Rapid Bike Review

I don't normally write reviews but this product deserves some recognition. I recently purchased the race version for my 2016 1299. After reading and searching the internet for months decided to purchase. The Module is fantastic. Recommendations are to put 200 miles on before it's working well. I found the difference to be immediate, as in as soon as I rolled it out of the garage and flipped into second gear. Rapidbike should be the first item purchased for this bike prior to all the add on's and significantly more expensive bolt on's that can be purchased, with far less gain in performance. The " Piggy Back" concept is nice as the unit only corrects for the main CPU to optimize air fuel ratios. No up map flashing BS that does not adequately cover your specific conditions. Went that route on my Harley with another manufacturer. Doesn't work. This module will also correct the closed loop portion of the map where others will not. This is where i notice the largest difference.

Installation is time consuming although not difficult. Routing the harness is the largest task, and taking the time to get everything in its proper place takes a while. Once the harness in installed, it is all of 5min to plug everything in.

The unit i purchased. the "race" module comes with ignition mapping and will facilitate any dyno tuning i could do but in all honesty i am happy with it the way it is. The unit will also automatically correct for any additional hardware i install on the bike.

Best of all was the customer support. Yaman at Rapidbike.us had the unit Fed Exed to me and i had in hand in two days from time of purchase. I live in Canada and did not expect to see it for a while. I'm sure he enjoys selling these modules knowing the benefits his customers will see from the device.

Thanks Yaman

Great product and even better customer service. I live in Hawaii and purchased the race module on a trip to Florida last year. When I got to Yaman's shop he took the time to talk to me and explain the system and answer my questions. He even had an 1199 on the lift that he gave me a run thru to give me an idea of how to install. After putting about 300 miles on the system I bought the front exit termi slip on. The bike seem to develop a surge at low RPM so I called/emailed Yaman to see what he thought. And to my surprise. He took time out of his schedule to do a remote session and correct any errors. Again you will likely not find a better individual/company to work with.

I've heard great things about this unit from my local performance shop as well as from a friend that installed one on his MV F4 RR. It's on my Xmas list for both of my italian bikes

How did you guys route your wiring? I routed mine behind the radiator (for the left side plugs). I had it over the rear cylinders but wiring melted through and shorted - no throttle response half way though my first lap on track. I hope the short didn't mess it up; but I connected it and it wouldn't start - I then swapped the Plugs on the right side and it worked. The question is: the instructions are a little ambiguous - did anyone right up a "how to"?

Check out this thread. After seeing this I did mine pretty much the same way.

http://ducati1299.com/mechanical-technical/24492-routing-rapidbike-loom.html

Harness routing

I routed mine past the front cylinder between the radiator and cylinder head. I would recommend that if you are going this route, Slip a peace of cardboard in front of the radiator prior to routing the harness through. It's very tight and a bit of a struggle to do it this way and not putting a peace of cardboard in there will result in your damaging the cooling fins in the rad. Take the time to do it. Zip tie everything. From there all you do is plug everything in. I've had no issues and it's fantastic.

For those that mounted the harness between the cylinders, congratulations. I have no idea how you did it. The space available is incredibly minimal, and seemed like more work than the way I have described.

I went in with my laptop after 200 miles and accepted the changes to the map and that was it. Never looked back.

The bike, other than the rapidbike module, is all Oem, so I can't comment on how the rapidbike will Adapt to hardware changes. I will at some point put a new exhaust system and air cleaner on it and update my review at that point.

At this point, my descission to purchase my next bike will probably to some degree be effected by weather or not a rapid bike modual can be purchased for it.

Yup, Rapid Bike is literally amazing with what it does for the jerky throttle response from the stock bike, even with the maps in it. I loved it !!! This is the best money, even more than mufflers, you will spend..

NOLA

NOLA said:

Yup, Rapid Bike is literally amazing with what it does for the jerky throttle response from the stock bike, even with the maps in it. I loved it !!! This is the best money, even more than mufflers, you will spend..

NOLA

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Rapid bike better than tuneboy? Both of them sadly will void our warranty - we were warned by the dealership not to install them on our bikes.

Alpha Male said:

Rapid bike better than tuneboy? Both of them sadly will void our warranty - we were warned by the dealership not to install them on our bikes.

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Your dealer sucks, at least in this regard....

Both dealers I use have experience with RapidBike (one installs it) and they don't give a ..... In fact, one of the dealers I use will go out of his way to avoid any issues like this.

Todd H said:

Your dealer sucks, at least in this regard....

Both dealers I use have experience with RapidBike (one installs it) and they don't give a ..... In fact, one of the dealers I use will go out of his way to avoid any issues like this.

