Overwhelmed by all the tune options - Need help please

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beanz690

Joined Sep 2024
15 Posts | 7+
South Florida
Good day everyone!

I am new to Ducati and just bought a brand new 2024 Panigale Base V4. The first thing I did was install a Spark 3/4 system (bought from @stevem) because I wanted the undertail exhaust look and more aggressive sound. Despite my service manager saying that I didn't really need a tune, the bike runs poorly in low RPMs , exhaust smells really strong, and I got a check engine light.

I have been reading for many days on all the different Ducati forums and can't seem to make a decision. I spoke to my dealer and they said I should go with Upmap from Termignoni, but online everyone says its not the best option.

Can someone here help me understand the few questions I have?
  1. Does tuning actually void my warranty in the USA? (My dealer says that Upmap would not but that other online tuners will")
  2. How much should I be paying for a tune and what is the best option if you're on a budget?
  3. What is the general consensus as the "best tune" for these bikes in terms of reliability and smoothness. Not looking for the biggest horsepower gains.
  4. Do tunes impact rider aids like TC, WC and ABS?
  5. Is a high flow air filter needed?
Thank you in advance!

IMG_9093.jpeg
 
1. If dealer says it doesnt void, go for it. Any non-dealer tune automatically voids the warranty.
2. 1 bitcoin but in all seriousness its not a competitive market, so you pay what you get asked to pay
3. EVO3 with Full Akra racing exhaust
4. depends on the tune, EVO3 does
5. its good for track, its completely irrelevant for Shitbucks runs
 
panibadboy said:
1. If dealer says it doesnt void, go for it. Any non-dealer tune automatically voids the warranty.
2. 1 bitcoin but in all seriousness its not a competitive market, so you pay what you get asked to pay
3. EVO3 with Full Akra racing exhaust
4. depends on the tune, EVO3 does
5. its good for track, its completely irrelevant for Shitbucks runs
Click to expand...

Thanks for your responses!

So if a dealer installs the tune, would that give me a leg to stand on against any potential warranty claim with Ducati North America? Because dealers in my area are notorious for saying anything to make a buck or two. Being so new to Ducati I don't really know how it all works. I've never needed any warranty for any other japanese bike i've owned in the past. I hope not to need it with this one either but just want to make sure I play it relatively "safe" lol.
 
Can someone here help me understand the few questions I have?
  1. The upmap tunes, are Ducati tunes and they will not VOID your warranty. But, you dont have a ducati exhaust, so the upmap is not a good option for you. If your worried about warranty, DO NOT TUNE with anything other than Ducati files for their exhaust (akra and termi only). Put your stock exhaust back on, or get a termi or akra system.
  2. You will have to purchase the handheld device no matter who you use, they cost about $400. The tune is going to run you another $400. There is no best option on a budget man. I recommend SLR tuning with Frank down in Florida, or @DeussenEngines ( [email protected] ). Ive had great/suburb experience with both of them! Daniel is prolly a little more expensive, but I believe he is the best tuner out there. Frank's tunes are great, and he worked with me over a dozen tune files until i was happy. Great guy and support. I dont think you can go wrong with either. IF you research some, youll come across BrenTunning. I do not recommend them, they pulled some pretty sketchy .... in the past, and I wont ever forgive them for that...go digging, youll see for yourself, but be aware lots of fan boys will talk them up a lot. They are nothing special, dont fall for it.
  3. SLR or Daniel with DeussenEngines. My SLR was perfectly smooth and wonderful, but it took many interations to dial it in. Perhaps Daniel's would be better out of the box>?? I have no idea, they are both great.
  4. The Ducati EVO tunes (termi and akra) do make adjustments to all of thoes settings, youll have to ask Frank or Daniel about theirs specifically, I do not know. I keep DWC set to OFF, or 1or2 for TRACK, ABS set to 2 everywhere, and TC 3or4 everywhere. Dont overthink this part, experiment with what works for you, your style..you dont want to see intervention all the time, you want to see it when you need it.
  5. YES, all exhaust systems move air better, a high flow filter is basic requirement. the Spirit P08 is all you need. personally i dont like KNN.
good luck partner!
JAG
 
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Bro, just saw you are in florida...drive to Frank and have a conversation with him..you will learn a ton i promise!

i dont think he is native english speaker..so depending on your communication style, in person might be best...if i lived in florida thats what i would have done...
 
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beanz690 said:
  1. Does tuning actually void my warranty in the USA? (My dealer says that Upmap would not but that other online tuners will")
Click to expand...

No, not in the USA. The dealer would need to prove the warrantied component failed because of the tune. Example, if your headlight quit working, a part having nothing to do with the tune, would still be warrantied. If your tune set the rev limit 1000K higher and your engine blew, you would be out of luck. Given your "service manager" said a tune wasn't needed with an aftermarket exhaust, I wouldn't take my bike back there, nor rely on any advice from them.
 
