Riding Modes

I was just thinking about the flexibility of the riding modes and DES and having watched the video of how to program the modes, I think Ducati might have missed a trick....

When I'm on the road, the wet/sport/race modes should be OK. I'll probably tweak these modes here and there, but the three options broadly make sense. However, I'm not sure they make as much sense at the track. When I use modes on track, I'm going to program the modes as subtle variations: for example I might make wet the same as race, but with little more engine braking or maybe more damping. This is OK, but I'm going to have to resort to pen and paper to record all my settings as I go between track and road use.

The menus won't make this easy as I'll have to go into every menu item and write down every setting. I can then adjust them all back to my road preferences, one-by-one before heading back out on the road. This seems a bit long winded, unless I'm missing something???

It would be better if we had the three standard modes and maybe three (or more) custom modes that could be renamed. My Canon DSLR works this way and its really useful.

I guess the good news is Ducati could reprogram the display to work anyway we want, assuming enough people ask.

What do you think?

I think they sell some premium add-ons for fine tuning the bike through the help of a computer.

Software that uploads/downloads the settings? Maybe, but I don't want to take a laptop to the track. I'm sure some enterprising individual will figure out how to reprogram the display. Is there a usb port on it anywhere?

PaddockStand said:

It would be better if we had the three standard modes and maybe three (or more) custom modes that could be renamed. My Canon DSLR works this way and its really useful.

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Yup; I'd been thinking the same thing. What I'd want would be customizable modes, half a dozen or so just as you say. Call any of 'em what you like, or leave the stock names and defaults for race, sport and rain and add some more. Since you can flip them on the fly, it would be nice to go out on a track day and be able to do some laps while trying say, different suspension settings only without pitting, or maybe TC/EBC only. Set up your test set in the pits, then do a few laps with each setting, changing on the fly without coming in. You do have some ability to do that now with customizing the 3 modes, but they are a bit limited.

Some additional power modes might be useful as well in addition to the severely limited rain mode power setting. Don't know for sure how they limit the power to 120hp in rain mode, but I'm guessing they just don't give you full throttle. I'd like to be able to tweak the throttle %, plus the turn amount and response curve. No need to go buying quick turn throttles when you can dial it in however you like with software. Anyone who's spent time with racing or flight sims knows how much you can do there.

As per the discussion about the merits of DES, it would be really good to ride settings back to back without pitting. This way I could get a much better feel for the effect of changing a parameter, such as compression damping or EBC.

The bike would also store track baselines between sessions without needing to worry about them getting changed during road riding.

100% agree that some user-profiles are needed, in addition to the 3 factory slots.

On the plus side, there is pretty much unlimited scope for the UI to be revised, either something the factory will enhance, or if they release something that allows owners to play around with and download to the bike (please!!!!!!!!).

Since they sell the fine tuning stuff and all, I expect Ducati to not allow that so that people will end up buying the fine running stuff : Ducati Corse Superstock data acquisition kit - Ducati Superbike Accessories

Braintrash said:

Since they sell the fine tuning stuff and all, I expect Ducati to not allow that so that people will end up buying the fine running stuff.....

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Not the same. Ducati are only offering data aqusition and "performance" parts. They are talking additional memory for personalised settings, beyond the three that are available. As they already have the software for complete customisation of the riding modes, they would only need to add a few Meg of memory and add three more user defined modes. Most would not use them but it would be a "nice to have" for those that would.

DRSapp said:

they would only need to add a few Meg of memory....

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More like 100KB ...... with a few MB, we could have Defender and Asteroids for when we're taking a break

Xbox said:

More like 100KB ...... with a few MB, we could have Defender and Asteroids for when we're taking a break

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Depends on who is writing their code and if they get paid by the line..

But yes - It would be a shame to let good tft sit idle while waiting for your next track session.

I ran on an interesting article which basically said they should ditch the TFT dashboard and put an iPhone cradle. I would love having my iPhone as my Panigale dashboard, and using it for programming the rider modes. ^o^

Braintrash said:

I ran on an interesting article which basically said they should ditch the TFT dashboard and put an iPhone cradle. I would love having my iPhone as my Panigale dashboard, and using it for programming the rider modes. ^o^

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Oh dear NO! Before you know it Apple would want 30% of the revenue from your garage every time you refulled.

What would happen if you lost your phone while away on a trip?

Apple should stick to overpriced computer equipment, we don't want them anywhere near the motorcycle industry!

That's harsh to Apple since:
- 30% is less than the usual fee services take. As for magazines, by example, they take at least 50% in France, when not 70%! 30% is quite correct.
- Apple is to computers what Ducati is to bikes. ;-)

Braintrash said:

I ran on an interesting article which basically said they should ditch the TFT dashboard and put an iPhone cradle. I would love having my iPhone as my Panigale dashboard, and using it for programming the rider modes. ^o^

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Or a Galaxy S3. The news ones have a huge screen (4.3"). I especially like the idea of a touch screen (why this has not happened with motorcycle displays yet, I have no f*cking idea why!?).

Don't get me wrong, you could never lose on the fly handle bar controls, but being able to swiftly go through touch screen menus in the garage would be a plus.

We could even do voice commands.

But still, I am waiting for the Scala G9, and still unhappy with the fact they don't provide handlebar commands. It would be better than having commands on the helmet which is plain stupid I reckon.

Sure, Twiins do have some handlebar commands, but Twiins? Even with the Ducati badge, they are a joke.

Braintrash said:

We could even do voice commands.

But still, I am waiting for the Scala G9, and still unhappy with the fact they don't provide handlebar commands. It would be better than having commands on the helmet which is plain stupid I reckon.

Sure, Twiins do have some handlebar commands, but Twiins? Even with the Ducati badge, they are a joke.

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My next helmet I intend to get is a Schuberth SR1 (or similar) with SRC System

I have seen mixed review about the SRC system. You should try it first.

Braintrash said:

I have seen mixed review about the SRC system. You should try it first.

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Thanks, do you have any links to the reviews that you have you seen?

They were in French, but since I googled them a while ago when looking for a new helmet, I think you should be able to find some in English.

I like the touchscreen on my iphone. I wouldn't need one on my Ducati. Fingerprints all over my display ........Hell no ! I doubt we'll ever see them from factory anyway. Some knucklehead would crash while trying to mess with it while riding , and then sue Ducati for putting it on the bike.