lever so its closer to the bar. If there's less dead space in the clutch lever's travel before you get to the friction zone it makes for a MUCH more direct feeling to launch from a stop.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that mate... yeah, already adjusted the clutch in 'almost' as far as it would go (the closest in was too close). Made it heaps better. I find it quite a bitey clutch (compared to other bikes I've owned anyway). All this is really minor stuff though... I'm having buckets of fun on it!!
 
I put the smallest of the 2 pieces on and left the larger one off. There is still enough slack and just enough for my satisfaction. I personally think that having both the spacers in are terrible as they leave 0 room for any mistake and being that my bike is a street bike n will never see track, the throttle slack is very very necessary. Goin over bumps and potholes n such would make the bike jerky n super sketchy to ride. I've had a couple of cruising scenarios with clutch hand off the handle bars resting and going over what seemed like a small bump or pothole and damn near lost control of the bike.The throttle slack makes those scenarios very forgiving and basically non existent. I'm no pro racer. Just a novice street rider who respects the power between my legs, no matter which 2 wheeler it straddles and the 1199 is simply too much to handle safely in the streets with 0 slack.
 
RdashP said:
none
Click to expand...
Not true. I checked again and freeplay is still there, a tiny bit, about 10% of what it was stock. So I guess that’s why I don’t have any issues with DQS shifting down when (hard) on the brakes.

I like the almost mitigation of freeplay especially when road riding, nice and easy accelerating from standstill works smooth.

On track the 0% to just little throttle scenario hardly occurs or you’re going to slow? ;)
 
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I've been working on throttle off, fingers sliding over the brake and squeezing at the same time. Makes a big difference, I'm sure all the good riders do it naturally. But as you say the throttle on track is either off or pretty much pinned apart from mid corner until you stand it up enough.
 
Yes and No, "it may work" and "is right" is not the same.
you need clearance at many places. Just to make sure the Value is more than zero.
zero means, could be also less than zero. and that is wrong.
Brake master, Valves, and so on.
so, i agree, reducing clearance can be a user preference.
but you shouldn't be too optimistic.
taking the slack out of a throttle cable COMPLETLY, is a bad Idea.
 
RODOLFO said:
Yes free play is necesary

Maybe not that much, but it is necesary

It prevents from involuntary acceleration

Especialy while braking, or in lost of control situations


I took the spacers off, after having problems to brake at the track

Problem solved immediately
Click to expand...
With better control better technique may be forced. Sounds like you were not able to completely roll off while reaching or squeezing brake.

Sent from my SM-N975W using Tapatalk
 
I was just joking around. I see it more of a preference thing. I'm of the opinion the play is there to simulate how bikes used to be rather than for making the bike faster on the track.

Sent from my SM-N975W using Tapatalk
 
I had spacers on my V4 until I ran into issues with it starting. Battery had voltage, bike would turn over, but wouldn't start. I would have to bump start it and it would be fine. Only did it occasionally. I took it in to Ducati to have it figured out and the tech said per the DDS that the bike was registering a 1 percent throttle open sometimes after shutting it. If the bike is turned on with the throttle cracked during the boot up sequence, it could cause issues with fueling and starting. I removed the spacers and the issue never returned.

Panigale spacers was a pleasure to work with and refunded me over it. Mine might have just been slightly too big, but it was enough to put me off from them. Nowadays I don't even notice the play in the throttle and have no issues keeping it steady.
 

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