Keep me from doing something ridiculous or encourage it? V4S or V4?

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V4 base or V4S

  • ÖHLINS make the world go around

  • V4 is damn good as is, even has wings

  • Other mods are more important

  • You tart, you've seen Swedish girls right?

  • If you have to ask...

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Vbreeze

Vbreeze

Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2020
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Italy
I'm getting close to bringing a V4 home. I'm starting to wonder if the Öhlins are worth the extra €5k on the V4S price tag. The forged wheels are pretty enticing however I'm thinking the electronic Öhlins are really the reason to get an S, and not mod them later.
Anyone ride both and can say, 'omg yes, no question! all those electronics, what could go wrong?'
I'm doing track days and twisty Alps roads for sure. Worth it?
Thanks for your votes.
 

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I think if you were planning on using it as an everyday machine for many different road and riding types, the electronic suspension is the way to go. However, since you're gonna be doing track and twisties exclusively, I think getting the base model and dropping some decent cartridges in it will get the same (or possibly better) job done for less money.
 
Base model suspension is getting better, but the regular problem with the 1299 Marzocchi forks membranes (?) failing, and the lack of rebound adjustment encouraged me to throw my spons at Sweden. I think cartridges, shock and fitting to suit me was going to cost around £2700. I ended up buying used in the end - forks and shock from an R, revalved and sprung, then set up still set me back £2500 ish, but I hope to recoup that if I sell separately in the future. The (secondhand) bike is much better behaved on my type of roads. But, eventually! to answer your question, I would consider the S model. The existing setup is good, by all accounts for your sort of riding, and you would still have those lighter wheels. But she is a LOT of money! Beautiful since the 2020 makeover, but I may have to go Aprilia for my next beast, I've had two, and the 1100 Factory is fantastic to ride. Not quite as pretty, tho', that is a problem, but last year's model is £9000 less. Dave
 
The 5k difference is well worth it in my opinion for the following reasons:

1. electronic suspension. Don’t need a tool to adjust damping as the oil thins out. Also has dynamic control if you’re into that (I only run in fixed mode as I only do track or twisties)
2. The Ohlins shock has a ride height adjuster on the bottom of the shock, base model does not, which makes adjusting the rear ride height a major pain in the ass. This is very significant to me as I like to tune my suspension and ride geometry.
3. Ohlins TTX shock is awesome, have one on my my r6 as well, the improvement is significant. The front is very responsive as well.
4. The turn in/handling ability of any bike with wheels as light as the forged ones on the v4s is not even comparable to a heavier cast wheel.

I guess if it’s worth 5k is really in the eye of the beholder. If I had to do it again I would still go with the v4s.
 
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The Marzocchi forks aren't the best for sure, but the V4 comes with Showa BPF. Which while a little dated in 2020 are still solid.

I'll add that $5k for an electronic suspension is a good chunk of coin and an amount that you'll have to pay taxes on.

Here we even have to pay taxes on personal property based on its value every year. Since the replacement cost will be higher so can be insurance.

If you are mechanically inclined and like a project, I'd get the V4 then add aftermarket suspension. I just added a Bitubo rear shock and have on order their gas fork cartridges all of which is sprung for my weight. HUGE cost savings over aftermarket Ohlins.

The forged wheels show up all the from wrecked bikes on eBay etc. A second set may even prove handy for track days depending on how hard you are on tires.

All of this is secondary to getting the bike setup to your weight and ability.
 
Base model, buy carts and a rear shock. You can find a deal on wheels for sure - then you will be in business. Adjusting forks and shock is easy. I would wager that most people that buy an S don’t even touch the suspension settings.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
A V4S can be found at the right time/place for the cost of the base model. In that instance why not just buy the S? I got my new S for 23k, and found 2 more for 24k.

While the insurance may be slightly more on an s, the Ohlins is fully covered whereas if I needed a fork or shock replacement on a base model with aftermarket suspension installed the insurance company will only replace with stock parts from the base model unless you purchase additional insurance for aftermarket parts.

To get Ohlins carts + shock + wheels would probably cost 5k anyway new then you have to do the work or pay someone to install it all. Sell the original stuff and maybe you saved 1,500, and the value of your bike is still the same as the base model, plus you don’t have electronic dynamic control or electronic damping control either.

As someone who tinkers a lot with suspension it is very nice to not have to count “clicks out” on rebound and compression damping but can instead look on my dash and see/adjust my clicks. Now if only I could set preload electronically too.
 
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brad8266 said:
While the insurance may be slightly more on an s, the Ohlins is fully covered whereas if I needed a fork or shock replacement on a base model with aftermarket suspension installed the insurance company will only replace with stock parts from the base model unless you purchase additional insurance for aftermarket parts.
Click to expand...

That depends on your policy and if you are filing a claim on your insurance or the person who was on their phone and made a left in front of you without yielding.

If you keep invoices, you can get the stuff paid for. I've even had gloves and a helmet compensated.
 
bp_SFV4 said:
That depends on your policy and if you are filing a claim on your insurance or the person who was on their phone and made a left in front of you without yielding.

