Panigale owner question....

[gmdboston]

Alright.....Im trying to get me head around something here.....I test rode a 2013 Panigale S and we all know its got awesome...well, everything but the straight line stability is much less than my 848. Its twitchy compared to my bike. I was put off by this during my ride. I did not adjust any of the suspension settings on the S model...

So question is, can the S suspension be adjusted to eliminate the twitchyness? Has anyone else felt it lacking in straight line stability? I know it turns in with much less effort than my 848 but it feels much less stable. Sometmes these two things are mutually exclusive.

Hi John,
I've seen a few of the Panigale models so far and they seem very inconsistent from a suspension perspective. I've also heard fro rider all over the country asking for a solution. If you would like I can have a look at it for you. Give me a call and we can set up a time for you to ride it down here and we'll see what's up with yours. Also since we have not yet measured one, I'll comp you a measurement so I can see the geometry.

[GixerJockey]

If you spend that much money, why doesn't Ducati re-spring the thing for you? Getting the right spring rate was probably the single biggest improvement on any of my (really cheap) toys. So I imagine that would translate. All the suspension gurus recommend getting the rates right before screwing with anything else. And spring rates are one thing that really can't be adjusted electronically.

So why doesn't Ducati ship the things without springs and spring it for the owner at time of sale?

Because that's not the way the world works. The bike is priced so that the factory, importer, and dealer all make a "reasonable" profit. It costs what it costs, because that's what it's worth... There isn't any "fat" in these things. In your imaginary world, the price of the bike would have to be $1000 more... for everyone... whether they needed a spring change or not.

Spring rate doesn't change geometry, which doesn't change stability.

And this...

[timmyho414]

Hi John,
... Also since we have not yet measured one, I'll comp you a measurement so I can see the geometry.

holy crap! Do this^^^^^^^^^^^^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

for what it's worth, I got to rip around Loudon on one(probably doin' 21-22's, not mine and I'm not in the market to buy you know), can't remember if it was an S or not. The only thing that felt weird was having work to NOT wheelie down the strait. Other then that I was a lot of fun. That's comparing it to my 749R.

[#1 masshole]

Coming from an 848 EVO myself to the '12 1199 S it was like night and day. The 848 felt stiff but then again I'm only 160lbs and I never really messed with suspension settings. From what I've heard since day one, the 1199 isn't made to simply go straight. It's made for the track. So it's more at home getting slammed from side to side, which it does incredibly well I might add. I know that when I got mine I adjusted the steering damper to stiffen it up some. Other than that I haven't really had any reason to change any suspension settings. Dumb thought but just throwing it out there...I wonder what they had the rear shock set at, F or P. Maybe what you're not use to is all that hp under your sac

And yes, buy mine. Price has been dropped again, I just haven't updated it. After you see mine you'll think twice about spending an extra 6k on the bike and 2k more for the termi slip-ons, cuz it's already done for you.

[jwm2k3]

Hi John,
I've seen a few of the Panigale models so far and they seem very inconsistent from a suspension perspective. I've also heard fro rider all over the country asking for a solution. If you would like I can have a look at it for you. Give me a call and we can set up a time for you to ride it down here and we'll see what's up with yours. Also since we have not yet measured one, I'll comp you a measurement so I can see the geometry.

Hey Pete, youve done some work for me in the past, thanks very satisfied. I dont actually own a Panigale, I guess the thread title shoulda said question to Panigale Owners....I kinda posted it backwards...

But more importantly I had my 2nd testride on a Panigale today. My first testride was on a 2013 S model and it was the cause of this thread.......Today I testrode a 2012 used one and it was absolutely fabulous. I pjt about 25 miles on it and it was great. Like Masshole says I tightened up the steering damper and it was very intuitive, sure footed and holy shit powerful. I guess the other one I rode was not adjusted correctly. I still have lots of suspension interest, the main reason for my interest and possible purchase decision. Let me say it....electronic suspension???? HELL YEAH...


(Dont forget 190something hp)