This past few months I had been researching on Ohlins Forks, Rear Shocks and Steering Damper upgrade for various model of Ducati Panigale V4 and this is what I found so far.
Base Panigale V4:
The base Panigale V4 came standard with Ø 43 mm Showa BPF Front Forks and the most economical upgrade Ohlins Fork upgrade is FGRT 214 (part of FGRT200 Family) Hypersport R&T 43 Fork for 2019 Ducati Panigale V4 - length: 29 inches (740 mm), list price $2,500
Hypersport R&T 43 Fork (FGRT 214) | Öhlins USA
The base Panigale V4 came standard with Sachs mono-shock and the only bolt on Ohlins rear shock upgrade available is the DU 468 Hypersport TTX GP Shock (T36PR1C1LS), list price $1,400
Hypersport TTX GP Shock (DU 468) | Öhlins USA
The base Panigale V4 came standard with Sachs steering damper and the only bolt on Ohlins steering damper upgrade available is SD 040 Hypersport Steering Damper, list price $425
Hypersport Steering Damper (SD 040) | Öhlins USA
The Panigale V4S, V4SCorse, V4Speciale and V4 25° Anniversario 916 all have the same Electronically Control (EC) Ohlins Suspension and Steering Damper, so I am going to class them as V4S.
While the Panigale V4R came with NON Electronically Control (EC) Ohlins Suspension and Steering Damper.
However both V4S and V4R have the same upgrade path, and this higher end upgrade can also be applied to the base V4.
The most economical Front Fork upgrade for both Panigale V4S and V4R would be the Ohlins FGR 250 Hypersport Superbike Fork length: 770mm - 30mm inches, list price $5,000
Note, that this fork are NON EC which means you actually lost the adjustability of the stock V4S fork but gain better on track at the limit performance.
The most interesting features is the spring pressurized cartridge system unlike in the more expensive but older FGR 300.
The dimension of the FGR250 is exactly the same as the FGR 300 which I will discuss after this.
The "WORST" feature of the Ohlins FGR 250 is the fact that Ohlins classified this as designed for racing use only and "recommended" that the fork need to be "service & maintain" after ONLY 20 hours of use !!!
Cosmetically, it looks very close to the stock V4S Ohlins fork. The main cosmetic differences is the fork bottom of the FGR 250 were billet/cnc while the stock V4S Ohlins fork bottom is cast.
The next step in Front Fork upgrade for both Panigale V4S and V4R would be the Ohlins FGR 300 Hypersport Superbike Fork length: 750mm - 30mm inches, list price $10,000
(make sure you buy the FGR300 and not the same spec but longer length FGR301 which have 770mm in length, I mean you can fit it, but it's just a bit too long)
Note, that this fork are NON EC which means you actually lost the adjustability of the stock V4S fork but gain better on track at the limit performance.
However this FGR 300 had been around since 2015 (or 2016) and it is still based on the TTX25 front fork cartridge kit which means it doesn't have the spring pressurized cartridge system like the lower price but newer FGR 250 above.
Just like the FGR 250, the "WORST" feature of the Ohlins FGR 300 is the fact that Ohlins classified this as designed for racing use only and "recommended" that the fork need to be "service & maintain" after ONLY 20 hours of use !!!
However, unlike the FGR 250, the FGR 300 look the part due to the extra reservoir tube and adjustment screw at the bottom of the fork. I mean it is just GORGEOUS that it almost worth it to deal with the 20 hours service interval !!!
I also notice the list price of the FGR 300 had recently been lowered from $11,875 to just $10,000 recently. This must be due to drop in sales since this fork had been around from 2015 and most likely replacement is due soon.
Now before you rush and place an order for the FGR 250 or FGR 300, please note that you will need a new upper triple clamp, new handle bar and new lower clamp (for the Panigale V4).
The lower clamp for the Panigale V4S and V4R can be reuse because the fork diameter around the lower triple clamp area is the same 58mm for the FGR 250/300 just like the stock Ohlins fork of V4S and V4R.
