After several bikes with full Ohlins, I'm going a completely different route with all Bitubo suspension. I've watched Bitubo in World STK and SSP really come up well for the last few years and it got me intrigued, plus it keeps the bike with mostly Italian bits. Reading the specs of their parts I think there is good value if the performance meets my expectations. I had FGRT808 forks w/ SBK valves and a TTX Mk2 on my Crossplane R1 and it made a world of difference, so hoping the same for the Pani.
Frankly, I'm quite happy with the OEM Marzocchi/Sachs stuff on the street here in FL. Sadly, we have most straight roads and I have to get my jollies on cloverleafs and the few backroad twisties. But already my Pani with some knob twiddling is working at least as well as my professionally reworked R1 on the road, but I haven't been to the track yet.
In anticipation of heavy track use my Pani will see, I've ordered the Bitubo XXF61 race shock, and have already mounted the Bitubo gas-charged steering damper, both from Bellisimoto with the help of Gunny Fitz. I already notice a difference with the gas-charged steering damper as on setting 6 of 18, it feels like the steering feel is lighter but I notice that the regular shimmy of the front wheel when exiting a corner hard on the gas is more tamed than it was with the OEM non-adjustable damper.
Bitubo just came out with their Full-Pressure-System (FPS) Nitrogen-Charged fork cartridges for the Marzocchi forks (it was already available for the S and R Ohlins). These cartridges have some pretty trick specs, but I will try my Pani on the track a few times with the OEM forks and upgraded rear shock before deciding if it is worth the money.
FPS Description:
Full Pressure System: represents the highest efficiency and practicality of this patented system.
This innovative damping system is created for immediate fork oscillation control, thus avoiding
any cavitations of the internal fluid. This system is low pressure gas pressurized. The cartridges
are asymmetric: where one controls the compression, the other one controls the rebound. With
two alternate chambers at the two ends, it is possible to reach a very high damping coefficient
even at very low speed.
Easy Changer: this is a quick change system: fast replacement of the spring, already available in
the previous YCE cartridge version, with a free key and a new exclusive cartridge dismantling
system, which does not require the fork removal. This system makes the set-up bike modification
easier by racing technicians.
Light Components: this product is manufactured with a high percentage of special light alloys,
thus decreasing the weight of the previous YCE cartridge considerably.
TECHNICAL FEATURES
"¢ Hydraulic piston with FPS® system (Patent Pending) Ø27mm, in Ergal material
"¢ Pumping rods with Ø10mm with surface coating against friction.
"¢ Mechanical end-stroke with polyurethane bump stop.
"¢ CrSi steel springs, undergo a patented stabilizing procedure.
"¢ Upper cap of the fork with integrated hydraulic spring preload (Patent Pending)
"¢ Independent damping adjustment in compression and rebound
"¢ Coaxial compensation chamber (Patent Pending)
"¢ Ergal cartridge body with internal surface coating against friction
"¢ Separated Hydraulic/sliding lubrication
XXF31 Shock Description (the XXF61 race shock I ordered is the same but without the hydraulic preload adjustment, if you've adjusted your preload you know how easy it is to get a spanner on a regular shock collar. It also allows for up to -10mm shock length than OEM, developed by Bitubo analyzing a proper race setup for the Panigale.)