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you are technically correct BP...BUT, the owner would have to persue this with legal help, it wouldnt be easy...he'd have to sue them for service, and they would do their best to avoid it...and they would say messing with factory ECU settings induced the failure...(agree prolly ...........) and he'd have to fight it! MOSS WARRANTY ACT really not much use unless you have deep pockets...you know sure as hell Ducati NA does...

JAG
 
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First because of the symptoms you describe go into (or have someone) the special function portion of the ECU diagnostics and reset the Air/Fuel adaptives. This will allow the oxygen sensors to relearn the fueling characteristics of the spark system while the O2 sensors are active. On the earlier V4's the O2 sensor active was 7500 RPM or 40%. And delete all the errors in stored in the ECU. The check engine light is on because the O2 sensors are out of their original learned range.
 
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bp_SFV4 said:
No, not in the USA. The dealer would need to prove the warrantied component failed because of the tune. Example, if your headlight quit working, a part having nothing to do with the tune, would still be warrantied. If your tune set the rev limit 1000K higher and your engine blew, you would be out of luck. Given your "service manager" said a tune wasn't needed with an aftermarket exhaust, I wouldn't take my bike back there, nor rely on any advice from them.
Click to expand...

I mean c'mon, surely Motomillion's case should serve as a reference example that tunes do void warranty in the US
 
SirJAG said:
  1. The upmap tunes, are Ducati tunes and they will not VOID your warranty. But, you dont have a ducati exhaust, so the upmap is not a good option for you. If your worried about warranty, DO NOT TUNE with anything other than Ducati files for their exhaust (akra and termi only). Put your stock exhaust back on, or get a termi or akra system.
Click to expand...
o_O I did not know upmap was ducati official tune, nor that termi systems would not void warranty. I was considering the black termi slip ons before going with the spark system. Oh well I am extremely happy with the sound and the look if it now so whatever just gotta figure the best way to go about the tune
 
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panibadboy said:
I mean c'mon, surely Motomillion's case should serve as a reference example that tunes do void warranty in the US
Click to expand...
The BMW? The tune removed the break-in rev limiter and then they did dyno runs with it. In that limited example, the tune modified a restriction BMW had in place.
 
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bp_SFV4 said:
The BMW? The tune removed the break-in rev limiter and then they did dyno runs with it. In that limited example, the tune modified a restriction BMW had in place.
Click to expand...

Sure, there are details, the main question how Bologna would assess it.
 
I would assess Ducati would not give two ..... about what the "service manager" told him about the Termi tune not voiding the warranty. Hence, the putting on of one's bigboy pants and making an informed decision.
 
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The converter has been removed right? If so his dealer is a moron. These should not be run without a tune after the converters off. Bye, bye, exhaust valves bye, bye. Why should Ducati ever warranty a non factory tune situation? Sorta silly to expect them to do so.
 
My bike only has 300 miles on the odometer. Is there any risk in just riding it as is at least until the 600 mile first service before tuning? More so to prevent the Ducati system detecting the aftermarket tune?
 
baggerman said:
The converter has been removed right? If so his dealer is a moron. These should not be run without a tune after the converters off. Bye, bye, exhaust valves bye, bye. Why should Ducati ever warranty a non factory tune situation? Sorta silly to expect them to do so.
Click to expand...

Yes the cats was build into the stock muffler. My system connects directly to the stock headers.
 
SirJAG said:
Bro, just saw you are in florida...drive to Frank and have a conversation with him..you will learn a ton i promise!

i dont think he is native english speaker..so depending on your communication style, in person might be best...if i lived in florida thats what i would have done...
Click to expand...

Just spoke to Frank over the phone. Looks like his service is very similar to others where he ships you a handheld device and emails a tune. He said I can revert to the stock tune before taking it to the dealer and that way Ducati won't know that it's been tuned. The caveat is that I have to do it every time I go in.
 
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beanz690 said:
Just spoke to Frank over the phone. Looks like his service is very similar to others where he ships you a handheld device and emails a tune. He said I can revert to the stock tune before taking it to the dealer and that way Ducati won't know that it's been tuned. The caveat is that I have to do it every time I go in.
Click to expand...

yes, flash back to stock everytime you go in. BUT, i still think they will know it was tuned, prolly as simple as how many re-writes the memory has had.

I would not drive any miles on the bike with full system and no tune. you have increased flow/air a huge amount...so your bike will run LEAN, it needs a tune to add fuel man...LEAN motors leads to big issues..dont do it.

at a min get a tune from Frank before you do much else with it.

J
 
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Is the dealer going to ignore the exhaust system regardless of what tune if you have a warranty problem? Are you going to put the converter back on every time you go to the dealer? Be careful here relative to what he'll ignore for you. These do occasionally break and they be expensive to fix. For sure buy a tune before you use it hard because they are really lean particularly the rear cylinders after the converter is removed.
 

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