Variobar

Hello together,

i have a Panigale 1299 S with that i go on longer trips, up to 9 days/3200 Km.
The sitting position becomes horrible after 5 days.
My back still hurt 3 days after finishing the journey.
The handlebars are very low - well for race track not for everday driving.

There is the riser Variobar from Gilles tolling for 899 and 1199 but not for 1299
The 1299 has modified wider upper front fairing
I took a look and think the brake fluid container would get in touch with the fairing.

--> Has anyone mounted this on a 1299 and can tell about his experiences???

Greetings Panimike

Panimike said:

Hello together,

i have a Panigale 1299 S with that i go on longer trips, up to 9 days/3200 Km.
The sitting position becomes horrible after 5 days.
My back still hurt 3 days after finishing the journey.
The handlebars are very low - well for race track not for everday driving.

There is the riser Variobar from Gilles tolling for 899 and 1199 but not for 1299
The 1299 has modified wider upper front fairing
I took a look and think the brake fluid container would get in touch with the fairing.

--> Has anyone mounted this on a 1299 and can tell about his experiences???

Greetings Panimike

Click to expand...

Sorry but you picked the WRONG BIKE for long trips and touring.Unless you are young and very limber LOL).
The Panigale is a race bike with lights. It was never designed to be a long distance touring bike. You should have picked the Multistrada if you want long term comfort.. There is not enough clearance for the brake and clutch reservoirs etc. to raise the handlebars much..


Not much you can do ..

Speedy

I will install my 120mm risers soon, but that will come with a fairing cut.

speedy14 said:

You should have picked the Multistrada if you want long term comfort.

Click to expand...

True

The variobar is now available for the H9 1299 with 87mm rise
I will buy one for my machine

I don't know how the Gilles engineers managed that it works well

It comes with a TÃœV Gutachten (engineers of the German state authority
certified that its legal and secure)


There isn't a big choice of bikes that combine a 2 cylinder in sporty chassis
Enduros don't fit to my driving style with their very soft front spring

Panimike. Go ride the Multi you will be surprised.

Relocating the handlebars on any Pani is a major PITA! I did it, tried several products (but not Gilles because I was very disappointed in the past by their lack of support).
It worked with Ducatibike, CNC racing might also be a good choice, others might chime in. no chance with Woodcraft, doesn't fit for me.
But raising the handlebars without changing the front fairing is not possible INHO.
Making it wider is no problem, shorter needs a 3rd party starter switch. With Ducabike clamps you can set the handlebars about 1" nearer to the drivers seat, max. Even changing the angle is a fussy work.

And don't forget the mounting point for the steering damper.

Personally I wouldn't buy anything from Gilles unless I've seen it properly mounted on a real Pani.

The Dutch stunter I posted a while ago rocks variobars- but the fairing is cut.

Looks badass IMHO

Lemme find the pic

Vid:

http://youtu.be/UybOCwOgdl8

The Multistrada can do some astonishing things on the road - even with the giant Granturismo luggage. I just don't expect to go more than 130mph (I never run without bags).

Ironically, this summer in terms of mileage, I've ridden the 1299 more than my Granturismo four to one. At 43 I'm solidly middle aged. The first month, I needed to use back heating pads but now the muscles in my lower back have apparently strengthened. ESPECIALLY with the addition of Tuneboy cruise control and the Ducati tank bag to lean on, I'd say my touring range on the 1299 would be about 4 hours - 200 miles.

Panimike said:

Hello together,

i have a Panigale 1299 S with that i go on longer trips, up to 9 days/3200 Km.
The sitting position becomes horrible after 5 days.
My back still hurt 3 days after finishing the journey.
The handlebars are very low - well for race track not for everday driving.

There is the riser Variobar from Gilles tolling for 899 and 1199 but not for 1299
The 1299 has modified wider upper front fairing
I took a look and think the brake fluid container would get in touch with the fairing.

--> Has anyone mounted this on a 1299 and can tell about his experiences???

Greetings Panimike

Click to expand...

Pannimike,

I have a spinal cord injury from military parachuting and so found the position unbearable after 45 minutes. I have limited movement in my neck. So back in 2102 I started looking for a solution. I spent many hours fitting the gilles bars but it was a long process. The problems were:

• Instructiions incorrect
• they sent me the kit for the base rather than the S
• clear tubing which was sent for brake and clutch lines was porous and failed
• the instructions for drilling holes in the clip ons was incorrect
• a small piece of brake line extension was not properly crimped and leaked
• the piece to attach the steering damper is not made quite the right size so you cannot get the steering damper parallel as OEM.

