Rider Modes How what when

[ajy1w]

Now that the S is out and our brethren are sharing reviews, we can start using and working our rider modes.   Please share your experiences in using your rider modes, how, when, why.   
I can start with some of my experiences to date.  My first complaint is back at the new Ducati heated grips, and yes it is relative because 3/8 of an inch in diameter does make a difference when working your throttle.  The movement and control of the movement of your throttle is definitely noticeable when trying to control small movements of throttle in sport mode, mostly.   And these thinner grips hurt my hands when standing and working the throttle, and when spending over an hour in the cockpit.  Their are padded solutions that may compensate, but that's for another thread. 

Modes:
Touring mode with stock settings works for most of my ridding.  It can be fast enough for most hooligan encounters.  Slow maneuvers are done easily with the throttle response in touring.  Figure 8's, L or R closed circles in the tightest space.  Bars pinned to either L or R.  Power wheelies are easy in 1st gear from 5000 Rpm to catching it up at about 6500rpm. Clutch wheelies are taking more practice for me in 2nd gear. 

Sport mode works great when carving it up in the turns.  Getting into sport mode while moving has been difficult for me.  I have had to stop almost every time.  When trying to power wheelie in sport mode 1st gear very difficult. (Changing the stock setting to match the touring mode made a noticeable difference, the front wheel lofted easier) The engine was still more aggressive but it allowed for the power to be delivered without forcing the front down.     I can not hold the throttle well and  it is very responsive which requires me to hold the throttle at exactly the right point to catch it and bring up the front wheel.  But because the narrowness of the grip, I miss catching the sweet spot.   Their is a major difference in forward momentum when in sport mode.  You can scare yourself when pinning the gears all the way out.  The bike will arrive upon the ass of upcoming vehicles very quickly.   The aggressiveness of the engine can catch you out.   2nd gear power wheelies are quicker to achieve.     And 3rd to 4th and back in the turns is very effective. 

Urban Mode I used this mode in the winter in the cold and wet.  Was comforting in poor conditions and would be effective in a major city , like NYC, but not sure if needed when in a city.  But certainly in the rain.   

I have not had the chance to test Enduro mode, But working on it.   

changing settings within the modes is noticeable and can be effective for getting the best results.   

Still experimenting
Please share your experiences. 

[ajy1w]

To add > If I could describe the difference in modes that you feel >  Sport mode forces the bike forward, touring mode pushes the bike forward, Urban mode rolls the bike forward.   The force in sport mode is quick when you are using the higher end of the revs  in gears, grunt and torque are strong.  Changing line quickly when at speed is challenging on the front end. Example noticing a large defect (pothole) in your line of sight and redirecting your line say at 75-90 MPH.   The bikes engine force or momentum is pushing hard and requires more effort on the rider.  Where same speed in touring mode the bikes front end feels lighter and more graceful allowing for easier or effortless rider input to change your line.   

Urban mode has its advantages best noticed in poor weather conditions.  I have used this mode several times this past winter in cold and possible icy road conditions and found it to work well adding confidence to my ridding that normally I would not have ventured out in.  So this mode allowed the bike the bike to feel more sure footed and planted in wet and icy road conditions.  This made the bike feel like a true adventure bike for me, as this was achieving riding adverse conditions, so the bike felt as it was concurring the terrain.  Steady power delivery, DTC working well to make the rider feel safe.  Acceleration delivered carefully and precise. 

Not having skyhook DSS and using the different rider modes does feel at times a little like suspension changes have taken place between the modes, but this is just engine power delivery.
I would think that with the S model these feelings should be much more noticeable given corning ABS and DSS suspension inputs.   
Let us know.   












 

[alltom1]

I'm prefacing every one of my 'reviews' with the disclaimer that I'm a complete newbie - away from riding for 30years + never ridden a Ducati before Wednesday.  The  only thing I know for certain is that I know nothing.

Bike had been set to Urban by the shop before my delivery this week.  Only took a few stoplights for me to wonder motorcycle engine technology had gone backwards in my 30year absence; bike felt like it was being choked around the neck off the line.  I'm grateful to the shop for looking after this beginner and with that out of the way, I need never use that setting again until I'm in the rain.  I did an hour of city-ish riding last evening and set to touring beforehand.  Ok, that's more like it.  I stalled a couple of times and until I'm smoother-with-practice, I'll default to riding the clutch a little bit.  I hope this poor, sweet bike will accept my apologies in advance.  I fiddled with a few settings(mostly looking to get the pre-load on the suspension to account for the fact I don't weigh very much, but I think I'll leave everything else alone for the time being.

