wheelies on the Panigale

Videos or it didn't happen

Unfortunately, I do not know any wheelie masters that ride a Panigale.

I will try to get a buddy to take some video. This weekend may work out. I assume you want to see my novice technique as that is all I can personally demonstrate.

I am in FL and try to make time to ride every weekend. I often ride by myself or with one or two other Ducati owners maximum. I am by no means an expert rider. Therefore, I am always trying to learn new information on equipment, techniques, etc. and welcome others to ride with me. Let me know if anyone is interested in riding.

I've been practicing roll ons. I'm not good enough for clutch ups. I've had 5 bikes, but I never really tried wheelies. I just pick a long straight road and from a stop, roll on in 1st and let it come up and 8KRPM then repeat. Just trying to get comfortable.

I went out yesterday to try some new suspension settings Transnone passed on (front felt a lot lighter by the way - not sure if this was real or just perception?!) had a couple of cracks at power wheelie and broke my virginity! Just need a pair of bigger balls now. But you know what - again I realise just how brutal this bike is. Pull the front wheel up in first or second, red line it and QS up and just keep going. Before you,know it you're going so fast my chin bar is touching my chin/ nose and you're going 130mph plus. The bike is just awesomely, brutally, powerful!! How the hell these little 140lb guys hang on to something generating 30-40 HP more for 40+ minutes whilst riding 6" from each other is totally beyond me. Respect to them.

Hope you liked them, I tightened my preload up half a turn to 13 since then. I'm still playing with the suspension lol.

I gotta get it figured. Unfortunately some of our roads are fantastic, twisty, canyon types and yet others are horrendously bumpy pieces of ..... that literally break your balls unless you stand up. Have to go one way or the other unless I keep switching to 120 HP mode.
Sorry for hijacking the thread - back to wheelies!!

Last thing I want to say, try lifting yourself off the seat with your legs. It'll make you sore at first, but really helps. It'll reduce you bouncing and putting that bad feedback into the bike.

Pic

Can't figure out the video upload. But, here's a little pic.

VOODOO said:

Can't figure out the video upload. But, here's a little pic.

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Holy ..... Your center of gravity looks to be exactly over your base of support. Why even bother riding with a whole seat since it appears you only use the EDGE!!!!!?

Panigale brakes work very good lol

For anyone that wants to give it a go here's my 02.

Me personally I can NOT do clutch wheelies with this hydraulic clutch.Maybe with shorty levers? I don't have them yet so can't tell you until then.

Here is how I lift the front.

Sport Lo - DTC Off. I like the Pani with 0 DTC,much more raw.

In 1st gear get to 40-45mph and hold the speed.You -can- sit back if you want but I don't do that anymore. I come in at 195lbs so not light at all and this method still works. Anyways once you're up to that speed you have 2 options.

#1 - Quickly turn throttle back in as in to lose speed then once you hear engine drone just snap it back! I usually go about 1/2 way.It should raise up easily.

#2 - This one is more hard to control IMO.Once at the 40-45mph mark just hold it and prepare for lift.With hand on throttle just turn it hard! You'll have to get a feel for it.If you don't turn it enough initially then nothing will happen. Do it correctly and it lifts gradually but VERY quickly.

I prefer method #1 because it pops up high then you can throttle it how you want. The #2 is unpredictable.

Doing it too close to 50mph and the bike will just plant itself.

I can't do much in 2nd gear.Power is more around 8k and that's a bit too high for me to be playing on the freeway.Once I can hold it real consistent I'll worry about perfecting 2nd gear.

VOODOO said:

Can't figure out the video upload. But, here's a little pic.

Click to expand...

Yikes.

I agree with Alleykat. I turn off DTC unless I am bouncing up highway stand ups. The wheel spin of most wheelies will shut it down. I am still a little puzzled about clutching it up for sit downs in 3rd. It seems to be hard to bring up in mid range. Have not tested it much yet. But, it does seem strange with the nice amount of power the Panigale has. No problem bouncing it up in 1st through 5th, even at 100 +. Have only ridden it 5 or 6 times. Might just be the way the power band is. Oh, and clutching it up in 1st and 2nd is definitely No Problem! Lol. (.5 seconds from ground to sky).Will check back. Thanks

VOODOO said:

Can't figure out the video upload. But, here's a little pic.

Click to expand...

Nice, lean her back a bit more and scrape the tail"¦ I use to do 12's on my 998 when I rode for a Stunt Team DRIVING TO ENDANGER and the dam thing started smoking like crazy. Oil ran out the top of the air box and dripped onto the motor and started smoking like crazy thought I blew it up at first. Not sure if the Pani has the same problem. But if it starts smoking like crazy you will know what the problem is. Great Pic though.

Try "OFF".

Feck me, now that is a wheelie. Very good

Danger Close MFG said:

Nice, lean her back a bit more and scrape the tail"¦ I use to do 12's on my 998 when I rode for a Stunt Team DRIVING TO ENDANGER and the dam thing started smoking like crazy. Oil ran out the top of the air box and dripped onto the motor and started smoking like crazy thought I blew it up at first. Not sure if the Pani has the same problem. But if it starts smoking like crazy you will know what the problem is. Great Pic though.

Click to expand...

I was curious about that. And also about the location of the oil pick up. I blew a couple of R1 engines before I changed to Honda. Rode Honda for years and now this is my first Ducati. I think Ducati is ready for the abuse, now that they have made the latest changes with the 1199. As for dragging tail, I need a refrigeration unit for the back brake system to practice getting to 2 o'clock "AM". Brake fluid is black after two weeks.

My $0.02... Balance point wheelies are fun; used to do them on dirtbikes where you could basically ride around in circles that way until you ran out of gas, but never have on any of my sportbikes. I'm too old to doing that stuff anymore anyway...

But as you're obviously not, watch that you set the front down easy and be sure and check your cylinder head/airbox mount studs regularly. Keep in mind there are only four, count 'em, four, nuts holding the front end to the back end of a Panigale. I shudder to think of the load on the two front ones dropping it hard from a few 12's; all those "JRA" 2-piece Gixxers come to mind...

Steve B said:

My $0.02... Balance point wheelies are fun; used to do them on dirtbikes where you could basically ride around in circles that way until you ran out of gas, but never have on any of my sportbikes. I'm too old to doing that stuff anymore anyway...

But as you're obviously not, watch that you set the front down easy and be sure and check your cylinder head/airbox mount studs regularly. Keep in mind there are only four, count 'em, four, nuts holding the front end to the back end of a Panigale. I shudder to think of the load on the two front ones dropping it hard from a few 12's; all those "JRA" 2-piece Gixxers come to mind...

Click to expand...

Wow! Thanks for some most valuable information and advice. I will keep that in mind. I am going to the dealership tomorrow, so while I'm there I will talk to them about this and any other things I should know.

I am probably also "too old" for most of this stuff. I've actually calmed down quite a bit, but this is still my therapy. Part of buying the Panigale is an attempt to slowly transition myself into my older years. I think, as the price tag goes up, I will be more gentle. Some kind of psychology on myself, lol.

I have a feeling this will start to resemble preflight walk arounds and annuals on an aircraft.
Thanks again