The Australian importer was very helpful but I think I would have spent 50 hours fitting, test fitting and re fitting incorrect parts. I got one of the first kits Gilles made but I was very disappointed in the quality control.

I have been riding with it all sorted for over 2 years now and it works great. There is no problem getting clearance for the tanks. They give you some spacers to push the fairing out a touch. Because they still look like clip ons and the angle is the same no one ever notices the difference even other Panigale riders. I have to point it out to people. I have posted lots of pictures of my bike on here and no one has ever noticed my raised clip ons.

I have never posted any pics as I did not want to listen to all the ........ about I bought the wrong bike.

They are a pain in the ... to fit. I sent Gilles lots of emails about where things were wrong so maybe they have fixed it all. I do not see why they would not fit the 1299 unless the forks are different diameter.

It was a long drama but it made the bike so comfortable for me.

a really cool video

I have the Ducabike risers. I can only get about 1 inch, maybe an inch and a half before the reservoirs hit the nose fairing, but that inch or so still helps a lot.

Hello bradp51,

thank you very much for your helpfull answer

Greetings Mike

Brad, that is an awesome write up. My limit has been 2 hours at a time, then 30min of rest. I was thinking about risers as well. I know a guy that makes custom braided stainless lines, so this winter I was going to try bar risers and just get new brake and clutch lines made instead of trying to extend them.

Personally, I don't like extra links in hydraulic lines. Better to get new ones made the correct length.

You have inspired me on the rest though. Outstanding!

And to those ........ that like to tell you you bought the wrong bike: shut the .... up.

We ride what we feel passionate about. If it isn't exactly comfortable, we modify it.

Some want to waste money and put cf and other bling on their bikes, others like to make them a bit more comfy. It is your bike, do what you want with it.

A bit harsh this early in the morning. There are better ways to get the message across than calling someone an ....... or a STFU.

I've thought about clipons too. Having ridden the 1199 for 2yrs straight, I forgot what a comfortable position felt like until I got my cbr. Feel like I can go hours on that bike but an hour or so tops on the 1199 without feeling discomfort. Probably has a lot to do with body positioning but it's not just that. Definitely the bike. I'll live with it though since I don't ride long distance with it anyway but if I did, I'd definitely consider that mod.

I am just tired of people telling me what I should and should not do with my bike. It is MY bike. I don't think it is the wrong bike at all. It may not be perfect out of the box, but that is why we HAVE the aftermarket. So we can make it our own...

steveved said:

Brad, that is an awesome write up. My limit has been 2 hours at a time, then 30min of rest. I was thinking about risers as well. I know a guy that makes custom braided stainless lines, so this winter I was going to try bar risers and just get new brake and clutch lines made instead of trying to extend them.

Personally, I don't like extra links in hydraulic lines. Better to get new ones made the correct length.

You have inspired me on the rest though. Outstanding!

And to those ........ that like to tell you you bought the wrong bike: shut the .... up.

We ride what we feel passionate about. If it isn't exactly comfortable, we modify it.

Some want to waste money and put cf and other bling on their bikes, others like to make them a bit more comfy. It is your bike, do what you want with it.

Click to expand...

The gilles kit provide a small 3 inch extension steel braided brake line. I got a bad one and they sent me a new one. I have not had any problems with it. If you can get custom lines cheap then maybe worth it. I hope your project goes well.

I've had custom lines made for me by both Galfer and Spiegler. As long as you know EXACTLY what banjo fittings you need (they come in a myriad of different angles) and the length of the hose, it doesn't cost much, nor take much time, to get your custom lines. You can even rainbow it out with an array of different colors

Picture for jdgun

Hi jdgun, as requested a picture of my setup with Ducabike clipons....

Installed:
Ducabike clipons
Ducabike clamp for steering damper
Dion Device
Ducabike engine Start/Stop switch
Stahlbus bleeder Valves
Ducabike Handlebars
Rizoma mirrors
CNC Racing caps for fluids
CNC Racing stem nut
Bitubo steering damper
Gilles Tools ergo levers
Gilles Tools remote brake adjuster
All bolts replaced with Titanium
Fluid hoses replaced with Tygon 2450, clamps from Ebay (actually from a washing machine vendor)
BTW top yoke is from Evotech and CF fluid container holders from Lieb Speed
Alu mounting bolts for the fluid containers are from Pro Bolt
This photo is pretty old, after that I changed grips to Progrip 717 and wire-secured them. Also anodized handlebar tubes in red.
As previously mentioned its a bit of a PITA to do it: you have to shorten the Ducabike handlebars and thread an M18x1 into them.

I hope this helps.