Joined May 2022
3K Posts | 1K+
USA
Thill 6/16
- Thread starter SuperDomestique
- Start date
Joined Dec 2020
1K Posts | 2K+
Italy
Joined May 2022
3K Posts | 1K+
USA
What a great track bike! Suspension was perfect with @roadracerx spring recs. Literally set the tire pressure once in the morning and they were spot on every time I came back in to check hot pressures. Tire graining was nice until the afternoon heat turned the asphalt to greasy lava. Played around with DTC/EBC/power modes and each change was noticeable. Amazing how much you can lean on the electronics. Coming onto the front straight you can literally put fist full of throttle in while leaned over and no issues. Tapped the top of 4th at 150 mph down the front straight. Bike was super stable on the brakes into 1. I was ..... footing into corners and scrubbing too much speed on entry 
Better to be safe than sorry
Better to be safe than sorryAttachments
Joined May 2022
3K Posts | 1K+
USA
Any thoughts on gearing through various sectors of Thunderhill East? Still trying to work out the track. It’s been about a year since I last was there and first time on the V4 (22 so longer gearing). 2nd trackday on the bike. Need to pick up a 360 camera for next time.
T1-2 3rd
T3-6 2nd
T7-8 3rd
T9 2nd then 3rd down the hill
T10-11 2nd then 3rd out of the kink
T14-15 2nd then up to 4th (just hitting the shift light at the finish line before starting to brake for T1)
Think it’s worthwhile to change gearing?
I also noticed my body position was suboptimal. Felt a bit stretched out (like the tank was in the way of my contralateral arm) and couldn’t rotate my torso into the turn and open my hip angle.
Couple things I’m considering to remedy this:
T1-2 3rd
T3-6 2nd
T7-8 3rd
T9 2nd then 3rd down the hill
T10-11 2nd then 3rd out of the kink
T14-15 2nd then up to 4th (just hitting the shift light at the finish line before starting to brake for T1)
Think it’s worthwhile to change gearing?
I also noticed my body position was suboptimal. Felt a bit stretched out (like the tank was in the way of my contralateral arm) and couldn’t rotate my torso into the turn and open my hip angle.
Couple things I’m considering to remedy this:
- increasing rearset height (but will this make my knee angle too acute?)
- tangent tube clip-ons
Joined May 2022
3K Posts | 1K+
USA
That’s what I was hoping for that RaceSeat that I bought but unfortunately they bungled that.
I was hoping to keep the bike as stock as possible, but I guess ergos ..... that notion.
Joined Aug 2020
3K Posts | 1K+
northampton
Didn't they give you the money back for the seat that you said wouldn't fit?.....or did you buy another one that was wrong?
Joined Jul 2020
6K Posts | 3K+
Midwest
@andyb Marc says hi.
The Ducati Performance seat is an easy fit and I think 20mm higher. The RaceSeat worked for me, but it's kind of abusive to the bodywork. I haven't decided if I'm going to use with without the tank cover or not.
Speaking of abusive to bodywork, I decided to go back to naked tank sans cover, which was definitely rough on the tank despite masking off the edges. To the point, I repainted it matte black. I liked the matte black tank look that I had with the cover. It took a LOT of sanding with 400. Used etching primer on any bare metal and sanded some more with the 400. Sprayed it was 2k satin black, but had some trash in the paint so I wet sanded with 1000 grit and sadly burned through to red in a couple of places so more satin black then wet sanded again with 1000. I took a lot of time to make sure there wasn't any lint or dust on the tank. Wiped it with denatured alcohol to degrease, then a low tack rag to get the lint left by the degrease wiping. I took an A and B surface approach and prioritized the portions which are visible when the bike is assembled then hit it with 2K matte clear. I have to say it came out amazing. I wouldn't try to paint something this large again without a spray booth at least with matte paint.
Sitting out in the sun to aid in curing...
The Ducati Performance seat is an easy fit and I think 20mm higher. The RaceSeat worked for me, but it's kind of abusive to the bodywork. I haven't decided if I'm going to use with without the tank cover or not.
Speaking of abusive to bodywork, I decided to go back to naked tank sans cover, which was definitely rough on the tank despite masking off the edges. To the point, I repainted it matte black. I liked the matte black tank look that I had with the cover. It took a LOT of sanding with 400. Used etching primer on any bare metal and sanded some more with the 400. Sprayed it was 2k satin black, but had some trash in the paint so I wet sanded with 1000 grit and sadly burned through to red in a couple of places so more satin black then wet sanded again with 1000. I took a lot of time to make sure there wasn't any lint or dust on the tank. Wiped it with denatured alcohol to degrease, then a low tack rag to get the lint left by the degrease wiping. I took an A and B surface approach and prioritized the portions which are visible when the bike is assembled then hit it with 2K matte clear. I have to say it came out amazing. I wouldn't try to paint something this large again without a spray booth at least with matte paint.
Sitting out in the sun to aid in curing...
Last edited:
Joined May 2022
3K Posts | 1K+
USA
You know Marc is kind of growing on me. Poor guy can't catch a break except to his bones. That Honda is wicked.
Yeah, tell me about RaceSeats being hard on your equipment. The carbon seat base chews up paint. I ran into it scratching the tank any time I test fit it. I added a 1 mm washer to the hook plate to raise it some and put felt on the base. Will see how it faired shortly when I convert the bike back to street
Quite the undertaking painting the tank!
Joined May 2022
3K Posts | 1K+
USA
You're quite the super sleuth! I guess things change
After about 2 days of fettling, I eventually got it to fit. Cut about 5 mm off the front and trimmed the side wings which bowed into the underseat part of the tank. It was a serious pain in the ... that I probably gave up 3 times in the process
Joined Jul 2020
6K Posts | 3K+
Midwest
Seeing how he reacted after the high side on the morning of the German GP slightly changed my view of him for the better. I'd be surprised if he finished out his contract.
