Ducati throttle SPACER

brad8266 said:

The average coffee shop Ducatista wouldn’t have the first clue how to properly setup a bike both from an ergo or mechanical perspective so if my theory is accurate ductai is smart to build safety into the bike for the sake of their ignorant riders.

On the 100% throttle part, I’ll check mine today via my aim solo 2. It it doesn’t show 100% spacer is coming out.

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good idea. Let us know your result. Assuming you are on track, use speed as another variable. Does it make a difference ?

When you get into RPM mgmt techniques
this is our primary interface akin to a tuned instrument.

And for those of us who’ve been riding/racing last couple of decades prior to electronic traction control, analog was the wrist. We didn’t have all the wizardry to save us. Even so these are lauded as safety benefits. Not true for throttle slop from Ducati.I’d bet you be hard pressed to find anything about this benefits or otherwise.

Dunno if I agree with engineering to work around poor habits and ignorant riders. That could swing the other way. Nano second delay causing a misstep. Imo, when we talk performance riding street or track education makes a safer rider. They should learn how to activate better transitions from throttle to brakes. Sometimes when trail braking using both.

how many riders actually check their pressures pre ride if ever? How about get their suspension tuned to their body weight,
even a basic sag setup ? Do they even know what the clickers do ?

running track days, performance clinics for over 18 years in the Midwest gotta say hardly any street riders can answer these questions or come prepared with tuned bikes.

An instrument out of tune is prolly something a pro can handle like a musician to his/her guitar. However, to a noob, this could be detrimental. Simply not ideal.

education is better than ignorance; trial by fire hurts.

The BIG problem when talking about the spacers is that its never mentioned if we're talking about an ad hoc solution of zip ties, tape, 3D printed versions or an actual product produced by whom.

The issues with the spacers are what others have written here, not starting or failing to hit WOT etc. Since the DQS downshift is tied to the throttle being fully closed to downshift the potential for a problem exists.

I've used them on 3 Ducati bikes and haven't had a problem but I never went looking for one either. I doubt I could tell the difference between 98% throttle and 100%.

WyldCFH said:

Suzuki shuts the butterflies instead of designing in throttle slop. It requires going into the ECU and turning that parameter off to rectify.

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this seems like it’s more likely to address air/fuel ratio from idle. Things we do when we modify our maps. Much less about throttle response Imo. Do you have details on this as it relates to crisper, more precise throttle response?

Mykelkc said:

this seems like it’s more likely to address air/fuel ratio from idle. Things we do when we modify our maps. Much less about throttle response Imo. Do you have details on this as it relates to crisper, more precise throttle response?

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I don't remember specifics, but, on decel and below a certain rpm the fuel is cut. It is most apparent in their C ride mode, which is the tamest. It is one of the first things tuners disable for a more linear and consistent feel to the throttle. A quick google search shows all 4 Japanese manufacturers do this at some level and some auto manufacturers

bp_SFV4 said:

The BIG problem when talking about the spacers is that its never mentioned if we're talking about an ad hoc solution of zip ties, tape, 3D printed versions or an actual product produced by whom.

The issues with the spacers are what others have written here, not starting or failing to hit WOT etc. Since the DQS downshift is tied to the throttle being fully closed to downshift the potential for a problem exists.

I've used them on 3 Ducati bikes and haven't had a problem but I never went looking for one either. I doubt I could tell the difference between 98% throttle and 100%.

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I think the reality is most of the time, the spacers work just fine. But ultimately, they are not a quality controlled piece of equipment. I got mine from Ducati Spacers and I highly doubt they are measuring each batch to verify they are within an acceptable spec. While I'm sure most of the time it would cause no issues, it appears the ones I recieved were slightly larger than usual and therefore caused the TPS issues. Same for my buddy with his 1199. As far as my case goes, they issued me a full refund without any questions, so it was an overall pleasant experience.

I learned the muscle memory of controlling the shutting of the throttle and never just letting it fully slack. Even on corner exit from a shut throttle, I don't get that degree or so of slop because I've learned where it is and to apply ever so slight pressure to the throttle at all times when it's fully shut. That's why I mentioned actually riding because I feel like a logical person would just develop that muscle memory (I'm not a great rider at all and learned it) and the problem would be completely eliminated for free, without any risk of issues. It's kinda interesting to me how someone could spend a lot of time on track and still battle with the throttle slop when it was a non-issue for me after just one or two track days.

