Hi So i have my 1299s with 650 miles on the clock. Going to ride it for a first time next week as got no time whatsoever with work etc. I'm totally new to new bikes as my previous one was a gsxr600 k2 (lol i know a big step). I'm 184cm and about 75kg and the bike gonna be just on the road as of now as i need to find out if i'm allow with Akrapovic fitted on the track. What are your opinions on setting the suspension by pros (like MCT)? Should i do it or the setup is ok out of the box?
The 1299S has very good suspension setup out of the box and also has the option of quick preset setup changes on the active suspension so you can make it slightly harder or a lot harder,etc at the touch of a button from the dash menu. Most people who are fairly quick seem to like it on the slightly harder setting particularly for track riding but seeing as you're a little lighter than average you may find you prefer stock or slightly softer than stock. It's always useful to get setup by someone professional but it's nice and easy to do the adjustments on the 1299S.
First off, do enough miles to give yourself a baseline... On the s model I would suggest doing this in 'manual' mode so it doesn't adjust itself, then you will get a feeling what the defaults are. Then you will start to form a list 'it kicks me out of the seat on fast bumps' or it 'feels low at the back on the power and the front wags' and then you can talk someone like MCT through it and get a static set up done. My understanding of the event based suspension in 'auto' mode is that it adjusts rebound/compression from a static value that can be agreed. I.e your compression is set at 5 and when u brake it ups it to 7, but if u move the static setup to 4, it will move it to 7 under braking. I could be wrong but that's my understanding and so it's important u get a feel for it when it's not adjusting anything automatically and see where it's lacking. I very much doubt though that any ducati will need stiffening up for the road! Especially with 75kg on board. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
By the way I'd strongly recommend getting some stomp grip from California Superbike School (the importers for the UK), as the Panigale is a way better ride with it.
I have done 6k miles on mine now, mostly on the road but with some track mileage. I am lighter than you (65kg)... The stock springs are a bit too stiff for me on bumpy roads but are fine on smooth roads and on the track. I have removed some preload in order to get a bit more sag. I run the bike most of the time on the road in Sport mode with full engine power (seems to make the throttle response better) and with the suspension in passive mode with the damping backed off front and back from the default settings. I have tried it with active mode set to Softer front and back and that works just as well for me.