However the upper triple clamp and handlebar diameter for the stock Ohlins from V4S and V4R were 53mm while the diameter for the FGR250/300 is actually smaller at 52mm. So you will need to purchase a new handlebar and upper triple clamp.
You also need to custom machined a different front axle since the front axle diameter of the FGR 250 and FGR 300 is also smaller than the stock Ohlins, machined front axle spacer plus you need to machined custom bracket for ABS sensor and your front fender.
Not too hard to do if you are willing to do careful measurement, make a napkin drawing and pay extra for your CNC machine shop to transfer it into their CAD drawing. (or in my case, I can ask my younger son to create the CAD drawing for me
)
Oh, don't forget you need a different brake caliper with 108mm bolt spacing, brake caliper spacer (and bolts), plus most likely spacer and longer bolts for the brake rotor. Your stock Brembo Stylema caliper use 100mm bolt spacing.
Again, WHENEVER THERE IS A WILL, THERE WILL BE A WAY.
The upgrade path for the rear Ohlins shock absorber for both V4S and V4R is the same as the Base Panigale V4 and it will be NON EC Ohlins DU 468 Hypersport TTX GP Shock (T36PR1C1LS), list price $1,400
Hypersport TTX GP Shock (DU 468) | Öhlins USA
and no need to upgrade the stock Ohlins Steering Damper on both the Panigale V4S and V4R unless you want a BLACK anodized version just for cosmetic looks.
Finally the highest upgrade that is kinda hard to get but not impossible to buy is the Ohlins Full Blown WSBK model RVP25, list price over 19,000 Euro.
It looks like an FGR250 but if you really need that last few seconds on the track then
Maybe a new replacement model of the FGR 300 with spring pressurized cartridge system will be available, but I wonder if that is the case, there is no needs for that extra tube reservoir at the bottom of the fork anymore, well I guess we just have to wait
in the meantime, please enjoy the pictures of both the FGR 250 and FGR 300.
FGR250:
FGR300:
Base Panigale V4:
The base Panigale V4 came standard with Ø 43 mm Showa BPF Front Forks and the most economical upgrade Ohlins Fork upgrade is FGRT 214 (part of FGRT200 Family) Hypersport R&T 43 Fork for 2019 Ducati Panigale V4 - length: 29 inches (740 mm), list price $2,500
Hypersport R&T 43 Fork (FGRT 214) | Öhlins USA
The base Panigale V4 came standard with Sachs mono-shock and the only bolt on Ohlins rear shock upgrade available is the DU 468 Hypersport TTX GP Shock (T36PR1C1LS), list price $1,400
Hypersport TTX GP Shock (DU 468) | Öhlins USA
The base Panigale V4 came standard with Sachs steering damper and the only bolt on Ohlins steering damper upgrade available is SD 040 Hypersport Steering Damper, list price $425
Hypersport Steering Damper (SD 040) | Öhlins USA
The Panigale V4S, V4SCorse, V4Speciale and V4 25° Anniversario 916 all have the same Electronically Control (EC) Ohlins Suspension and Steering Damper, so I am going to class them as V4S.
While the Panigale V4R came with NON Electronically Control (EC) Ohlins Suspension and Steering Damper.
However both V4S and V4R have the same upgrade path, and this higher end upgrade can also be applied to the base V4.
The most economical Front Fork upgrade for both Panigale V4S and V4R would be the Ohlins FGR 250 Hypersport Superbike Fork length: 770mm - 30mm inches, list price $5,000
Note, that this fork are NON EC which means you actually lost the adjustability of the stock V4S fork but gain better on track at the limit performance.
The most interesting features is the spring pressurized cartridge system unlike in the more expensive but older FGR 300.
The dimension of the FGR250 is exactly the same as the FGR 300 which I will discuss after this.
The "WORST" feature of the Ohlins FGR 250 is the fact that Ohlins classified this as designed for racing use only and "recommended" that the fork need to be "service & maintain" after ONLY 20 hours of use !!!