Separately, my adventure onto busy roads(traffic picks up speed quickly and comes to stops just as quick) went fine; cars gave me enough space and no interaction with distracted drivers that I could tell.  Nice confidence boost. 

The bike is one heck of machine and I'm lucky to have her as a partner in crime for a new adventure..

[RickyV]

Have risen @ 200 miles since picking up the bike on Friday morning and have left it in touring for the whole of that time with no further adjustments other than fettling the suspension to rider with panniers.
I plan to leave it like that until I have really got to grips with the bike and the old muscle memory kicks in.
This will probably also take me beyond the first service.
Coming from the Triumph Bonneville is quite an adjustment but am absolutely loving it.

[tobenna]

Originally Posted by alltom1

I'm prefacing every one of my 'reviews' with the disclaimer that I'm a complete newbie - away from riding for 30years + never ridden a Ducati before Wednesday.  The  only thing I know for certain is that I know nothing.

Bike had been set to Urban by the shop before my delivery this week.  Only took a few stoplights for me to wonder motorcycle engine technology had gone backwards in my 30year absence; bike felt like it was being choked around the neck off the line.  I'm grateful to the shop for looking after this beginner and with that out of the way, I need never use that setting again until I'm in the rain.  I did an hour of city-ish riding last evening and set to touring beforehand.  Ok, that's more like it.  I stalled a couple of times and until I'm smoother-with-practice, I'll default to riding the clutch a little bit.  I hope this poor, sweet bike will accept my apologies in advance.  I fiddled with a few settings(mostly looking to get the pre-load on the suspension to account for the fact I don't weigh very much, but I think I'll leave everything else alone for the time being.

Separately, my adventure onto busy roads(traffic picks up speed quickly and comes to stops just as quick) went fine; cars gave me enough space and no interaction with distracted drivers that I could tell.  Nice confidence boost. 

The bike is one heck of machine and I'm lucky to have her as a partner in crime for a new adventure..

Great report...

[motorman]

I have 4500 mi on my recent purchase (2 mo old).  I agree Touring is the smoothest and most comfortable, predictable mode.  I also installed the Throttle spacer (and transferred the spacer to the new oem heated grips).  In my experience the engine power mode seems to affect the speed of the throttle response.  In sport mode this is on high by default, in tour its on med.  DTC seems to help the wheelie fun (lower numbers = higher wheelie  ).  Urban and enduro caps the power at 75 hp so the bike is basically a Desert Sled in those modes (I have a DS).  So at this point I'm comfortable with Touring, engine power med, DTC 4, ABS 3 for street.  Off road enduro in standard set up. 

Enduro is important anytime you are offroad bc you typically need to allow the rear wheel to spin a little or the bike will halt.  I found this out when on a recent trip offroad in Big Bend National park.  Pulled off road to fix my Gopro and stopped in the dirt where there were water ruts.  Thinking nothing of it and still in touring mode, I just expected to power thru the ruts on start up and go.  Meaning let the rear wheel spin and cut thru the ruts.  No thats not what happen.  DTC let me go about 4 inches and cut the power out completely , the front wheel rolled into the rut, the bike stopped, and kaput.  0 mph tip over.  So, enduro is very useful when you remember!

I keep the owners manual downloaded on my iPhone in the iBooks app.  Very handy while I was learning and experimenting with the rider modes and adjusting them individually .

Anyone else have off road experiences?

[ajy1w]

Good report Motorman.
I have not had a chance to test Enduro yet but will keep that in mind.  I have some very hard pack that is in my area and in very small doses so I keep in touring.  The weather and time are now in favor of me getting out to some off road riding.  I have to drive far to get to LEGAL off road.
And I will lower my DTC in sport and touring.     hopefully better wheelie results.   

[Tiree]

Love the idea of downloading manual .. will send to kindle app on phone if I can

[ajy1w]

Got on a Forest single track yesterday.    Was wet leaves covering slipping and sliding with out nobbed tires.  Not a good test for Enduro mode but it was helpful.

[motorman]

Thats a pretty tough test there Aj.  I'm going out today and will try to get some pics.