Looking into ‘little things’ in this video. Exchanging heavy hardware to titanium or aluminum and assessing more modifications on the Panigale V4R. Protection and cosmetics for the bike same time. Enjoy.
Check the previous video in case you missed it.
We finally started the conversion of a 2024 Ducati Panigale V4R to a track bike, and so the video series.
Watch how a ‘stock’ motorcycle grows to a performance orientated, lap time dropping and bad ass looking machine. We covered the goals already in our first article about it and delivering the videos, starting today. In todays episode, Coach Akkaya receives delivery from Florida and makes his first assessments. He also describes why he needs this. Don’t forget to subscribe the channel and to hit the notification button so you know first when the next episode publishes. Looking forward reding your comments.
Superbike-Coach Corp
I’ve announced a new ‘family’ member in our last newsletter already. ‘Pazzo’ is a 2024 Panigale V4R and will replace ‘Cleopatra’, which luckily went to my assistant coach Mark. I was a little heartbroken on this so I went to work on Pazzo immediately.
Can’t tell you how much I love doing projects like this and I would like to inspire it quite a bit. There will be a video series of the built and blog articles. Valuable tips and tricks all around motorcycles. A lot of companies supporting this project, but the work is mainly on our side. It’s been about two weeks- full days of work into it.
Just like Cleopatra, also this bike will turn to a show-stopper. Very unique and tricked out. The main goal is to convert it to a track bike, where it has its purpose as I will use it to teach riders during our track days and track drill classes. The video series will display the hurdles to take and is an insightful view behind the how’s and why’s. We will start editing the episodes soon and hopefully have then out on a weekly bases.
Now, here is a little background first. You need to understand that once you’ve ridden full blown race/competition motorcycles, from production racer to prototypes- that there will be an everlasting search for such performance on your soul. Hard to go back you know?! This, and the strive to ‘make things mine’ within specific limits, like budget and time. See, I don’t like chasing through the garage for 3 years to rebuilt a classic car. I’d rather built a kit car from the scratch, make it mine, and drive the shit out of it asap. That’s because I have a vision of it and make it real without resting.
So… this is all in the making and what I’m striving for is to categorize:
The good thing is, that one category helps the other. Well, maybe ‘appearance’ not that much. Going into them more detailed means: Access to electronic upgrades and tunes. Finding the right places of making design visions turn to reality. Dropping weight by removal and then in the detail. Dialing in suspension and tires. Improve aerodynamics. Consider components to help cooling.
All of this within budget and time limits, and it starts out with stripping the bike down. Not that fast though. What I like doing is, to ride it first the way it is. That way I have comparison. It gives my visions a path to reality. Here is what it needs… and this is what I want… this is how much it’ll cost… and this is how long it takes. A lot comes together right then, but another advantage is in there. Upgrading something you never used won’t make you feel the potential of the upgrade itself. No comparison- no judgement possible. Another aspect is that you learn from this as a rider dramatically. Hard to explain, so I won’t. I might write an article about it somewhen.
So that’s exactly what I did. I brought this total stock Panigale V4R with blinkers, mirrors and on street tires to Laguna Seca. Now I know:
After Laguna, I gave myself a rest, then taking the bike apart and started selling all the fancy stuff I do not have a use for. If you have a V4… you might wanna check here. After that, a deep cleaning was done and a look into necessary tools. The only thing missing, since many years actually, was a motorcycle lift. Now I don’t have to sacrifice my back anymore ;-)
Let the games begin. I hope you’ll enjoy it and to subscribe our YouTube channel and to not to miss an episode. Stay tuned.
Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp
Our track days are track newbie orientated and very popular. For only $165 you’ll get:
– A weekend track day
– 7×20 minute sessions for each group B, C and a dedicated ‘TRACK ROOKIE CLASS’
– All turns the west track has to offer
– Fully equipped track staff, towing vehicle, ambulance
– Control riders
– C group orientation
– A/C clubhouse
– Less bike preparation
– Lower gear requirements
– Free ‘Ideal Line West Seminar’ by Headcoach Can Akkaya
– Photography for $10 bux only!
This track day on 6/2/2024 is not our Track Drill! There are NO additional coaching fees. This is our fun event, a real track day, and no other organizer/provider has anything to do with it.
This is a track day for non competitive, 3 groups 7×20 minutes, organized by Superbike-Coach!
All bikes, all levels are welcome. No bike prep and regular motorcycle riding gear is fair enough.
Full description and booking: https://www.superbike-coach.com/events/track-day-track-rookie-class-thunderhill-west-raceway/
In case you still need a idea for Christmas presents. How about giving your loved ones a Superbike-Coach gift certificate and to keep them save?
Superbike-Coach Corp
Straight up… Ducati’s are divas.
My 2014 Panigale 1199 is not just that. She’s also a drama queen. That goes from tire choice to suspension settings and finding the right sprocket ratios. She is loud, mean, and a machine which needs a hand. Extremely physical to ride, especially on roads. This is why I only take her out on tracks and have a 2018 Mutistrada Enduro Pro for the street. Both bikes are taken care of by A&S Motorcycles in Roseville, which is pretty much the only dealership I trust.
While the Multistrada had only one issue so far, A&S had it fixed in no time. The EVAP canister filled up with gas and instead of having me waiting… A&S took a canister right out of a other bike and ordered a new one for that one. Genius.
The 1199 on the other hand… that thang had A&S entertained for a while. No false codes, so they were not to shy to involve Italy and their engineers. They suggested to just to swap injectors from one to the other cylinder, and that bike was running like a charm again. In the end, A&S suspected a bad plug connection and had it fixed.
I can’t thank A&S not enough for taking good care of Superbike-Coach school bikes as we need them pretty much every day. I love these guys because they are flexible and think out of the box. Thank you guys!
Wanna see ‘Cleopatra’ in action?… I have two B+ spot openings for our track day at Thunderhill Raceway on 8/27/2023.
Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp
