BAN022 panigale chain bolt

The chain drive of a superbike

This item differs from the surrounding selection in that it designates not a size but a place. It is aimed at the chain drive of the Ducati Panigale, an Italian sports machine which appeared in 2012 as the 1199 Panigale and had an unusual solution for its time: the engine itself took over the load-bearing function and the classic frame gave way to a small front subframe.

Why this joint group in particular

The final drive is one of the most watched places on a superbike model. The rear sprocket, the carrier and the chain adjuster are clearly visible from the right as well as the left side, usually not covered by the fairing, and they carry hardware with a markedly different character from the rest of the machine: it tends to be coarser, darker and marked by use. That is exactly why it pays to put machined parts here instead of molded ones.

What to expect from it

Fitting this joint group faithfully raises the impression of the whole model out of all proportion to the work put in. It is not load-bearing construction but a finishing step, done only after the swingarm and the rear wheel are assembled, when the real position of the sprocket is visible.

Procedure

Remove the original molded imitations with a sharp scalpel and level the surface with fine abrasive paper. Seat the new hardware in shallow recesses marked with the point of a needle. We recommend putting the assembly together dry first and gluing only after the position has been checked, because once it has set a repair means damaging the surrounding paint. In color terms a slight darkening suits it, so that the joint group matches a place under working load.