Very nice Hub, those carbon wings look absolutely delicious...

We leave for Nashville to pick up the new V4 on Friday morning at O'Dark 30, should be there around 2:00 PM...

Hub, what is your prediction, how will I like this new machine compared to the S1000RR, RSV4 and 1299? Will it be top dog or an also ran?

* Last updated by: Kruz on 2/25/2025 @ 6:32 PM *

Well, Kruz, was your other duc an impressive piece of handling over the others. Or maybe make known if you trackday'd it and rung out it's neck. There is where the duc needs to go to appreciate it. Seems like you don't run that like the bmw or ape. Any riding videos of that duc?

You'd think it has some mystique, or an aura of such magnitude, where everyone raves of the handling and power. I need to take a ride to a duc dealer I know who has a demo of the same engine. More the upright bike of the v4 line.

My guess is the bike will show subtle improvements over the other duc you have. Maybe more electronic bells and whistles, which is a good thing IMO. Comes with that 6 axis software, or am I thinking of another brand?

The '24 V4 is a technical tour de force I believe relative to the old 1299 and 959 Ducs I have Hub, yes a lot of bells and whistles and with a redline of 15,500 rpm it should be a screamer. I haven't mounted the GoPro on any of the Ducs yet, going to invest in a chin mount for the GoPro and will get some footage of the bikes in action.

Below is the Toy Hauler rig we're taking, two sets of tie downs inside for the bikes and the V4 is the low mileage bike my buddy is picking up same day in Nashville, 1400 miles and loaded.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 2/26/2025 @ 9:01 AM *

That's a nice hauler!

Ken, the plan is to arrive at the dealership in Nashville some time around 2-3 PM Friday afternoon, we will then buy the bikes, load up and probably have dinner in Nashville and then drive on to Memphis where we'll spend the night at a campground. I don't know if it's even worth your time to make the drive to Nashville as we will only have a couple of hours there before we head out. Your call bro...

* Last updated by: Kruz on 2/26/2025 @ 8:13 PM *

Ken, the plan is to arrive at the dealership in Nashville some time around 2-3 PM Friday afternoon, we will then buy the bikes, load up and probably have dinner in Nashville and then drive on to Memphis where we'll spend the night at a campground. I don't know if it's even worth your time to make the drive to Nashville as we will only have a couple of hours there before we head out. Your call bro...

Thanks Ken, I definitely will post up pics of this trip, sorry to miss meeting up with you!

John

Hi Ken, probably fortuitous you didn't come as it was pretty hectic, we bought the bikes, loaded up and after a quick dinner headed back to Dallas.

I have one ride in so far but impossible to form any impressions yet, heading back out this morning to wring it's neck a little..

* Last updated by: Kruz on 3/2/2025 @ 1:40 PM *

Nice! Made a few of those trips before, so understand. Will be interested to hear what you think of her. Look forward to mine arriving.

Yessir, sure glad it's over though, I'm still not feeling 100%,long drive!

* Last updated by: Kruz on 3/2/2025 @ 4:08 PM *

Looks gorgeous, Kruz. Good luck with it. Waiting for your critique.

All is not perfection in D land Hubster, I'm now hearing these V4 engines eat water pumps like a kid eats popcorn at a Saturday movie matinee, now on Rev 5 and still getting only about 3500 miles out of a pump.

Expensive junk? IDK,I now have three of Bologna's finest parked in my garage, I'll keep you posted. The 959 is now 9 years old and just under 12,000 miles, other than an oil leak at the front cylinder valve cover, it' been pretty much trouble free.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 3/6/2025 @ 7:21 AM *

Also a bit underwhelmed on my first sortie, turns out there are four engine power modes i.e Low, Medium, High and Full and I was in Medium power mode, felt like a 600cc Supersport.

There is no power level indication on the the TFT screen display, you have to go into the Settings Menu to figure out what you have.

I've heard stories of people tuning their bikes, full system etc. and running around restricted to 75% power because they don't know how to set all this stuff up. I just set mine to Full, will let you know how that works.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 3/6/2025 @ 7:20 AM *

Fill cold, Kruz.

https://www.ducati.ms/threads/my-brand-new-panigale-v4-randomly-burts-out-in-flames.755171/#replies

I think that was a fake video Hub but may be wrong. BTW the V4 is rapidly becoming my favorite go to machine but it feels heavy in the garage just pushing it around. I would guess 460 lbs with full fuel, feels almost up there with the ZX-14 on the butt scales. I posted my concerns on the V4 forum and they're all saying around 438 wet for a V4S which has the forged alloy wheels and lithium ion battery or about 7 lbs lighter putting my stocker at about 445 lbs wet which I could live with. Might just be the V4s are tall, long travel suspension and high CG? I think I'll invest in a pair of accurate digital bathroom scales and weigh it along with the rest of the fleet.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 4/17/2025 @ 7:21 AM *

I was going to weigh my new bike the same way before I do any mods. I have two bathroom scales. Glue a few sheets of quarter inch plywood of different lengths together to make a ramp about 15 inches long and place a plank between the scales to roll the bike down until you have the front wheel in the middle of scale A and rear wheel in the middle of scale B. Hold the bike balanced and ask someone to photograph the scale displays, add both weights for total. It had occurred to me that I might use a third scale to place the side stand on. The bike would remain perfectly still and I could walk around to view all scales. However, this might introduce forces on the scales that aren't perfectly parallel to the force of gravity.

https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/603479/measuring-weight-with-multiple-scales

I've already tried balancing my new 14R with my fingertips on the bar ends and it's easy. I've also noticed my bathroom scale tolerates a reasonable amount of movement while I stand on it without the display changing. I don't think it will a problem to get steady readings from the scales. I may try using the third scale just to see how it compares. If the side stand scale were elevated so the bike was not leaning, three scales should result in the same total as two. ...you would want to keep a finger on the outside bar end to make sure the bike doesn't tip over though. You'd still need someone to photograph the scales for you.

Any bike is going to be weighted more to the left or right off of axis A, most bikes probably lean forward off of axis B. Most floors are not perfectly level, the bikes going to lean a half a degree or so any way you balance it. Most accurate would be a hanging scale with all the weight focussed on one point perfectly parallel to gravity. I doubt any of those factors would account for more than an ounce of discrepancy. Obviously I'm splitting hairs.

I bought the Taylor glass digital scales from Walmart. They're about 25 bucks each. I've seen them used to weigh a ZX-14 here on this forum, they should hold 2-3 hundred pounds each without a problem.

I've noticed with scales designed for lighter weights that the display changes if you leave the object you're weighing on it for more than 30 seconds. Apparently the springs in the scale compress and indicate a higher weight. I'd be ready to roll the bike back off the scales so the scale springs can rest before doing a reweigh. I don't think a reweigh will be necessary after you get the technique down. The main thing is holding the bike balanced and that's not hard, even with my stock 14R.

* Last updated by: Rook on 4/17/2025 @ 4:06 PM *

I'll get a set of accurate digital scales on order, they're actually not expensive at all.

Hell, just go down to Walmart. I spent $80 on a scale several years ago and since using a few other diital scales before and since, my opinion is they're all pretty accurate. No need to spend big bucks on a scale. There is no absolute on weight like there is no absolute on speed. It's all a close approximation.

Yep, I want to know what HUB thinks though...