WyldCFH said:

I don't remember specifics, but, on decel and below a certain rpm the fuel is cut. It is most apparent in their C ride mode, which is the tamest. It is one of the first things tuners disable for a more linear and consistent feel to the throttle. A quick google search shows all 4 Japanese manufacturers do this at some level and some auto manufacturers

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Yes I’ve seen this too. As well performed this on my gixxer race bikes using old school yoshimura ecu flash tool, better than piggy back pwr commander by my tuner on the dyno. I wonder if it was more about conformance to exhaust standards less about the throttle response reason for the design. Either way, it made for better crisper response. Is this why Ducati built it into its ride by wire throttle ? Dunno. I see no performance gains or value from a safety perspective to intro slop. It really seems like an engineered design flaw. But why?

MaverickiB said:

I think the reality is most of the time, the spacers work just fine. But ultimately, they are not a quality controlled piece of equipment. I got mine from Ducati Spacers and I highly doubt they are measuring each batch to verify they are within an acceptable spec. While I'm sure most of the time it would cause no issues, it appears the ones I recieved were slightly larger than usual and therefore caused the TPS issues. Same for my buddy with his 1199. As far as my case goes, they issued me a full refund without any questions, so it was an overall pleasant experience.

I learned the muscle memory of controlling the shutting of the throttle and never just letting it fully slack. Even on corner exit from a shut throttle, I don't get that degree or so of slop because I've learned where it is and to apply ever so slight pressure to the throttle at all times when it's fully shut. That's why I mentioned actually riding because I feel like a logical person would just develop that muscle memory (I'm not a great rider at all and learned it) and the problem would be completely eliminated for free, without any risk of issues. It's kinda interesting to me how someone could spend a lot of time on track and still battle with the throttle slop when it was a non-issue for me after just one or two track days.

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surely anyone, novices included can ride around it. Just like a poorly set up suspension, incorrect tire pressures many riders are none the wiser. Especially those who spend most of their time on the street and at slower speeds. Why do we check pressures religiously ?

no one is battling with throttle slop it’s just not optimum and a variable easily addressed. Crisp, more precise throttle response is better. Racers tend to control what they can control and prepare for what the cannot obsessively. If you don’t have to adjust your riding around a mechanical variable, why should you. Save 20 - 30 bucks and ride around it or have your tuner intro their respective fix or install a set of spacers? You just spent 20 - 40k on a bike it should work like a scalpel sharp and precise. Why do we jettison the cat, swap air filters, mod fuel maps and upgrade stock exhausts? In stock form it’s not optimum and improve airflow, weight reduction and performance.

As it relates to track riding when you are working on tenths of a second, spending most of your seat time at or near triple digits, trying to hit the same point/time lap after lap every little bit counts.

all for $20-30… easy decision imo.

I get it, kinda. But the whole "these bikes are expensive why be cheap" argument goes both ways. If you're really racing one of these machines and chasing every 100th of a second, then it makes equally as little sense to solve a problem with a cheap 20 dollar piece of plastic or zip tie when it has a potential to cause problems. Why not go the "proper" route and get a Domino throttle or Jetprime cable throttle conversion kit? You've spent 20-40 grand on a Ducati racebike and now the options that actually solve the problem and have been subject to quality control standards, costing a couple hundred dollars, are too expensive?

I just don't see the point. If you're like me and enjoy going to the track but aren't actually racing anyone, then it doesn't make sense to risk causing TPS errors over an extremely minor inconvenience you can muscle memory out of existence in a few sessions. If you're racing a Panigale, likely the most expensive machine you could possible club race, then it doesn't make sense to drop all that dosh on the bike only to go, "Yeah, jamming a zip tie in my throttle to get rid of some slop is a good idea."

I'm not a rich dude, and being a submariner, I am all for a good old fashioned jerry rig. But these spacers have left me bump starting my V4 in the rain at 1am after 4 straight days of loading torpedoes on a submarine and that .... just didn't feel like a good trade for no slop in my throttle.

MaverickiB said:

I get it, kinda. But the whole "these bikes are expensive why be cheap" argument goes both ways. If you're really racing one of these machines and chasing every 100th of a second, then it makes equally as little sense to solve a problem with a cheap 20 dollar piece of plastic or zip tie when it has a potential to cause problems. Why not go the "proper" route and get a Domino throttle or Jetprime cable throttle conversion kit? You've spent 20-40 grand on a Ducati racebike and now the options that actually solve the problem and have been subject to quality control standards, costing a couple hundred dollars, are too expensive?

