Would you choose a V4R or SP2 for trackday use?

S

spooky

Joined Aug 2022
2K Posts | 757+
Czech Republic
As I’m seeing the new V4R at some better prices than retail it got me thinking about whether I would ditch the SP2 and go for a V4R as I wouldn’t lose much money and I assume my M9RS wheels would fit the V4R, along with dry clutch cover and rearsets.

On the one hand, it’s an R and it would be nice to own and ride one while I can. On the other hand, the SP2 is great, probably a bit easier to ride on track as it has a little bit more torque and probably cheaper to maintain.

Thoughts?

It’s just a conversation by the way… the thought just popped into my head.
 
The benefits of the SP2 compared to the R are mainly the carbon wheels. If you are running the M9RS wheels on both then that benefit is negated. The SP2 runs optimized R geometry so no benefit there except that the R is also adjustable, so extra points. The extra torque on the 1100/SP2 is nice if you are on the street or if you don’t have proper gearing setup on track, however the linear power, extra revs and ultimate power on the R are all more desirable on the track. That is in addition to how much quicker the engine revs and is how much lighter the motor and rotating assembly are, which makes the bike more flickable, plus the proper mechanical Ohlins suspension and the adj. swing-arm pivot… Yah there is no comparison for the R motor.

You need to ride an R on the track and see for yourself..
 
For trackdays, no from practicality standpoint. The service intervals of an R engine is twice as frequent than the 1103. Like SoS said, no major geo differences apart from the SAP (but you need to know how to use that to get the benefits from it). In fact, tracking an SP2 is kind of a waste of money since you’re paying extra for carbon wheels which you’re not even using. And the dry clutch is more of a hassle than a wet clutch. If you want a trackday V4, save yourself the money and get a base and build it up properly.
 
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@SpeedOfSound You’re certainly selling it and part of me wonders if I’ll regret not trying an R (and, much to my surprise, I’m not getting any younger).

Obviously the SP2 makes it very easy to adjust suspension. I guess the suspension is superior on the R? Not sure about that.

I wouldn’t be expecting faster times but the experience could be interesting. I would expect maintenance costs to be higher on that engine though, but you only live once (despite what some say).
 
SuperDomestique said:
For trackdays, no from practicality standpoint. The service intervals of an R engine is twice as frequent than the 1103. Like SoS said, no major geo differences apart from the SAP (but you need to know how to use that to get the benefits from it). In fact, tracking an SP2 is kind of a waste of money since you’re paying extra for carbon wheels which you’re not even using. And the dry clutch is more of a hassle than a wet clutch. If you want a trackday V4, save yourself the money and get a base and build it up properly.
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The nice thing about the SP2 is that it’s still an SP2 when I eventually want to sell it - it will be easier to sell for a lower percentage of financial loss than a base V4 in my opinion. You cannot order one at the moment as far as I am aware and prices seem reasonably strong. It might be not such a bad idea to sell before the inevitable SP3 comes along.

I like a dry clutch. Interesting how much smaller the one on the R is. I haven’t checked servicing expectations on that part but would guess it might also require servicing more often.

You might or might not recall but the SP2 was not bought to use exclusively on track - it’s just ended up that way. If I stay with the SP2 then it will be for track only. I have a slower bike for the road.
 
That’s some fuzzy math you’ve got there to explain minimizing your financial loss. Hate to break it to you but there’s nothing special about the SP2. It’s not limited. It won’t retain value better than a plain V4. You can bolt on the same or better parts for less than the difference between a base and SP2. But suit yourself how you want to play trackday hero… Vroom vroom!
 
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Is it impossible for you to behave like a normal person? You have to be obnoxious all the time? Maybe go on a social skills course or something?
 
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The V4R engine feels quite different in all honesty. I owned a 22’ V4S and currently have a 23’ V4R. The R engine lacks the brutal torque of the 1103cc, but revs noticeably faster and feels quite a bit smoother and more linear. IMO the best way for me to explain it is that it feels like someone added a spoonful of s1k to the v4 recipe. The smoothness and linearity of the power curve is immediately apparent once you rev both bikes out. On paper they are similar, but the overall riding experience and throttle feeling between the two bikes really makes them stand apart
 
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spooky said:
As I’m seeing the new V4R at some better prices than retail it got me thinking about whether I would ditch the SP2 and go for a V4R as I wouldn’t lose much money and I assume my M9RS wheels would fit the V4R, along with dry clutch cover and rearsets.