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Yeah, I say find a new dealer. Not only doesn't my local stealership have a problem with them, they sell, install and will dyno tune the bike for you as well.

Alpha Male said:

Rapid bike better than tuneboy? Both of them sadly will void our warranty - we were warned by the dealership not to install them on our bikes.

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It may be more difficult with Rapidbike but with Tuneboy you just reload the standard map and nobody knows.

I installed it after riding the bike for about the first 600 miles. I had the first service done with the module attached and the dealership had no idea what it was. I told them about it and how well it worked and they didn't pay much attention to what i was saying. Sad...They should be installing them for customers on behalf of Ducati. The only way i would want to continue to ride the bike without the rapid bike would be to have the bike dyno tuned. This is not something i have ever had done but i am guessing that the maps would still have to be unlocked to to make changes to them anyway? So would still require some sort of access to fuel and ignition maps. I would suspect the tune could still be maximized but i don't race and am very happy with how it runs.

Something else that should be mentioned is that the module can be removed and OEM connectors put back together prior to taking the bike for service if it worries you that much. Would be a pain though. The ECM is not reflashed or changed whatsoever from OEM while the module is in place and working. All it does is add or subtract fuel based on a different AF ratio, rather than to pass EPA emission standards. I guess what it does is allows you to experience the motor Ducati Engineers designed before having to comply with EPA standards.

Anyway guys. Buy it or don't. Enjoy your bikes. I love this thing.

I have the same experience. Big difference, Yamen was great with the few routing questions I had. For the cross wiring I just put some heat tape on that and made sure it was ty wrapped away from heat.

Allen said:

I routed mine past the front cylinder between the radiator and cylinder head. I would recommend that if you are going this route, Slip a peace of cardboard in front of the radiator prior to routing the harness through. It's very tight and a bit of a struggle to do it this way and not putting a peace of cardboard in there will result in your damaging the cooling fins in the rad. Take the time to do it. Zip tie everything. From there all you do is plug everything in. I've had no issues and it's fantastic.

For those that mounted the harness between the cylinders, congratulations. I have no idea how you did it. The space available is incredibly minimal, and seemed like more work than the way I have described.

I went in with my laptop after 200 miles and accepted the changes to the map and that was it. Never looked back.

The bike, other than the rapidbike module, is all Oem, so I can't comment on how the rapidbike will Adapt to hardware changes. I will at some point put a new exhaust system and air cleaner on it and update my review at that point.

At this point, my descission to purchase my next bike will probably to some degree be effected by weather or not a rapid bike modual can be purchased for it.

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I just finished installing mine. Ugh is all I can say regarding routing the harness. You mentioned you went in with your lap top after 200 miles and accepted the changes to the map. Do you have to go in and accept the changes? If you dont what happens? Does the ECU not fully accept the rapid bike tuning the bike all the time?

I ordered Rapidbike evo. Will hopefully receive this week but the suspense is killing me. Can anyone post the installation guide for 1299, I can't find it on the interweb.

First of all, I really hope your experience is great with RapidBike Evo.
I have a 2016 1299 standard. I had RapidBike Evo installed by a RapidBIke dealer here in Southern California. The bike started to stall around 4500 rpm. i noticed no improvement in performance. I rode for 600 miles to give it a chance to self adjust, then did a Teamspace share with Yaman. He said the mapping looked like RapiBike was doing something good, and that I should ride the bike harder. Anyway. I rode for another 2000 miles and got fed up. I had RapidBike removed and then I installed Tuneboy. I'm very happy with TuneBoy. The RapidBike experiment cost me $1000 total. I won't sell the unit because I can't in good conscience sell it to another 1299 owner.
I hope your experience is better, but if you have the same problems I did, you can try to immediately return it. I gave it a long chance and my return window is closed.

-Stephen6 - would you consider donating your Rapidbike Evo to me - I have a 2016 959 and am also in SoCal


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I'm sorry. It didn't work, and I wasn't going to sell it , so I threw it away. Its not the most money I've wasted. Anyway, I've read a lot of positive comments about RapidBike, but I think its a case of the emperor having no clothes.

Dingo said:

-Stephen6 - would you consider donating your Rapidbike Evo to me - I have a 2016 959 and am also in SoCal


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Please ask King Dickards, he'll donate for you...Thanks...

I could see the rapidbike having no affect for some. I custom tune cars for a living and see many differences on the same car.

As said though, the rapidbike on mine made a noticeable improvement everywhere. Good enough that I never even plugged in the tuneboy I have. And I'm very picky about drivability and can feel any messed up issue's in a tune.