FastDates.com Paddock Garage -Ducati 1199 Set Up

Ducati_ 1199RS_Photo

Above: - This is the Italian team Barni Ducati 1199S which raced in the 1000cc European Superstock class during the 2012 season, a year before the 1199RS was eligible to race in the World Superbike class. The bike is essentially a stock 1199S with the full race Ducati Performance Termigoni Racing Exhaust System. Also not the change to the 520 chain and alloy rear sprocket kit which reduces un sprung and rotating weight by about 2 pounds, and quicken acceleration. For the 2013 model year ducati introduced the 1199R model which with the only significant change being the addition of Titanium connecting rods in the engine to allow it to rev 500rpm higher in racing. The R model also comes with an adjustable swingarm pivot which isn't necessary for FIM homologation, but helps Ducati justify charging more for the bike.

Ducati 1199 Panigale Performance Tweeks and Set Up
by Jim Gianatsis

The 5th generation Ducati Superbike, the 1199 Panigale Series which entered production in 2012, has to be classified as one of the most significant Superbikes of all time, right up ther along side the legendary 2nd Generation Ducati 916/998 and the lightweight 1st gerneration 1987 Suzuki GSXR 750/1100. The Panigale is the first production Superbike without a chassis, and Ride-by-Wire Throttle with full computer controlled electronics for different Riding Modes, Traction Control, Engine Braking and Anto-Lock Brakes. With the Panigale the production Superbike was now the equal of exotic and priceless MotoGP machinery. It is really difficult to improve the performance of a modern production Superbike like the Ducati particularlly when compared to 1199RS which much run FIM mandated intake restrictors in World Superbike to limit horsepower.

Fast Dates Ducati 1199 Panigale Performance Upgrades - from "S" to "RS"
The bike pictured here is actually it's my personal 2012 year 1199S model which I've upgraded with Ducati Performance and Ducati Corse RS race parts. With the addition of the DP Termignoni Full Race Exhaust System we've got esentially the new 2013 model 1199R sans the Titanium Rods which let the R-model rev 500 rpm higher. The additional RPM will only be an advantage on a factory race bike where hotter cam changes and higher compression pistons can take advantage of the higher RPM to find more peak power. But then, it's almost a moot point a present in World Superbike as the Ducati 1199 Superquadro engines still must run a 52mm intake restrictor on their 58mm throttle bodies to keep the horsepower down to 195hp as on the stock 1199 street bike.

If you have a 2012 model 1199 you know well, the stock exhaust system is burning the hell out of you, particularly in street riding with stopping at traffic lights and the heat risign up off the hear header pipe . In pictures of the new 2012 model, there appears to be an improved non-vented steel heat shield on the rear exhaust header which won't vent heat up to the seat and your legs. Hopefully. But the full DP Termignoni Full Race System uses a non-vented carbon fiber head shield with an aluminum foil inner lining that keeps the pipe from radiating up any heat at all. This heat shield should be offered as standard on all 1199 models. It looks like if you ordered the race pipe's heat shield parts they could be installed on a stock pipe, but don't take my word for it.

It will be interesting to see if the Termignoni Race System comes installed on the 1199R as it is not CARB legal in the USA as there are no catalytic converters. For past Ducati R model Superbikes the full Termignoni came separate in the shipping crate, so you had to have it installed and unfortunately throw away the complete stock exhaust system. And of course it's illegal for your Ducati dealer to install the system on your street bike. But in this case, I suggest not trying to install the Termignoni system yourself as the stock and new race pipe come off and on like a Rubic's cube. Having never done it before it took me about 2 full days which I spread out over 4 days. Ducati dealer mechanics that are experienced doing it, and have the bike up on a lift, tell me it takes them at least 6 billable hours.