Joined May 2022
3K Posts | 1K+
USA
Good idea. Will order up the DP Race seat and see how that fits before doing anything.
Joined Jul 2020
6K Posts | 3K+
Midwest
I think I'm going that route too. I snagged a used one on eBay for $180 tonight. I'm with you line of thought as to keeping the bike as close to stock as possible, painted tank aside. Right now, I just have the full Akrapovic exhaust, an amazing Duessen Engines tune, DP rearsets, taller windscreen, TWM levers and a DP seat on the way. Well, plus the mirror block and tail block offs.
I think I'll do aftermarket fairings so I can put the factory stuff in the basement to keep it safe.
I think I'll do aftermarket fairings so I can put the factory stuff in the basement to keep it safe.
Joined Aug 2020
3K Posts | 1K+
northampton
You're quite the super sleuth! I guess things change
After about 2 days of fettling, I eventually got it to fit. Cut about 5 mm off the front and trimmed the side wings which bowed into the underseat part of the tank. It was a serious pain in the ... that I probably gave up 3 times in the process
You sent the money back then, did that change?
Joined May 2022
3K Posts | 1K+
USA
Joined May 2022
3K Posts | 1K+
USA
Going to try to do the same. I think a higher seating position will help with getting the arm over the tank and getting the thighs better positioned on in the tank cutouts.
Will give this a go for Laguna Seca next month
Joined Dec 2020
1K Posts | 2K+
Italy
Hard to tell without seeing what you're up to. Before swapping out a lot of parts look at easiest thing to fix and move down. Sometimes it's your gear, like gloves or the way the gloves and suit fit or even gloves too tight on wrists. It's crazy how many years I went without seeing well in a tuck before I realized my helmet was conflicting with my Armour and my pant legs were too short to get a knee in the right position. Changed to Alpine stars that fits me better and BING my riding improved 30% in a day.
Second hand positions. If you're gripping tight at a 90 angle in the turns, that's a huge issue with the rest of your BP. Especially your inside hand should be like you're holding a bird. So it won't get away, but not a death grip. Let it be at a super wide angle to the bar. NOT 90 degrees. That will let you get your shoulders dropped and chest open. Also it'll will let you turn the throttle deep lean, like a screwdriver NOT a wrench. Swapping out gears changes really a lot of things. That's a pretty big commitment. I wouldn't bother doing track days until you've exhausted the optimization of riding improvements.
Joined May 2022
3K Posts | 1K+
USA
I found the photos from bluemilk. Don’t want to post them up here since I didn’t pay for them. Nothing spectacular like dragging an elbow like @KarlKani or @RickD996 .
Riding gear is all sorted and fits well. Rev’It suit, Dainese FM6, Arai Corsair X. I did just pick up some new boots (Dainese Torque Out boots) that need a bit to break in. What a great boot though! Maybe my back protector is a little bulky but I’ve had it for the last 10 years.
Hand position is how you’re describing with the ulnar part of my wrist sitting on the bar end weight.
But I think you’re right, attack the problem methodically. I’m going to try that DP race seat. I think that RaceSeat is actually lower than the stock seat and at 5’7” I need all the height I can to get my thighs in the tank contours. Previous bike was a Daytona 675 that fit like a glove. Will also put cameras on the bike to start taking a look at positioning
Riding gear is all sorted and fits well. Rev’It suit, Dainese FM6, Arai Corsair X. I did just pick up some new boots (Dainese Torque Out boots) that need a bit to break in. What a great boot though! Maybe my back protector is a little bulky but I’ve had it for the last 10 years.
Hand position is how you’re describing with the ulnar part of my wrist sitting on the bar end weight.
But I think you’re right, attack the problem methodically. I’m going to try that DP race seat. I think that RaceSeat is actually lower than the stock seat and at 5’7” I need all the height I can to get my thighs in the tank contours. Previous bike was a Daytona 675 that fit like a glove. Will also put cameras on the bike to start taking a look at positioning
Joined May 2022
3K Posts | 1K+
USA
Picked up my DP race seat. Unfortunately I can’t shake those idiots over at RaceSeats. I flipped the DP one over and lo and behold it’s made by them haha 
The plus side is that base is the standard plastic OEM base. Not sure why they try to get all fancy with the ill-fitting carbon fiber ones…
Seating position is 5 mm higher than the standard V4S. No change in seat profile. Material feels super grippy. It’s some sort of rubber material (smooth, not neoprene). Foam feels a little more stiff too but unsure if it’s a different durometer vs if it’s the cover itself lending to this.
Should’ve just gone with this option from the get go. My thighs are just a little higher and locked into the tank contour a little more. Not sure you really need a custom RaceSeat and if anything it can lead to more problems than solutions. The standard seat or this DP race seat will do the job for 99% of us .
The plus side is that base is the standard plastic OEM base. Not sure why they try to get all fancy with the ill-fitting carbon fiber ones…Seating position is 5 mm higher than the standard V4S. No change in seat profile. Material feels super grippy. It’s some sort of rubber material (smooth, not neoprene). Foam feels a little more stiff too but unsure if it’s a different durometer vs if it’s the cover itself lending to this.
Should’ve just gone with this option from the get go. My thighs are just a little higher and locked into the tank contour a little more. Not sure you really need a custom RaceSeat and if anything it can lead to more problems than solutions. The standard seat or this DP race seat will do the job for 99% of us .
Attachments
Register CTA
Register on Ducati Forum! This sidebar will go away, and you will see fewer ads.
Sign Up