I just don't see the point. If you're like me and enjoy going to the track but aren't actually racing anyone, then it doesn't make sense to risk causing TPS errors over an extremely minor inconvenience you can muscle memory out of existence in a few sessions. If you're racing a Panigale, likely the most expensive machine you could possible club race, then it doesn't make sense to drop all that dosh on the bike only to go, "Yeah, jamming a zip tie in my throttle to get rid of some slop is a good idea."

I'm not a rich dude, and being a submariner, I am all for a good old fashioned jerry rig. But these spacers have left me bump starting my V4 in the rain at 1am after 4 straight days of loading torpedoes on a submarine and that .... just didn't feel like a good trade for no slop in my throttle.

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10s of a second very different than 100s

never said jammin a zip tie was a good idea either.

speaking to your experience sorry to hear. I have had these on 3 different panigale applications and not one issue; ever. Which is why I asked if anyone had problems. I have not had any issues and had some pretty good duc techs working on my bikes (TJ) over the years. No one has ever warned me about adverse affects could happen and after 18k+ track miles. Never an issue.

Speaking to upgrading the entire throttle for this, like you I’m not rich and no longer racing although I run 14-15 events at multiple tracks each year. Frugal even though I just upgraded to V4SP as my work bike nice improvement over first gen 2018 V4S btw. So I can get away with removing the slop with a easy fix that has worked for me since 2013. Why change it and no sense buying a completely new throttle assembly when it isn’t necessary. Once again, I didn’t experience TPS error or had any other adverse affect with 3 installations on three different models.

If I do, then I would definitely upgrade the throttle assembly before just riding around it. Slop sucks and hinders performance.

I like slop.

I agree with both perspectives stated throughout this thread - the sloppy oem throttle really isn’t THAT big a deal, and the lack of slop post-spacers improved the riding experience for me personally.

I tracked my v4 for 18 months without spacers and never considered the throttle slop a big issue. I then had the opportunity to feel the Domino RBW throttle on a buddy’s v4r at COTA, and appreciated how nice it felt. Ordered one and while waiting for it to arrive, installed the spacers. I found the improved throttle response was actually annoying for the first session or two on track, before getting used to it and then feeling it was an improvement. Having now spent a day at COTA with the Domino installed on my bike, I feel it’s one of the nicest mods I’ve done.

So for me, sloppy oem throttle was fine, spacers were a little better, and the Domino throttle is better yet (quite a bit actually). Could I go back to oem slop? Sure - I could get used to it again if I had too. But I love the Domino.

Nice detail on your experience thank you!

Could you please give your opinion about Domino's travel. Is it shorter, is it more progressive.

jrkk said:

Could you please give your opinion about Domino's travel. Is it shorter, is it more progressive.

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I don’t know the exact throw range compared to oem, but it feels shorter.

Is it more progressive? Do you mean “does it have a more aggressive cam profile (i.e. each degree of twist results in an increasing/progressive change in throttle body response)?” I don’t know that either.

All I can say is that subjectively, it feels better than oem. It’s like twisting a billet mechanism - no slop, no grit, and immediate response in both directions. It also seems to have a higher spring tension, and a very positive reset - you twist and release and it “snaps” back to position far more positively/crisply than oem.

On track, there was a short acclimation period, and then I found myself either forgetting about it or thinking “damn, this throttle feels nice!”

Is it $500 nice? That’s for each individual to answer, but it really is one of my favorite mods.

Thank you. Exactly what I wanted to hear.

Craig, what are you running the Domino throttle on?

endodoc said:

Craig, what are you running the Domino throttle on?

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the v4. To my understanding, they don’t offer one for the 15 R.

Yea I know. Do you still have the stock V4 throttle?

endodoc said:

Yea I know. Do you still have the stock V4 throttle?

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Yep - sitting on a shelf. Why - you need one?

IIRC the Domino throttle is a "quick" throttle with 60 degrees of throw whereas the OEM throttle has 90 degrees of throw. My commuter bike, an Energica Ego, has a 60 degree throw throttle and it is massively better than the V4 throttle. I hate how much you gotta rotate the OEM V4 throttle. Will very likely get the Domino one after hearing Craig's praises, been eyeing it for a while.