Touring on the V4

[RdashP]

Guys,
Besides the Streetfighter V4 coming up, I was wondering what kind of luggage solutions you use when touring with your Pani's?

I personally mix and match a 'FAMSA 246' modular Big Tank Bag (8-34L) with a 'Boblbee GT' Hardshell Backpack/ CE-L2-certified protector (25-32L), depending on trip-type and -duration.
Originally the FA246/38 quality Italian bag fitted one of my previous bikes, a Triumph Speed Triple (2006), perfectly.

I now modded the base-plate by cutting an extended hole in it to free up the V4 fuel-cap. Fit of Famsa, both position and fixture, is perfect again.
With upto 30 litres optionally lifted off my shoulders onto the tank, is less of a 'fitness exercise', more convenient with a lower-/safer point-of-gravity, compared to the Boblebee.

Still 'worse case' with this combo I can drag upto 66(!) litres very streamlined/ still narrow along on my Bella!

Please share your solutions for inspiration. cheers

 

[RdashP]

Coincident or is the Ducati's own Soft Tank Bag (ACC011080/ 96781171B) for the V4 in both design and quality very much an OEM by Famsa fabricated product (i.e. compact 16L version of the FA246's 26L base)?

After-all the Famsa family is situated in San Giuliano Milanese, near Milan producing premium products for almost halve a century.

Looking at its features, shape and materials used it looks like it:

 

[RdashP]

Does any of you use Kriega's modular US-Drypack luggage system on the Pani?
For XC Mountainbiking I use their HYDRO-3 Hydration Backpack and it looks premium build and hardly feel the fluids snugly strapped to my back.

Good friends of us are very happy with both quality and functionality of the US Combo 30 for their KTM and Triumph STR nakets:

 

[RdashP]

I like the sturdy and cool looking Dry Duffels from Wolfmann and Nelson-Rigg too.
Not sure if strapping systems and even their smallest sized duffels will fit our Pani's though?

The more regular to small sized tail-bags, tank-bags or saddle-bags of Nelson-Rigg and Wolfman, would fit our sportbikes better I guess.

 

[ArcticWhite]

My bike didn't come with the rear seat. I was thinking of using this: EVO-60 Jet-Stream Bike-Pack Kit (Ducati)

Anyone have any feedback on this system?

 

[Manicguitarist]

I have just fitted the kriega mounting kit to my V2 (its the same as the V4).
Ive often done 1000 mile weekends on my MV Agusta.

 

[RdashP]

I have just fitted the kriega mounting kit to my V2 (its the same as the V4).
Ive often done 1000 mile weekends on my MV Agusta.

nice. is it sturdy (w.o. moving) and rigging doesn't scratch paint on the tail?

 

[RdashP]

...thinking of using this: EVO-60 Jet-Stream Bike-Pack Kit (Ducati)

Quite a pricy system and extravagant rack-setup 'dangling' above the tip of the tail. Does hold upto 60L though. #impressive

Even though it looks sturdy with all that piping, not sure if I want so much weight so high up on my bike?
If you really need that much capacity, do you also consider twin saddle-bags with a much lower point of gravity?

 

[Manicguitarist]

nice. is it sturdy (w.o. moving) and rigging doesn't scratch paint on the tail?

Certainly on the MV (and my RVF) it was very sturdy and never budged an inch. Is absolutely 100% waterproof and easy to mount/remove.
The only damage to the paint was when I had the luggage on board and I tried to mount the bike, but my stumpy ass legs missed and I kicked the bike instead. >.<

 

[ArcticWhite]

Quite a pricy system and extravagant rack-setup 'dangling' above the tip of the tail. Does hold upto 60L though. #impressive

Even though it looks sturdy with all that piping, not sure if I want so much weight so high up on my bike?
If you really need that much capacity, do you also consider twin saddle-bags with a much lower point of gravity?

I dont like the idea of anything that could potentially wreck the paint.

The rack really doesn't have the weight any higher than strapping a bag to the tail when the seat is installed.

On my GSXR I have toured with a fairly large bag strapped to the passenger seat. Other than the front end coming up a bit easier, the handling was still fine. I am not riding race pace when touring on the street.

