Rekindling the love affair

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So I drifted away from the Pani over the last year. I found it hard to ride at the track, easy to unbalance, with poor throttle modulation, and the HP4 was...well easier to ride fast.

I have been unhappy with the handling for a while on the road but discovered recently that the swingarm had been gradually loosening. So with this resolved and the bike tightened up, I hit the track.

Anyway, after long time away I was pleasantly surprised.

The throttle wasn't perfect but it really didn't cause any major issues, and I realised that my riding style was probably the problem. Having done significantly more track mileage maybe I'm just a bit more capable than I was.

Also I remembered the advice I was given to get my braking done early and then get on the gas before the apex and it worked a treat, the bike was very well behaved and actually less tiring to ride than the HP4.

I'm smitten with the idea of racing a new Panigale R next year. I really want to get a racebike that I'll 'feel' something about. The HP4 is incredibly good but there is no chemistry, the 1299 will not qualify for Club 1000, so the R is a great options, all the lightweight race bits, up and down clutchless shifts, and mechanical Ohlins. Hopefully a set of dual sinter Z04 pads and the brakes will be sorted.

I doubt I'll ever be more than a mid-pack rider at best but I can't think of any bike I'd rather be riding.
 
There are throttle remaps through Rexxer and TuneBoy that people say really helps with the surginess. I'm getting mine done asap. Good luck! The Panigale is such a superior bike style wise to anything I see on the road. New pics I took yesterday on a fun ride.

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Great pics, what cam did you use? Here's mine, coming from an R1, i agree, it's so much more fun. The R1 is still around but not really riding it anymore..

6542277cbf76c908a7f5e581ffb08e3f.jpg
 
The Pani is definitely for an advance rider. A lot of seat time is needed and once you master it the bike is the best thing out there IMO.

A lot of people will argue that it is really easy to ride because it turn sharp, easy to flick, brakes well, light weight etc. All of it is true but trying to beat your best time on a track with an 1199 is hard to do until you harness it all together. It took me some time to beat my best time that was set on an under powered Repsol.

1) It took me sometime to get use to the rear end. The Ohlins TTX36 MK II with a proper set up helped a lot.
2) Over Steering was an issue for me(The BST's made it even turn in quicker) seat time and not leaning off the bike as much cured that issue for me. I can have even more contact patch.
3) Throttle - I didn't know what I was getting or what to expect as I open or close the throttle which contributed to slower lap times. It took a very long time to master it. I also shorten the throttle twist which help out a tremendously. now I know what to expect when I twist the throttle (balls to the walls):D
4) Torque curve was an issue for me not like the linear in line 4's. Took a while to get use to it and learned why Ducati made such a "horrible" torque curve and how it applies to the track. Once you learn this it will make you faster.
5) I wasn't use to the L-twin characteristic where power comes on so quickly in the RPM range. I use to hit the rev limiter a lot in each gear which slowed my time down also when to engine brake on a twin. It comes on soon and strong making turns a lot of fun:)

Now that I've really learned to ride this bike l really think its the easiest and rewarding bike to ride and get great lap times on.
 
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A lot of the clubs orgs have the top racing class listed as "open" or "unlimited". It would seem contradictory to limit the displacement in those classes. As long as the bore and stroke are stock on a mass produced bike, a 1299 should fit in an unlimited class.
 
There are throttle remaps through Rexxer and TuneBoy that people say really helps with the surginess. I'm getting mine done asap. Good luck! The Panigale is such a superior bike style wise to anything I see on the road. New pics I took yesterday on a fun ride.

Those are some of the best pics! From what I can tell its really just a matter of adapting to the bike and being a more confident rider.

The Pani is definitely for an advance rider. A lot of seat time is needed and once you master it the bike is the best thing out there IMO.

A lot of people will argue that it is really easy to ride because it turn sharp, easy to flick, brakes well, light weight etc. All of it is true but trying to beat your best time on a track with an 1199 is hard to do until you harness it all together. It took me some time to beat my best time that was set on an under powered Repsol.

1) It took me sometime to get use to the rear end. The Ohlins TTX36 MK II with a proper set up helped a lot.
2) Over Steering was an issue for me(The BST's made it even turn in quicker) seat time and not leaning off the bike as much cured that issue for me. I can even more contact patch.
3) Throttle - I didn't know what I was getting or what to expect as I open or close the throttle which contributed to slower lap times. It took a very long time to master it. I also shorten the throttle twist which help out a tremendously. now I know what to expect when I twist the throttle (balls to the walls):D
4) Torque curve was an issue for me not like the linear in line 4's. Took a while to get use to it and learned why Ducati made such a "horrible" torque curve and how it applies to the track. Once you learn this it will make you faster.
5) I wasn't use to the L-twin characteristic where power comes on so quickly in the RPM range. I use to hit the rev limiter a lot in each gear which slowed my time down also when to engine brake on a twin. It comes on soon and strong making turn a lot of fun:)

Now that I've really learned to ride this bike l really think its the easiest and rewarding bike to ride and get great lap times on.

I agree, completely. This is the most rewarding bike to ride fast, and it feels right that I should race an Italian machine. I raised the bars by 3mm early on in my ownership and that helped, now looking forward to the R and getting used to the full package.

