V4 race launches

jsxpark · Mar 21, 2022

Anybody else having trouble launching the V4 with wet clutch assy?
Getting killed out here on race starts. I've raced 848s, 899s and 1199s and never once had as horrible of a launch as I'm getting with this 2018 base V4.
Regardless of how smoothly I let the clutch out (holding the RPM at 5~6K), it makes a strange grinding noise/engine cuts out for a fraction of a second and I'm not sure whether the rear wheel is spinning causing the electronics to cut the power, or if it's the clutch acting up.

BP PanigaleV4S · Mar 21, 2022

Are you using DPL? I'd suggest holding higher, maybe 9K.

@RickD996 Has video of good DPL launches with his bike. Maybe he can jump in.

WyldCFH · Mar 21, 2022

Using DPL you hold it wide open, the ecu manages the RPMs and you release the clutch smoothly

RickD996 · Mar 21, 2022

bp_SFV4 said:
Are you using DPL? I'd suggest holding higher, maybe 9K.

@RickD996 Has video of good DPL launches with his bike. Maybe he can jump in.

Thanks BP, my bike has a dry clutch though unfortunately.

I was speaking to a Ducati mechanic the other day, and I was asking about converting my V4R to the wet clutch. I wanted easier launches, and less maintenance. He seemed to think the wet clutch was as difficult as the dry for launches, said it was a 'lockup' clutch, although not sure what that is.

Higher revs may be your friend though, I do use the DPL, level 3 (9k rev hold)

Olenikolai · Mar 22, 2022

RickD996 said:
Thanks BP, my bike has a dry clutch though unfortunately.

I was speaking to a Ducati mechanic the other day, and I was asking about converting my V4R to the wet clutch. I wanted easier launches, and less maintenance. He seemed to think the wet clutch was as difficult as the dry for launches, said it was a 'lockup' clutch, although not sure what that is.

Higher revs may be your friend though, I do use the DPL, level 3 (9k rev hold)

He's probably refering to the "self-servo" function of the clutch, when power is sent through the clutch, the plates are pushed togheter with more force than the clutch springs apply. Think of if like the ramps for the slipper function of the clutch, just opposite.

Fry · Mar 22, 2022

I have a wet clutch and don't use DPL and had struggled similarly with starts: rear wheel slip, wheelies, and lots of software intervention.
But raising the rear ride height, having a more neutral seating position (more weight on the rear), and dropping DWC from 3 to 1 really helped a lot: I get less slip and no adverse intervention from wheelie control.
I give it like 4-5k revs and close the clutch pretty quickly and then manage drive mostly with the throttle roll-on. This has worked pretty well for me.
This explains my technique pretty well:

I'm going to practice this technique for a few more races to build the muscle memory, then try out the DPL, as I hear from some trusted experts that it is superior once you figure that technique out.
For now, I prefer consistent "good" launches over inconsistent great/poor launches.

V4 race launches

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