Our normal regime on our Dutati's is switch from the stock 525 chain and steel sprocket set to a 2 pound lighter 520 chain with RS rear alloy and drilled steel front sprocket setup improves engine response (rev-ability) just like the R model with its Titanium rods. We always go one tooth small on the front sprocket, and one tooth larger on the rear so the chain length remains the same as stock, yet gearing is dropped slightly for even quicker acceleration.

The new 2013 Ducati 1199's (all models) Panigales come with all-new ECU mapping that gives it a major power increase: 8-10 hp in mid-range, and 2-3 more horsepower both on bottom end off idle and right up on top RPM. Now the short stroke Superquadro engine really feels and performs like a Ducati V-Twin, and not like a peaky 4-cylinder. This 2013 Ducati software upgrade is available to all 2012 year 1199 owners, free of charge. So if your Ducati dealer doesn't call you about it, you need to call him. And while you're there let him take care of some safety recalls on the 2012 bikes, if you haven't done them already. They include a steering damper mounting problem, master cylinder hose rubbing, and a loose swingarm pivot.

Other modifications / upgrades on my bike included a Ducati Performance 1199 accessory saddle which is about 1-inch thicker foam padding with a suede cover and really comfortable for sitting, and looks trick. But for me an my short 28-inch inseam, its more difficult to touch the ground and I don't like the feeling of being up that much higher, so I'll be changing back to the stock seat. The new 1199R model looks to have a simailr nice sued saddle, but made to the same low height as the stock 1199 seat, so I'll probably get that one.

Then there's the trick looking Corse billet machined folding adjustable foot controls with higher / shorter pegs needed for extreme lean angles at the track racing on slicks. But to be honest, the stock 1199 foot controls are just fine, and when I was riding with Troy Bayliss at the Misano GP track in Italy, back in September, we never grounded anything with the stock Pirelli Supersport tires.

A few other touches include the RS carbon fibre fairing which saves about 2 pounds and looks cool. And I replaced the 1199's new smaller lead battery (8 lbs) with an even lighter Shorai Lithium battery (1.7 lbs) which takes off anther 6 pounds and at $160 is the most cost effective performance modification you can make to this and any bike. Our street bike's full-up wet weight with 1 gallon of gas is 388 pounds.

I really love my street legal mock 1199RS. It feels and handles like a MotoGP bike- it's so light, powerful and incredible handling. The fact it may haves more power than Carlos Checa's new 1199RS World Superbike is something I never get to to explore on the street, but its cool to know it's there just for the bragging rights! - Jim Gianatsis

Carlos Ceca is shown here in pre 2013 season testing of the Ducati 1199RS World Superbike. Out-dated FIM rules require the removal of electronically controlled suspension (now standard on the European Superbikes), but the race teamswould switch to Ohlins TT Superbike forks for their wider tuning range. The RS race bikes geat a biggr alloy fuel tank required to finsh a 25 lap WSB race, carbon fibre bodywirk, and adjustable angle steering stem parts which, unfortunatley, use bigger diameter triple clamps that only fit the larger tube Ohlins forks.

Click above to access the official Ducati Corse Parts Catalogs for the Superbike 1199RS and Superstock 1199S bikes.
Ducati Corse does not sell to the consumer or club racer, but they do sell to Ducati Dealer Race Teams and National & International Race Teams. The Parts Books are not very descriptive, so you have no way of knowing if an 1199RS engine piston or camshaft part number, for example, has different compression or timing from stock. The Race Team or Dealer needs to talk to the Corse Parts Department for further details. But for parts like the Corse Foot Control Assembly, Akrapovic Racing Exhaust System, Alloy 520 sprockets, those are readily available from Ducati Performance through the regular Ducati Dealer parts system. The reason for limited access to the more serious race parts is they only source and build enough to supply the race teams for spares during the race season. Selling to the public might leave them short handed for the year with a Championship up for grabs.
You can also order complete 1199RS and 1199R SST race bikes from the Corse Race Department, put the mechanics only have time to build them during the winter off-season.

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