My 2015 Panigale R Build

This build is going quickly. Very nice.

AEM Troubles = OEM SL Goodness

Replacing the rear brake bracket was unnecessary but it revealed another issue that might have gone unnoticed for longer - the inner sleeve of the AEM sprocket carrier had slipped outwardly, which pushed the inside of the carrier closer to the hub where it was beginning to grind away.

I didn't need the convenience of a quick-change carrier, so out it went. In its replacement went an OEM 1199SL rear sprocket. With that order, some other SL goodies were sourced as well, from ebay, dealership and KFM Motorräder:

1. SL titanium shock linkage bolts
2. SL yoke nut
3. SL titanium axle nuts and anodised red spacer
4. SL kickstand (nothing special other than the black anodising but it was cheap. I also wanted the black stand to blend in with the black borders of the lower fairing on the R, like they did on the SL)

I also took the opportunity to replace the rear light with a takeoff unit from ebay as mine was cracked. Paired with it is a carbon fibre undertray from carbonfibrefever.

Very slick old chap!
Has the rear light got indicators in it?

elements018 said:

what kind of clutch and brake reservoirs are those?

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They're the Ducati Performance ones in black (Part No. 96180011A).

Very clean look and functions well enough for street use, but I always use reservoir socks to cover them up for track use to avoid getting droplets of fluid leaking and going on the inside of the screen. I had a trackday where I didn't do this, and had droplets show up on the screen and my visor.

able duc said:

Very slick old chap!
Has the rear light got indicators in it?

Click to expand...

Thanks matey!

No, the rear light is just a bog standard one Just in new condition versus the pitted to hell and cracked one I had previously.

vyruz said:

They're the Ducati Performance ones in black (Part No. 96180011A).

Very clean look and functions well enough for street use, but I always use reservoir socks to cover them up for track use to avoid getting droplets of fluid leaking and going on the inside of the screen. I had a trackday where I didn't do this, and had droplets show up on the screen and my visor.

Click to expand...

What did you do about the screen and visor with the drops? I guess you replaced them... I have a spoiled dashboard as a result of a busted brake master cylinder and I wonder if the screen of the dash can be replaced or repaired.

vyruz said:

They're the Ducati Performance ones in black (Part No. 96180011A).

Very clean look and functions well enough for street use, but I always use reservoir socks to cover them up for track use to avoid getting droplets of fluid leaking and going on the inside of the screen. I had a trackday where I didn't do this, and had droplets show up on the screen and my visor.

Click to expand...

Don't forget to buy a SL radiator cap.
I purchased a genuine SL OEM Radiator cap. I posted pics I think at the time.
Looks nicer and you will save 10.4 grams.

Well that sucks about the AEM. Have you contacted them about this issue?

Just an observation but judging from the lack of wear on the area of the flange from the large retaining washer that slides on the axle before the carrier it really looks like the washer wasn't installed. The anodizing where the washer seats is un touched. I have played with a lot of carrier/sprocket combos and did a long writeup on this board about them. The only way that carrier can back its way into the hub is if the washer was not installed, thats what it is there for.

Also i have personally never seen an AEM carrier with a "sleeve" It looks like that thing frictionally disintegrated at the flange hole. Here is the backside of the AEM carrier. That groove is where the 3mm retaining washer rides. On your sprocket, that area is clearly not disrupted which it would have been had the washer been installed. Only reason I bring this up is that a brand was mentioned and in fairness to the brand, you gotta look at all the factors.

Like Ed mentioned my AEM carrier did not have any kind of a spacer either so definitely strange with that wear issue.

endodoc said:

Just an observation but judging from the lack of wear on the area of the flange from the large retaining washer that slides on the axle before the carrier it really looks like the washer wasn't installed. The anodizing where the washer seats is un touched. I have played with a lot of carrier/sprocket combos and did a long writeup on this board about them. The only way that carrier can back its way into the hub is if the washer was not installed, thats what it is there for.

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Thanks Ed. I appreciate the detailed analysis.

Snk1199 said:

What did you do about the screen and visor with the drops? I guess you replaced them... I have a spoiled dashboard as a result of a busted brake master cylinder and I wonder if the screen of the dash can be replaced or repaired.

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Thankfully I had no damage from the fluids sitting on there long. I cleaned it up as soon as I rolled into the pits. I'm not sure if it helped, but I had the SpeedoAngels screen protector on as well.

bradp51 said:

Don't forget to buy a SL radiator cap.
I purchased a genuine SL OEM Radiator cap. I posted pics I think at the time.
Looks nicer and you will save 10.4 grams.

Click to expand...

Mate I saved your post about that a long time ago. I didn't pull the trigger because I wasn't sure if it'd fit the MAC radiator

Twistedracer said:

Well that sucks about the AEM. Have you contacted them about this issue?

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I didn't get back to AEM and I'm glad I didn't. Judging by Ed's comments, it looks like it was an installation error rather than a manufacturing one. It was installed at the dealership at the early days of getting the bike, and I wonder if they rushed it. My bike goes to another workshop now and they do great work.

Good call on that one. I have seen this a few times from shops as they are not familiar with the components of the rear drive assemble. Simply, when they remove the OEM junk for the swap they unbolt the carrier and slide the assembly of the axle. The thick assembly grease causes the washer to stick to the sprocket. They pull the flange out of the center and the washer stays behind on the old sprocket. The new sprocket assembly goes back on without the washer. Fortunately, the chain geometry kept that thing somewhat contained. That could have been ugly at speed. Attention to detail my friends. If you are going to F with, minimize the possibility that it Fs you back.

Another trackday

This was the first trackday after some of the larger mods to date - including the M9RS magnesium wheels, the full Akra system and the Ohlins FKR cartridges - so there was lots to be excited about.

It's hard to nail down which part was the best - the FKR cartridges gave me a lot of confidence braking deeper into the corner. Some might say this is the placebo effect talking or just down to fresh fork oil, but I'm not so sure. There is definitely more feeling from the front when you're on the brakes and tipping in that gives you the confidence to trail it more than before.

The Akra and M9RS wheels combo made the bike noticeably stronger from corner exit all the way down both long straights in Sepang. These mods were definitely not needed, but they have made a light bike even lighter and peppier.

All that was great about the Pani R for me - the pull down the two straights followed by braking and corner entry - are better than before. I am still weak on corner exit - I envy the inline fours and their smooth linear band here. There is still a brutality to the R's power and it doles out thrills and fear in equal amounts coming out of slow-ish corners.

love it when i see folks using R like they suppose to on track. not just pretty mods on it.

One of my favourite things to do is clean the bike down after a trackday and get a small photoshoot thing going. It's my way of telling my bike 'Thanks for looking after me'.

As is now tradition, she gets a little present as a reward for good trackday behaviour. This time it's a small bit of carbon but it is a little functional too. I went with the MotoCoach brake cooling airduct. I just read the recent thread about brake cooling ducts, so I'm not going to say too much about this Suffice to say the brake lever was moving back enough in one 20-minute session that I thought it is worth a try. This version is a simple fit (secured by the caliper bolts) and does not obstruct front paddock stands.

As a hobbyist photog, I love the pics

This build is an absolutely ....... epic build man! Functional epic mods and actually getting used, much respect love your bike.

EVR Billet Clutch Basket

With the EVR slipper clutch working well, I thought it would be nice to complete the set with the EVR billet clutch basket. Bellissimoto certainly pitched it right in their description below (with me falling in the average joe category):