Wow another price hike, so over 24k for the S? Following the initial launch hype the fanfare has died down, and with the competition bringing out new models in 2019, they will struggle to justify that. The nearly new examples seem to be going for 21k, which does make it more tempting
Yep, that is another reason I pulled the trigger. It's also why I found it so hard. I love the R and really felt it was special but I just know that Ducati have priced me out of the V4 R. That thing will be north of £35k easily and I just can't justify it, the 15R was a push, that is just too much. Ha ha, I too have a shopping list. I have carbon parts, tail tidy and a graphics kit in the post and I don't even have the bike! In a way though, it's nice, the R didn't need anything adding to it as it was all there. To have a machine where I can fettle again is nice.
I've not been quoted any figures but been told something in the order of + £500 on top of current MRRP which takes an S closer to 25K and that's a serious amount of money to drop on any bike for most people.
I know what you mean! I've ordered the engine stand so that I can remove the frame and swingarm while I carry out the main mods. Then it's a repeat performance of putting the giant jigsaw puzzle back together. I do like a challenge! Still torn between the Akra system and the Termis. The latter are not to everyone's taste but having seen and heard them in the flesh they do sound really good and the looks are growing on me as opposed to the awkward assymetric Akra offering. I got to chat to Ernesto Marinelli at WDW2018 who was for many years the Technical director for the WSBK division of Ducati and now works for Termignoni and he has had a huge hand in the development of the 4 Uscite system. He certainly knows his stuff and is confident their system will get the best out of the V4 engine. I don't doubt him.
Now my adrenaline has settled I can remember the bad bit.... The mirrors are the worst of any bike I’ve ridden, they are cheaply made trash and you literally can’t see anything. Clearly a cost saving exercise, which is a shame as I remember the folding mirrors on my 899 being well engineered. No biggie but if I was spending 24k on a bike I wouldn’t want a single complaint! At least they got the important bits right
What are you doing to it? So far mines had:- Termignoni Uscite full system FullSix CF Battery cover FullSix front fender FullSix frame covers FullSix heel guards (ordered) FullSix Mononcoque subframe and tail (ordered) Basically I'm going FullSix complete bodywork. I'll be removing all road associated stuff like lights, indicators, mirrors, horn etc. I'm undecided on a paint job, don't know whether to stick mainstream-ish or go full on personal job.... Quite excited about this- maybe you can give me some ideas Ducati Performance folding levers Rizoma Ducati Rearsets. Like on the Speciale. BST Carbon Fibre wheels. Dunlop KR108 tyres Yet to order:- Race seat. Can't decide which one Taller screen for track use Crash protection (Evo Tech, looks nicer than R&G) Optimate trickle charger Err, I'll think of something......
I think I may well approach the custom route with the exhaust. I have a good friend who owns a fabrication shop. Nothing major as I'm not a race engineer and R&D on those systems is proven. But if you take the stock system/back box, outer shield off, carbon pan from the Uscite system and repeat the lower outlets both sides and match them up I would be well happy with that.
Im still uncertain of the looks, but I was the same with the Pani and I have a 1299S now. I still think its iffy from the sides. Front and rear are lovely. Its teh same with the V4. But I'll keep 1299 for a year or so yet, I keep bikes for 3 or 4 yrs, then move on. Then i'll buy an ex pcp one. I dont buy new, why pay depreciation? Plus all the recalls will have been carried out. Once you sort that silver beam bit and break up the red on the side, its not that bad to look at. But I think the oem exhaust looks cheap as do the sets and the plastics look a bit plasticy. But a few mods here and there wil fix that. I still love the 1299 though. Its madness. I run it in race mode full time with throttle mod. I love the way it takes off like a loon twice. I hope the v4 turns as sweetly as the 1299 does. Its so light and flickable. Shame its not as skinny as a v twin, but thats progress I guess. I'm keen to see how the V4R races.
Did it not come supplied with a Ducati charger? My dealer supplies charges with all new bikes so I thought that was a general Ducati dealer thing.
Anything R&G will either a)break, b)fall off or c)break and fall off. Its absolute shite the lot of it. Piss poor quality in every department. If they made those little glass break glass panels in fire alarms, youd probably need a sledge hammer to break it.
Make sure you look well into that. I’m not saying you don’t know what you’re doing, I’m sure you do. But you have to get correct equilibrium with any V engine. If you don’t, one bank resists the other and you end up down on power and fuck knows what else could go tits.
A battery charger was not included with any of the 3 V4 models. IIRC, a charger was included with the first models to have a LiPo. Andy
Didn’t bother with any Panigale til the V4 popped up. I figured my 1098R had them, by and large, covered. Always liked the look of the Panigale. Yep, be interesting to see how the V4R measures up... Power figures are going to be interesting. I have a feeling the engine will be a masterpiece and that’s where all your dosh is going to go. So we’ll have to spend another £10k replacing all the shite OE due to the price cap. Is that £30k? Which is shitloads to drop on a bike....
I'm still kicking myself to drop my money on a 1299s, when I shouldve bought a 1098R. I kinda got talked into it by mates and no 1098R's about when I had money. Still, the 1299S is a great bike and turns much faster than my old 1198, but I miss the 1198's kick out of a corner. I do love a big dollop of torque. 107ft/lbs was a blast. I can only imagine the 1098R to be even better.
Yeah, I get what you mean. It was literally for aesthetics, not really changing anything more just the skin it’s in
Ceramic coating by Performance 1 Coatings (performance1coatings.com). Carbon frame covers by Peter Lieb (lieb-speed.eu).