On the one hand, it’s an R and it would be nice to own and ride one while I can. On the other hand, the SP2 is great, probably a bit easier to ride on track as it has a little bit more torque and probably cheaper to maintain.

Thoughts?

It’s just a conversation by the way… the thought just popped into my head.
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Why would you want to waste coins on SP2 ?

For track, either base V4 with relevant upgrades or V4R.

SP2 is a gimmick for the likes of 650ib and Christina's boy
 
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I guess it all depends on your budget and skill level. Are you within 10 seconds of the track record? If not get the one that strokes your ego because thats all this thread is about since a skilled rider would easily get within seconds of it with either. Another way to look at it is get the one you are happy to throw down the road occasionally, which is why you've removed all the stock fairings, pegs, bars etc etc and turned it into a proper track bike.
 
Paul G said:
I guess it all depends on your budget and skill level. Are you within 10 seconds of the track record? If not get the one that strokes your ego because thats all this thread is about since a skilled rider would easily get within seconds of it with either. Another way to look at it is get the one you are happy to throw down the road occasionally, which is why you've removed all the stock fairings, pegs, bars etc etc and turned it into a proper track bike.
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Neither would make me faster than the other. Technique development and track time are the way to do that. Obviously.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the thread, it's just a question of whether it might be nice to try the R while I'm still able to ride on track.
 
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Paul G said:
Agree, if you have the bucks get the R but if anyone is even asking this question then get that Gixxer or whatever to learn on then they wont have ask the internet.
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I already have the SP2 and I'm not going to buy a Gixxer.

The thread was just thinking aloud - like a discussion over a pint, without the benefit of having a pint. I became aware that it now seems possible to get the R for quite a bit below retail and it made me wonder if it might be interesting to move from the SP2 to the R for a potentially different experience. There's nothing wrong with the SP2 - awesome bike.
 
Paul G said:
Are you within 10 seconds of the track record? If not get the one that strokes your ego because thats all this thread is about since a skilled rider would easily get within seconds of it with either.
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Really? You're taking the conversation down that road? On that basis then very few of us here should have a Panigale. I'd take issue with a 'skilled rider easily' getting within seconds of the lap record on a V4. Easily? Maybe the best riders in the world could do it, and that's a big maybe, but they are not simply 'skilled' riders. It's also not what's being discussed.

Paul G said:
Another way to look at it is get the one you are happy to throw down the road occasionally, which is why you've removed all the stock fairings, pegs, bars etc etc and turned it into a proper track bike.
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I don't think I'd be happy about throwing any bike down the road - nothing to do with money. If I was worried about that then I wouldn't be taking my SP2 on track and that's the only place I ride it.

The engine in the R is supposed to be a different experience and I was simply wondering if it would be worthwhile to switch from the SP2 for that experience of riding the R. We don't need to worry about lap times for this conversation - it's irrelevant, as is the money and whether or not a Gixxer is enough.
 
spooky said:
Really? You're taking the conversation down that road? On that basis then very few of us here should have a Panigale. I'd take issue with a 'skilled rider easily' getting within seconds of the lap record on a V4. Easily? Maybe the best riders in the world could do it, and that's a big maybe, but they are not simply 'skilled' riders. It's also not what's being discussed.


I don't think I'd be happy about throwing any bike down the road - nothing to do with money. If I was worried about that then I wouldn't be taking my SP2 on track and that's the only place I ride it.

The engine in the R is supposed to be a different experience and I was simply wondering if it would be worthwhile to switch from the SP2 for that experience of riding the R. We don't need to worry about lap times for this conversation - it's irrelevant, as is the money and whether or not a Gixxer is enough.
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mate those CF wheels are pain to see delaminate on a silly low side
 
panibadboy said:
mate those CF wheels are pain to see delaminate on a silly low side
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Funny that. If the R cams are different, which is typical for Ducati, buy a set and put them in your 1103. Just don't turn the rev limiter up. That should be adequately zippy. Ducati has always taken a Lotus approach to race cams "oops we broke another rocker maybe too much?"
 
I think the riding experience is different enough between the two to warrant making the switch. Whether you end up preferring one to the other is a personal thing, but they are different enough to where you won’t feel like you just switched to a different color of the same bike
 
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@smithbuddy760 - Quite a few people have said the same thing as you have said. It's quite tempting when a very good price has been offered for a new V4R (less than I paid for the SP2, which is holding it's value well and now cannot be ordered).
 

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