A lot of the clubs orgs have the top racing class listed as "open" or "unlimited". It would seem contradictory to limit the displacement in those classes. As long as the bore and stroke are stock on a mass produced bike, a 1299 should fit in an unlimited class.

Unfortunately we don't have an unlimited class, and anyway I'm excited about graduating to an R as next year as it will be my first full season.

So pleased the bike has the downshifter, that was one of the best mods I did to the HP4.
 
So I drifted away from the Pani over the last year. I found it hard to ride at the track, easy to unbalance, with poor throttle modulation, and the HP4 was...well easier to ride fast.

I have been unhappy with the handling for a while on the road but discovered recently that the swingarm had been gradually loosening. So with this resolved and the bike tightened up, I hit the track.

Anyway, after long time away I was pleasantly surprised.

The throttle wasn't perfect but it really didn't cause any major issues, and I realised that my riding style was probably the problem. Having done significantly more track mileage maybe I'm just a bit more capable than I was.

Also I remembered the advice I was given to get my braking done early and then get on the gas before the apex and it worked a treat, the bike was very well behaved and actually less tiring to ride than the HP4.

I'm smitten with the idea of racing a new Panigale R next year. I really want to get a racebike that I'll 'feel' something about. The HP4 is incredibly good but there is no chemistry, the 1299 will not qualify for Club 1000, so the R is a great options, all the lightweight race bits, up and down clutchless shifts, and mechanical Ohlins. Hopefully a set of dual sinter Z04 pads and the brakes will be sorted.

I doubt I'll ever be more than a mid-pack rider at best but I can't think of any bike I'd rather be riding.

I've had good luck using the 195 Low Engine setting at the track. Same power but that first 1/4 throttle twist is more gradual. Works for me!

Tom
 
Those are some of the best pics! From what I can tell its really just a matter of adapting to the bike and being a more confident rider.



I agree, completely. This is the most rewarding bike to ride fast, and it feels right that I should race an Italian machine. I raised the bars by 3mm early on in my ownership and that helped, now looking forward to the R and getting used to the full package.



Unfortunately we don't have an unlimited class, and anyway I'm excited about graduating to an R as next year as it will be my first full season.

So pleased the bike has the downshifter, that was one of the best mods I did to the HP4.

How did you raise the bars? Does it still clear the front fairing?
 
How did you raise the bars? Does it still clear the front fairing?

Maybe a better description would be dropping the forks, by 3mm. No problems at all with the fairing. Made it feel a less nervy. Did this very very early on in my ownership, probably wouldn't do it now.
 
So I drifted away from the Pani over the last year. I found it hard to ride at the track, easy to unbalance, with poor throttle modulation, and the HP4 was...well easier to ride fast.

I have been unhappy with the handling for a while on the road but discovered recently that the swingarm had been gradually loosening. So with this resolved and the bike tightened up, I hit the track.

Anyway, after long time away I was pleasantly surprised.

The throttle wasn't perfect but it really didn't cause any major issues, and I realised that my riding style was probably the problem. Having done significantly more track mileage maybe I'm just a bit more capable than I was.

Also I remembered the advice I was given to get my braking done early and then get on the gas before the apex and it worked a treat, the bike was very well behaved and actually less tiring to ride than the HP4.

I'm smitten with the idea of racing a new Panigale R next year. I really want to get a racebike that I'll 'feel' something about. The HP4 is incredibly good but there is no chemistry, the 1299 will not qualify for Club 1000, so the R is a great options, all the lightweight race bits, up and down clutchless shifts, and mechanical Ohlins. Hopefully a set of dual sinter Z04 pads and the brakes will be sorted.

I doubt I'll ever be more than a mid-pack rider at best but I can't think of any bike I'd rather be riding.

Shhhhhh....don't tell our resident BMW lover that the Pani is better. That's impossible! :D
 
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Maybe a better description would be dropping the forks, by 3mm. No problems at all with the fairing. Made it feel a less nervy. Did this very very early on in my ownership, probably wouldn't do it now.

haha...that's funny. I've gone 3mm the other way...what works for one may not for another
 
Hi WAfatboy,

pretty sure you are the guy i had a chat to at frasers about your bike and throttle issues few weeks ago.

Good to see it's all coming together for you now!

Like i said if you got the money and the time the akrapovic system with the full custom map really does help the "throttle" issue the bike has. I also found that when i did the lighten flywheel it helps the bike to pick up the rpm easier.

Would be interesting to see how the New R goes with the full akrapovic and see what the mapping is like.

hopefully see you out at a track day
 
Hi WAfatboy,

pretty sure you are the guy i had a chat to at frasers about your bike and throttle issues few weeks ago.

Good to see it's all coming together for you now!

Like i said if you got the money and the time the akrapovic system with the full custom map really does help the "throttle" issue the bike has. I also found that when i did the lighten flywheel it helps the bike to pick up the rpm easier.

Would be interesting to see how the New R goes with the full akrapovic and see what the mapping is like.

hopefully see you out at a track day

Yep I think so. Will look out for you. New R should be here sometime in Feb but no confirmed date yet, it has the Akra as standard, and the lighter engine components so fingers crossed!
 


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