V4RG build

[Motosurgeon]

I wanted to get an SP2 but it didn't happen so I decided to go another direction.
Current build spec
2023 V4 base
K Tech TRDS-R Front carts and rear shock
Rade Garage tank system
STM dry clutch conversion
GB case covers
Jet prime rbw with buttons
Kill switch
V4 extreme sprocket carrier with cush drive delete
520 conversion
Some ti stuff here and there
Mobil 1 full synthetic 15w-50
Evol tech pro sbk rearsets on order have been waiting for them for a very long time.

To do list
I2m dash
OZ Cattiva wheels
Et clip ons
Thermostat delete
Secondary air system delete
Emissions delete
Maybe a tune that plays well with a cored oem exhaust

Not sure how to get my pictures on here so my pictures have been posted to the panigale v4 Facebook group.

 

[BMW Alpina]

Hello @Motosurgeon
you can upload pictures by clicking this "picture icon" screenshot below:
The picture size cannot be larger than 1024x768 though.

 

[Motosurgeon]

Update

Checked off a couple boxes recently..

I found a donor bike 1199s so will be cannibalizing the Marchesini wheels and carbon CRG levers.
While I like the Marchesini wheels I have also considered putting them back on the 1199 if I can get a set of PVM 8 spoke wheels in a color that I can tolerate or splurge on some bst 5 spokes.

Evol tech sbk rearsets and clip ons are on, still waiting on matching triple clamps.

Will be doing another oil analysis to see if the copper levels improve while the bike is under warranty.

I have been enjoying some test and tune joy rides to rack up some more miles before the temps drop. If the next results don't have any red flags I will get the 2 wheel dynoworks flash.

I am obsessed with the Zard DM5 exhaust and tempted to get it but concerned about if it will have fitment issues with the RG tank. I was hoping to simply wrap it or attach the heatshield header armor if it doesn't bump into anything. Otherwise I will probably be better off with a low mount slip on and will try my luck finding a suitable belly pan.

I have been having a hard time getting my rear suspension to be more active and not sure if I should try the fm linear link, if it even fits, or another softer spring. My sag (9mm + 25mm) seems right on paper but I am not using much of the travel even with the front coming up under acceleration. Rear feels harsh and I got to the point where I have no added preload on the adjuster and compression adjuster is wide open. When I check the zip tie after a ride I still have about 12mm before the shock body hits the bottom out bumper. Luckily the front feels spot on.

Weight with cast wheels and street tires using my bathroom scale is about 420lbs no gas with about 53% front bias
Will re check the weight with the Marchesini wheels and Diablo slicks soon.

Side note
I was expecting to flip or part out the rest of the 1199s but it's growing on me. Looks like a two bike trailer is in my future.

 

[Motosurgeon]

Ordered a 2 Wheel DynoWorks ecu flash. Waiting for a holiday sale paid off as they dropped the price by $50 for Black Friday. Depending on what other deals I can line up, I'm hoping to check off a few more boxes by the end of the month like some wheels, exhaust, etc. Now to figure out if I can buy a spare ecu to have flashed so that I can avoid flashing my oem ecu. I think 2 wheel dynoworks said the ecus are locked to the vin or something like that but still want to give it a shot. I wonder if it would help to have separate maps for exhaust with and without baffles.

 

[Motosurgeon]

I found a good deal on a used SC Project S1 GP exhaust system! Not sure if they all come this way but this one will be able to accommodate the Euro5 set of 4 O2 sensors. Now to wait for it to arrive from Denmark and see if it will play nicely with the Rade Garage tank, wish me luck. If it won't fit then I will have the exhaust available for sale for $2,500. Looking forward to some weight savings and some proper fueling correction after the flash. Tempted to bring the bike to 2 Wheel DynoWorks for a run on the dyno but it would be 1500 miles round trip so not sure if its worth it.

 

[Motosurgeon]

Got the weight down to about 415lbs no gas. Hoping to get under 400 lbs after the full Ti exhaust upgrade and getting rid off some unnecessary hoses etc.

 

[Motosurgeon]

Holiday Shopping spree checked off a few more boxes.

Rear non abs brake line and fluid reservoir delete
Samco thermostat delete silicone hose system
Translogic quick shifter
Brembo t drive front rotors and corsa corta rr front master cylinder

I wanted to get some other parts but couldn't make up my mind.

I2m dash is high up on my wish list but it will have to wait.