Cosmetically, it looks very close to the stock V4S Ohlins fork. The main cosmetic differences is the fork bottom of the FGR 250 were billet/cnc while the stock V4S Ohlins fork bottom is cast.
The next step in Front Fork upgrade for both Panigale V4S and V4R would be the Ohlins FGR 300 Hypersport Superbike Fork length: 750mm - 30mm inches, list price $10,000
(make sure you buy the FGR300 and not the same spec but longer length FGR301 which have 770mm in length, I mean you can fit it, but it's just a bit too long)
Note, that this fork are NON EC which means you actually lost the adjustability of the stock V4S fork but gain better on track at the limit performance.
However this FGR 300 had been around since 2015 (or 2016) and it is still based on the TTX25 front fork cartridge kit which means it doesn't have the spring pressurized cartridge system like the lower price but newer FGR 250 above.
Just like the FGR 250, the "WORST" feature of the Ohlins FGR 300 is the fact that Ohlins classified this as designed for racing use only and "recommended" that the fork need to be "service & maintain" after ONLY 20 hours of use !!!
However, unlike the FGR 250, the FGR 300 look the part due to the extra reservoir tube and adjustment screw at the bottom of the fork. I mean it is just GORGEOUS that it almost worth it to deal with the 20 hours service interval !!!
I also notice the list price of the FGR 300 had recently been lowered from $11,875 to just $10,000 recently. This must be due to drop in sales since this fork had been around from 2015 and most likely replacement is due soon.
Now before you rush and place an order for the FGR 250 or FGR 300, please note that you will need a new upper triple clamp, new handle bar and new lower clamp (for the Panigale V4).
The lower clamp for the Panigale V4S and V4R can be reuse because the fork diameter around the lower triple clamp area is the same 58mm for the FGR 250/300 just like the stock Ohlins fork of V4S and V4R.
However the upper triple clamp and handlebar diameter for the stock Ohlins from V4S and V4R were 53mm while the diameter for the FGR250/300 is actually smaller at 52mm. So you will need to purchase a new handlebar and upper triple clamp.
You also need to custom machined a different front axle since the front axle diameter of the FGR 250 and FGR 300 is also smaller than the stock Ohlins, machined front axle spacer plus you need to machined custom bracket for ABS sensor and your front fender.
Not too hard to do if you are willing to do careful measurement, make a napkin drawing and pay extra for your CNC machine shop to transfer it into their CAD drawing. (or in my case, I can ask my younger son to create the CAD drawing for me
)Oh, don't forget you need a different brake caliper with 108mm bolt spacing, brake caliper spacer (and bolts), plus most likely spacer and longer bolts for the brake rotor. Your stock Brembo Stylema caliper use 100mm bolt spacing.
Again, WHENEVER THERE IS A WILL, THERE WILL BE A WAY.
The upgrade path for the rear Ohlins shock absorber for both V4S and V4R is the same as the Base Panigale V4 and it will be NON EC Ohlins DU 468 Hypersport TTX GP Shock (T36PR1C1LS), list price $1,400
Hypersport TTX GP Shock (DU 468) | Öhlins USA
and no need to upgrade the stock Ohlins Steering Damper on both the Panigale V4S and V4R unless you want a BLACK anodized version just for cosmetic looks.
Finally the highest upgrade that is kinda hard to get but not impossible to buy is the Ohlins Full Blown WSBK model RVP25, list price over 19,000 Euro.
It looks like an FGR250 but if you really need that last few seconds on the track then
Maybe a new replacement model of the FGR 300 with spring pressurized cartridge system will be available, but I wonder if that is the case, there is no needs for that extra tube reservoir at the bottom of the fork anymore, well I guess we just have to wait
in the meantime, please enjoy the pictures of both the FGR 250 and FGR 300.
FGR250:
FGR300:
,
since it is a much more expensive purchase, so I want to make sure I have the latest revision since the current FGR300 is already 6 or 7 years old.
