One man's 21' Ducati Panigale V2

[FrankJones]

Something’s wrong with this picture…
It started with the sub frame bolts
The V2 Subframe bolts do not share the same style head from the upper to the lower. But the bolt size and length are identical. This was an easy fix. Podium racing swapped the longer ones out for two more shorties.

 

[FrankJones]

So excited to get this beauty on, I noticed some tabs missing where the side panels rest. No big deal, but then I noticed something significant. The two standoffs at the tail of the frame are the mounts for the tail section. This was a non starter for me as I always plan on keeping this bike as a street machine as well as a track weapon. Defeated for now, I had to pull it back off and start a side project of fabbing my own.

 

[FrankJones]

On the V2, when you remove the passenger seat there is a grab strap that is mounted with two fasteners from the top. SInce I’m not carrying any passengers, this was a starting point for the stand offs that I needed to make to mount the new tail light bracket from underneath.



Thanks to my buddy Enzo at work, yes thats his name! Perfect man for the job right??
He machined me these aluminum stand offs that pick up the fastener holes from the bottom.
6000 series aluminum to keep the weight down and the strength up. These posts are installed once and never removed so the aluminum was the perfect material.



The mounting bracket had to be steel because this is where the taillight bracket would be going on and off to remove and replace the license plate between track days.


Top view of the subframe. The aluminum standoffs fully torqued.

This is key. Steel roll pins attach the tail light bracket to the stand offs. This provides a secure mount and also makes it impossible for the posts to come loose!

 

[FrankJones]

Stock subframe weight. It’s significant and up high. This is a great mod. Reduce weight and lower CG.



How about that the aluminum literally weighs nothing!!
I really don’t know what it weighs, but its pretty light! Promise ill weigh the whole bike at the end…

Of course we cant put the steel hardware back on!
All the fasteners in fresh Ti from ProBolt

 

[FrankJones]

Finally back to work. The installation was straight forward. Over all the subframe felt a little shorter than stock.
The parts were a tad on the cramped side. Definitely was not as smooth going back together as stock, but not impossible.

 

[FrankJones]

So full disclosure. The fit and finish is not that sexy on this subframe. Sad to say the gap ind the seat is enough to be annoying. I have to come up with some kind of foam or trim to fill the back.
ah the dark side of aftermarket parts….





Anyway, its time to get back to the track!!

 

[FrankJones]

Can you still see the gap in the seat now??!!

 

[FrankJones]

The way of the future. I didnt know this but World Super bike is now running 200/65 rear and a 125/70 front. My tire is barely off the ground while on the rear stand! Lol The V2 is just so much lighter now. At this point its significantly lighter than stock. Pushing it around, loading and unloading the bike, direction change. Its almost time for final weigh in…
Thanks for looking!!

 

[craig bush]

Nice build

You going to COTA for RR fest?

 

[FrankJones]

Nice build

You going to COTA for RR fest?

Thanks!
I don’t know what that is. Message me the details!

 

[BMW Alpina]

Can you still see the gap in the seat now??!!


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Hi FrankJones,
Wow, the gap is no longer noticeable
May I know what kind of foam did you use to cover the gap? and how did you attached them so they won't move around?
Thanks

 

[FrankJones]

Hi FrankJones,
Wow, the gap is no longer noticeable
May I know what kind of foam did you use to cover the gap? and how did you attached them so they won't move around?
Thanks

Thanks, so it was kind of a joke. The bike is so beautiful now, that you do not notice the gap anymore.lol
But on a serious note. McMaster carr has some great options. I was going to play with some adhesive backed closed cell foam and report back.
What is your application?

 

[BMW Alpina]

Thanks, so it was kind of a joke. The bike is so beautiful now, that you do not notice the gap anymore.lol
But on a serious note. McMaster carr has some great options. I was going to play with some adhesive backed closed cell foam and report back.
What is your application?

Oh, my mistake, I thought you already use some kind of foam to cover the gap...
I don't have any exact gap to cover for now, but just in case I do (or maybe I want to cover some of the gold color heat shield from peeking out between gaps...)
I might find out next month when I put the gas tank back ( hopefully)

 

[HaydenEngineering]

This has been a really fun read. Thanks for sharing and taking such good photos! How is the weight savings progress going? Any final numbers or next steps?

 

[DucatiRacer2]

An amazing build and for those looking for the ultimate in weight savings Podium Racing is continuously adding new bolts for V2's.

 

[Paul Turner]

Great build series Frank I appreciate your attention to detail
Did you load a new map on the ECU, Sir ?

 

[FrankJones]

This has been a really fun read. Thanks for sharing and taking such good photos! How is the weight savings progress going? Any final numbers or next steps?

Thanks! I did a few more things that I need to update. Really it’s been more carbon and more titanium fasteners. Now the bike is in LA and I am in Georgia. It’s been a busy year!

 

[FrankJones]

An amazing build and for those looking for the ultimate in weight savings Podium Racing is continuously adding new bolts for V2's.

Gary at podium racing is the best! Lucky I don’t live close to there. I would have to keep a running tab! Lol
I just love the look of these fasteners. Its incredible how heavy my stock bag of steel fasteners. I think my favorite still, are the front calipers bolts. Titanium and gun drilled. Just doesn’t get any better than that!

 

[FrankJones]

Great build series Frank I appreciate your attention to detail
Did you load a new map on the ECU, Sir ?

Thank you for the kind words! It’s been a long build and I try my best to do good work.
The guys at Ducati Austin installed the upmap that comes with the exhaust.
The bike is dialed. The bangs it makes on short shifts, and the pops and snorts it makes on decel is just so satisfying!

 

[Paul Turner]

Thank you for the kind words! It’s been a long build and I try my best to do good work.
The guys at Ducati Austin installed the upmap that comes with the exhaust.
The bike is dialed. The bangs it makes on short shifts, and the pops and snorts it makes on decel is just so satisfying!

Fantastic, Frank Ducati and their peripherils are just that, dialed