 

[Motosurgeon]

T drive rotors, 28 titanium bolts, ceramic bearings, SC Project S1-GP full exhaust, 2 Wheel Dynoworks ecu flash, Samco thermostat delete, AIS delete, charcoal cannister delete, purge valve delete, crank case vent oil separator return line delete, fan delete done. Pictures posted to the V4 FB page. Still dragging my feet on the traslogic quick shifter, front billet Brembo RR master cylinder and rear abs delete.
So far the weight came down to 400 lbs with about a gallon of gas.

 

[Motosurgeon]

Checking off a few more boxes today. Got spooked by the tariffs bumping prices of stuff so my plan to wait for Black Friday deals later this year won't work.
I2M Chrome Pro 2
Braketech Axis rear floating rotor
Sato Ti axle

 

[bp_SFV4]

I did T-drives a month or so ago with the intention of going with RCS masters but decided to put it on hold in favor of booking more track days. Give the tariff nonsense six months or a year, it will balance out.

 

[BMW Alpina]

I did T-drives a month or so ago with the intention of going with RCS masters but decided to put it on hold in favor of booking more track days. Give the tariff nonsense six months or a year, it will balance out.

As long as the USD to EUR exchange rate becomes more favorable again... I wish I bought my GP4-LM calipers in January of this year, but like @Motosurgeon I was waiting for the Black Friday deal...

 

[Motosurgeon]

Got an update from SBU about the Sato axle not being a direct fit for my 2023 showa forks. I have had the same issue when I ordered Ti axles from V4evo which were bigger than my oem axle by 0.005" at the non-threaded end. I am debating having the axle turned down to the same diameter as the oem axle or using a flex-hone to ream the fork lower on the right side. From what I understand that is the only difference between the two variations. The only other option would be getting different fork lowers or getting one from kbike.

 

[BMW Alpina]

Got an update from SBU about the Sato axle not being a direct fit for my 2023 showa forks. I have had the same issue when I ordered Ti axles from V4evo which were bigger than my oem axle by 0.005" at the non-threaded end. I am debating having the axle turned down to the same diameter as the oem axle or using a flex-hone to ream the fork lower on the right side. From what I understand that is the only difference between the two variations. The only other option would be getting different fork lowers or getting one from kbike.

Do you mean getting the axle from K-Bike? If yes, then I think that is the easiest and most cost-effective solution without permanent alteration to the Showa fork lower.

 

[Motosurgeon]

Got some riding pics posted in the FB group

 

[Motosurgeon]

 

[Motosurgeon]

I got the sato axle in with no modifications. Maybe the v4evo ones were out of round or off center. It's snug but does go in without having to pry the clamp open.
Saved a whopping 15g! Yes you read that correctly! $1000 to save a whole a$$ 15g fml and just realized that -15g is without the plastic sliders that didn't come with my axle by mistake. With those in probably going to be over the weight of a naked oem axle. The only reason I didn't go with the melotti quick change axle was because I was hoping to drop some weight with this setup as the melotti is steel.

 

[BMW Alpina]

Hi @Motosurgeon ,

I just noticed you have the Rade Garage tank system installed. How do you like it compared to the stock tank (and seat) assembly?
Also, can you please post more information and pictures of the V4 extreme sprocket carrier with cush drive delete? I am curious about this kit.

 

[Motosurgeon]

@BMW Alpina
Short and sweet review:
Yes, if I crashed and had the choice to convert back to oem I would still pick the Rade Garage tank if it was available. If I had two bikes, I would keep one mostly stock. This tank is not a universal must have upgrade and is definitely not for everyone.

Some more details:
The tank is one of the first ones sent and there are many aspects of the quality that make me feel like it is still at the prototype phase. I do not know if they will get enough sales volume to justify making an updated version but if they did, they definitely got plenty of feedback from me on how to improve the setup. I would 100% be a buyer for a version 2.0 tank because of how much potential there is for improvement. That being said I do not know if the model I got is different from what is currently being shipped out.

Functionally:
It does what it was intended to do. I can see how much gas I have and just top it off in between sessions keeping the fuel level low. Makes it a 2 minute job to take the tank off but not sure how often it is that I would have to do that. It looks interesting and is lighter or so they say.

The V4 extreme sprocket carrier is a no brainer. Possibly the most efficient price/gram weight savings, practically no drawbacks. If you dont have a good tune and the bike isnt smooth off idle, this setup will exaggerate that snachy lurching that you get from a bad/oem tune or poor shifting technique/ quick shifter problems. I have the 2WDW tune and this bike is buttery smooth and crisp all the way from idle to the top and while shifting.