Having bought my very first v twin in the form of an 848 Evo late last year I am only getting round now to actually riding it. The jump from inline 4s is big but largely enjoyable so far. It's a bit of a pig around town but that I can live with. I actually find the low engine drone very relaxing whilst riding compared to the hectic whine of an inline 4. I'm beginning to get to grips with the characteristics of the engine but would appreciate some advice. Engine braking. I thought I knew what it was before the 848. It's crazy. I was surprised on my very first run into a first gear corner where I released the clutch without matching the revs well and the rear locked up momentarily and squirmed. That got my attention! I know practice will make perfect and it'll be a completely different kettle of fish when I hit the track. What's the safest / smoothest downshifting and cornering technique in your opinions? Is it just a matter of learning that the power band is much wider and you have to be more accurate when rev matching? How much engine braking do you like to use on road and track?
I always blip the throttle on down shifts. Never (touch wood) had any fish-tailing. Have on my KTM but not on the Ducati. Neither have slipper clutches. Also with a twin you're using torque more than relying on huge revs. I find that you have more time than you think if you're used to a I/L four. You don't need to be stamping on brakes and gear shifters or doing things at the last minute all the time to maintain momentum. On the road at least, you can afford to be less hurried and you'll ride smoother without losing pace.
Fitted as standard to a number of current and only just not current bikes. My 1200 Multistrada has a wet version, girlfriend's Diavel has the same wet one, my 1098R has a dry one as does my 853 track bike. If you ride a V twin on the gearbox using the engine braking, it's an essential piece of kit. Andy
I would say steer clear of 1st gear! I only really used it for really slow stuff. If u haven't got a 14t front sprocket then u must!! Or go up 2 teeth on the rear, makes it a heap easier to ride in town, also a Oberon clutch slave cylinder really is worth every penny. Other than that the 848evo was a bike that needed revs, it pulled well from down low on the revs but I only found it was happy from 5k revs upwards so I always used to try and be smooth and use the engine speed
I was joking! My last blade even had one fitted as standard. I think I will fit one eventually but would like to master the v twin organically and understand it fully before being able to slip the clutch :thumbsup:
In years of riding Ducati I can rarely recall locking the rear on downshifts on the road. Low rev shifting and little blip the answer
Had the back squirm a bit on slippy stuff but generally it only happens when it's to be expected (drop 2 gears breaking hard into a corner so the rear is light kind o stuff) Change somewhere near middle of rev range with a blip and it'll be fine. Like you say you only just started riding it, get some miles in and it'll come to you quick enough. Happy riding.
Thanks for the replies! I'm hoping that what they say about modern Ducatis being as reliable as Jap bikes is true! If I do break down at least it's nice to sit at the roadside and look at :kissingheart:
I started on a sv650 so i have always blipped on downshift's, V-twins really like this and it sounds good when you get it right. I even did it on my il4 and triple although it was not as necessary it still smoothed things out. Also watch your speed, being a twin it sounds slower than a 4 banger, its easy to let the speed creep up.
This is an issue on the public roads. The low drone lulls you into a false sense of security before you glance down and see a custodial sentence worthy number on the speedo! I went for a (foggy) ride this morning and am starting to get used to the bike more. My main issue is slower corners still as I'm still a bit tentative due to having little experience of the engine / gearing characteristics but I'm getting there. Uber smoothness and not rolling on or off the throttle mid corner whatsoever seems to be the key! I know this applies to any bike but it appears to matter even more with twins.
I take some round about in first on my panigale lol. Roundabouts that where easily second or third on my cbr. Clutch control is also important to keep the revs up on slow bends.
Compared to a four, a V-twin has an irregular syncopated beat, deeper exhaust note, larger power impulses, less torsional vibration, and better primary balance. Thus most folk find riding the V a more pleasant experience.
Always blip on downshifts and try and avoid going down into 1st on the move if you can. You get used to engine braking, it just means you roll off then think about braking rather than getting on the brakes instantly. The Ducatis I've had like revs.
