Yeah, unfortunately they do suffer electrical/electronic gremlins. Recently did a 4 dayer at Almeria and a lad had problems on day one with his RSV4 and I didn't see him again until we were packing up. A right pisser. He had the diagnostic software and laptop hooked up but it flagged nothing.
Lots of money or not, I really don’t get why people rush to by the first units of the production line. Having said that, if everyone waited for the inital teething problems to be fixed, manufactures would not sell many bikes.
I guess it's nice to have and try out the latest and greatest and owners feel any problems should be sorted under the warranty. Still a PITA for the unlucky ones who seem to have never-ending issues though!
I guess that’s the marketing hype, the same reason people queue outside Apple stores for the latest phone/watch/computer.... Personally I would give it 6-12 months rather than being a Ducati beta tester.
It's hard to get my head around that for the cost of just 20 new phones you could have a new Ducati V4 with a 2 year warranty...
Bizarrely both of which when not working the dealers will tell you you're holding them wrong, the software will drain the battery and both will need a screen protector For christ sake don't install the latest updates on the v4 when you get it, my macs auto fill stopped working today and now I have the first world problem of actually having to type things out in full I feel so ashamed
The new v4 looks very much like the 1299 & 1199 panigales with just a bit more power & minor tweeks, I think the big problem with it will be passing the noise tests at most circuits like the old panigales for those of us who do a lot of track days
I have been told that about 5 people have put £500 deposits down on the new v4 at italia lincon & peterbough ducati on the A1, I am going to wait till I have had a test ride before I make my mind up
I think the clue is in the name: "V4 Panigale". Plus I'd call a newly-designed V4 engine and up-to-date race chassis geometry a bit more than "minor tweaks" - what were you expecting - a time travel machine or something?? I'm sure it'll be fine noise-level wise, it is a 4 cylinder afterall eh? No one will care about what @Nervy ?
Sorry. I should have been clearer (though I think I was replying to someone else too, Ducks). What I mean is (to whomever I was replying) that I don't think the shared architecture, common design language, relatively conservative evolution or even the noise outputs will matter too much in terms of sales. People will care more about having it than using it. I would, too, frankly. If the engine is even 1% as much as fun as the one I had in my D16RR it'll be worth 25k just to listen to it tick over.
If I do plump for the V4 I'll have a shed load of 1299 bling up for sale after I put it back to stock, including full unpainted brand new CDT Fullsix carbon bodywork if anyone is interested. Parts will be up for grabs via my humble online store, as I can't be arsed with Fleabay and posting up hundreds of for sale threads.
Frankly, I think Ducati should give me 35k for emotional strain resulting from how stupid I feel having to add an é to Parts Bin Special.