If you keep invoices, you can get the stuff paid for. I've even had gloves and a helmet compensated.
Click to expand...

Yup, but to alleviate having to even think about it I know I’m covered either way since it came with the bike. My thought process is if I know I’m going to buy all this .... after the fact I might as well buy it installed already if I can, insured by default, and under warranty by the bike manufacturer. The cost savings of buying a base and installing front/rear and forged wheels is negligible in the grand scheme, not to mention the value of the bike didn’t increase either with a base + aftermarket parts.

To each their own though. I mean I do have an r6 as well that I spent over half the price of the bike in mods on, granted it’s a cheap bike in the first place but I’ll never get value returned for the aftermarket stuff I put on it.
 
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There's no value returned on motorsports unless you are Rossi or the like.

No doubt lighter wheels are better but I had to check my ego on if that actually applied to me. It doesn't, which hurt. At the end of the day, I'd rather be Rossi's mechanic. A big part of my love with bikes it having a project and turning a wrench. The rider skills part is just gravy.

At the end of the day, the Ohlins stuff would need to get new springs for me at 6'-3" 213lbs (post covid nonsense weight). If you are under 185lbs, you're likely Ok.

No matter what though, for anyone coming by this thread, check your rear preload. Ducati sets that .... up like you are double up with a big girl. You can do a lot for your enjoyment buy making that adjustment.
 
bp_SFV4 said:
No matter what though, for anyone coming by this thread, check your rear preload. Ducati sets that .... up like you are double up with a big girl. You can do a lot for your enjoyment buy making that adjustment.
Click to expand...

+1 to that. These bikes are unbearable to ride as stiff as they are setup at the dealers.
 
The V4S to me is like marrying an overpriced hooker and bringing her home to mum to meet.
Sometimes I just look at her and wander what have I done, until I ride her. God she's beautiful to ride.
And you can feel all that experience she has, and leaves you satisfied with a smile.
 
If you were riding track only, I would buy a base model and add light wheels (OZ), and either Mupo, Bitubo or K-Tech suspension, plus a slip-on exhaust. Ohlins would be the last resort.
If you're spending significant time on the road too, then I would go for the S and live with the standard Ohlins. As previously mentioned, it's very easy to adjust and a good compromise.

Even with exactly the same geometry and spring rates, you'd be surprised how much difference you can feel between the different suspension manufacturers. But, it is shades of grey, and functionality (ride height adjustment, ease of spring changes) plays a big role.
 
Take a year looking. By then the motor harness and some of the subframes will be had cheap. Spend the rest on used factory stuff you need and the aftermarket stuff you want

Or buy new and when someone turns left in front of you buy it back from insurance for $3k and do the same as above anyways

Over priced hooker? Yeah I guess... I mean they do come w ...... up ECU and too many problems to list
 
DucatiKev said:
Should have brought one home already
Click to expand...
Ya! Well, Ducati HQ is closed from mid December through this week like most places because of lock-downs. As it is we had to fill out 'declaration of necessary movement' forms to be able to sneak out of the city, trundle down to Modena in between the Ferrari and the Lamborghini factory to get to the 1 Ducati dealer who would answer the phone these days. Also the only dealer I could find who already has 2021s sitting on the showroom floor. eg. Venice dealer told me April was as soon as I could get one.
Man I hope this pandemic ends soon. We all need to commit to staying healthy. I realized that requires me to ride a Ducati Panigale. Mask under helmet, ok. ;P
 
Vbreeze said:
Man I hope this pandemic ends soon. We all need to commit to staying healthy
Click to expand...
It ends when we commit to taking our countries back.

How many people have died in 2020 in your country? In USA, total deaths match previous years. Fake Pandemic. Real DemPanic.
Soon, the truth will be revealed, and so will the illusion.
It’s 1776

Good luck, frens. Buy that Duc
 
I bought the base v4 cause I was coming from a gsxr so any duca would be a better choice, if I want the s, I’ll trade it in when the warranty is done, I’m in no hurry. Unless your a professional you will never get the full potential out of this bike, no matter if it’s the base, s, or r. Buy what you can afford and enjoy. And let’s hope the democratic flu subsides soon. Is it out there, yes, but so is the flu but you don’t hear anything about the flu this year since everything is just covid, you get in a car accident, you got covid, your bike needs tires, covid related! All a bunch of scare tactics from the good old government!!
 
Every government on the planet, tho'? Not convinced. Good move from the Suzuki, tho'. We agreed on that! Dave
 
Roc said:
I bought the base v4 cause I was coming from a gsxr so any duca would be a better choice, if I want the s, I’ll trade it in when the warranty is done, I’m in no hurry. Unless your a professional you will never get the full potential out of this bike, no matter if it’s the base, s, or r. Buy what you can afford and enjoy. And let’s hope the democratic flu subsides soon. Is it out there, yes, but so is the flu but you don’t hear anything about the flu this year since everything is just covid, you get in a car accident, you got covid, your bike needs tires, covid related! All a bunch of scare tactics from the good old government!!
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Are you a JCAT???
 

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