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[DucatiKev]

I dont like the idea of anything that could potentially wreck the paint.

me neither, have UHaul install a trailer hitch receiver

 

[RdashP]

...my stumpy ass legs missed and I kicked the bike instead. >.<

Ouch! Damn that must hurt with such a belle F3

 

[RdashP]

Just returned from another lovely long weekend touring the German Eiffel with my V4.
Without the intention of making this post a complete journal, hereby some impressions and few V4 specific remarks of our 1000mi/1500km trip:

As @Neevesy33 already confirmed during his MCN long term test, touring the Pani V4 is a tad hot and wristy but still very do-able if you have a strong physique (especially core strength).

With its longer wheelbase and high speed geometry, tight hairpins are not as easy to overcome as my with my former Speed Triple nakets, yet the PV4 is soo much more thrilling, immersive and engaging then my last 2016 S3 was. And any S3 is by no means a performance slough!

The SCv3 rear tire suffers from do-ing long stretches of boring 'immer gerade aus' Autobahn @70mi/h and then shows strange centreline scrub marks where surface rubber seems to come loose as if it was scraped off, but still sticks to tire in small rolled up 'strains'. Tire pressure is perfect though. Back on the twisty's these access rubber strains in the centreline of the rear tire get ridden off quickly and tire surface becomes all around nice and clean again. Unlike a Rosso3, may be the SCv3 compound in the centreline of this tire is simply too 'racy' soft to withstand constant continuous straight-line highway abrasion?

Practically luggage-wise, this time using only the lower section of my Famsa 246 tank-bag together with my Boblbee GT backprotector-backpack (latter carrying only minimal clothing), lifts enough weight from my shoulders onto the tank for a 3 day trip. Even though I have an extra protective cushioning layer between the Famsa baseplate and the tank, the weight of the luggage (e.g. 2 heavy 4* locks) tend to induce shallow scrape marks on the tank. Which in my case are luckily easily removed because they are mainly just markings from the silicone oil residue additionally protecting the paint.
Tip: clean the tank and the contacting base-plate regularly since dust, insects and other micro muck tends to come in between potentially scratching your paint if you don't! This works for me fine.

 

[Manicguitarist]

Ouch! Damn that must hurt with such a belle F3

Yeah. Didn't knock her over, thankfully - just took a chunk out of the rear fairing.

 

[RdashP]

FYI with less than 50liter/13gallon luggage capacity in a 50% full backpack (with only lite stuff) and 2/3 tank-bag (for heavy stuff), touring the Alps for almost 4000km/2500miles (click4roadmovie) on my V4S went just fine.

 

[Pete T]

I have, on my "other" bike, a Ventura rack. It has been very good but I am on my second set of L-frames - so I know first hand what happens when they fail. But for the V4 looking for other options and favouring the waterproof duffel style or even something like a Yeti 40 litre, possibly incorporating the Kriega mounting loops.

Then I came across this...anybody seen it in real life?...what I particularly like about it is the firm base...

https://www.amazon.com/-/es/UT805-Givi-Bolsa-blanda/dp/B0791JFV75

 

[ArcticWhite]

This has worked well for me this year. Both the SW-motech tank bag and the Ventura rear rack system do not touch the paint. Bike is fully PPF'd anyway. Have the larger bag and smaller bag for the back.

I'll watch for failures of the bracket. That would not be good.

I'd rather deal with some weight on the back, than weight directly on me with a backpack slowing my movements on the bike.

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[Nadsy]

This has worked well for me this year. Both the SW-motech tank bag and the Ventura rear rack system do not touch the paint. Bike is fully PPF'd anyway. Have the larger bag and smaller bag for the back.

I'll watch for failures of the bracket. That would not be good.

I'd rather deal with some weight on the back, than weight directly on me with a backpack slowing my movements on the bike.

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Wow... I remember asking the dealership to install a Ventura rack on my zx10r, and they said they wouldn't do it. It was 9 years ago, so can't remember exactly why... but it was either a stability or structural issue. They suggested the oxford saddle bags instead. Had the Ventura's on my gixxer, and they were great.

 

[Manicguitarist]

Here’s my V2 on tour. It uses the same mounting system as the V4.