We will have a full, written press launch report from Valencia on our first impressions riding the Ducati Panigale V4, courtesy of our friends at Solo Moto. In the meantime, a superb, English language video review from the launch has been posted on YouTube by Bike World.
This Bike World video features Chris Northover, who does an excellent, thorough presentation of both the technical aspects of the Panigale V4 models (the base version makes 214 horsepower!), together with his riding impressions. Have a look, and stay tuned for our written press launch report.
See more of MD’s great photography:
175hp at the real wheel… tops.
Does it come in something other than red?
OK, which pronunciation is correct, Do-cot-e or, as in the video, Do-cat-e?
Jyoo-kat-tee if you watch MotoGP…
🙂 I always associated the Brits as putting the cat in Ducati.
Great, but these days at the rate manufacturers have those innovations trickle down to bikes actually meant for the street it will take years before we get access to them.
I actually thought the electronic advances made in the last several years has been pretty quick to make it to the consumer level. Not sure I would ever “need” the rear brake, back-it-in feature on a street bike anyway.
I personally feel that “backing it in” actually works well on the street particularly for the slower 90 deg turns…..but I agree to perform it at the extent that “electronics must intervene” which then allows you to “take it down to the knife edge” is too much for the street….and I must confess that I feel the same way for all the electronic aids..quick shifter..wheelie control..traction control..launch etc….
But alas we must come to accept that for all the performance we have had the privilege to experience over the years….this is the natural progression of development and even on a street bike where it is not even legal to find the limits of these bikes….we must accept the electronics. And as a manufacture your dead in the water without electronic intervention
How about a V4 Multistrada?
Please Mr Ducati…
re: “How about a V4 Multistrada?”
oh God no, a naked streetfighter is all you’re getting.
Diavel stroker…
Ducati is running ahead of the curve. Putting it up the competitions’ noses and saying 1000cc is your barrier, not ours. That’s great !!! and soon other 200+HP bikes will be showing up. My question is what is the fuel range of this bike? Sure, superbikes are about getting from point A to point B as fast as possible, but off the track running out of fuel before the gas station at point B could be a problem.
I know range is the first thing on my mind when I think about this bike…
I HATE long videos, but that one was great. A technological tour-de-force, explained with aplomb. Well done! A must watch!
Motorcyclists are funny. An utterly bonkers, expensive, 400lb, 214 hp bike primarily built for the track is released and people gush about it. A heavier, somewhat cheaper, 197 hp bike built for the street is released and people dump all over it (H2 SX).
sub 200 hp bikes over 400 pounds? Pfftt … so yesterday’s news ….lol
Marketing 101, it doesn’t only apply to bikes.
1) The Jordan 500 shoe could be neon yellow, chartreuse green, and flat purple, and ‘critics’ would be kissing the designers butts on how awesome the design is. Same for this Ducati, any Ferrari, any Lambo.
2) lightweight, ridiculous track bikes are a ‘thing.’ Backlash to a hyper-powered touring bike are people saying that, that’s not a ‘thing.’
3) Kawasaki doesn’t have the best rep for reliability. I guarantee that the minute Honda or Yamaha does a turbo bike, it will be hailed as the be all end all two wheeled creation.
Turbo bikes from Honda and Yamaha? Pfftt… so 1982-83 news.
Checked several ratings (Consumer Reports and Motorbike Writer). Pretty consistent. Kawa third or fourth behind Yama (1) Suzi (2) and Honda (3). Ducati (8) ranks low. My ZX14r (2014, 8000+ miles) is running strong with no problems so far. Regular maintenance and no bad surprises. Just sayin …
I can’t say I’ve ever myself, or heard anyone I know, buy a motorcycle because of perceived or hoped for reliability. Other factors far outweigh that concern. Just like most everything, no one goes in thinking they’re going to be sorry in that regard but motorcycles are largely “feel good” machines. Thoughts of having problems are tossed to the side.
re: “motorcycles are largely “feel good” machines. Thoughts of having problems are tossed to the side.”
Norge Knows…
the animal “Human”.
There are several brands of motorcycles I would not personally buy or consider due to percieved ( or known) reliability issues. Ducati being one of them.
You may not know anyone personally, but I certainly avoid certain brands, even if the bike feels right. I’ve been burned on that one before, and the machine quickly transitions from just right to nightmare.
I also know plenty of people who weight reliability heavily in a bike purchase.
I guess what I’m saying is I’d bet most who get the hots for a bike tend to put any reliability concerns behind. I’ll just give an example for myself, my opinion of Royal Enfield is dubious build quality which might translate to reliability concerns down the road. But then, I’m not interested in them for myself though they have a certain charm.
I don’t think I put reliability first though when I’m really into a bike. Perhaps that’s because almost all bikes are worlds better than in the past? OK, I’m curious, which brands don’t check the reliability box?
I have had atrocious experiences with BMW, Ducati and Buell. Also KTM to a lesser extent. It is worth adding that the sour taste was contributed quite a bit by the dealers with respect to the first two entries.
I would go so far as to say that I probably melded with the BMW more completely than any other street bike. I could ride 10 hours straight on it and still feel fresh or hustle it down a twisty road fast enough to make guys on much faster machines wonder what they’re doing wrong. Each iteration of that 1150R has been a marked improvement, but I just haven’t brought myself to buy another and probably never will. (Actually, that is kind of a lie as I own a Husky Terra which is technically a BMW product. But I bought it because I considered it to be the only bike in it’s class. If one of the big 4 made a true 50/50 fuel-injected dual sport that made 50 hp at the wheel and didn’t look like something out of the early ’80s, it almost certainly would have gotten my money.)
For me it would be Ducati, Moto Guzzi, Apilia and KTM for fear of reliability. I like looking at BMW’s but would never buy one because I don’t like how the old ones ride, or the new ones cost to service.
“OK, I’m curious, which brands don’t check the reliability box?”
Royal Enfield
…and yes, reliability IS a big issue for me.
I watched it and it was excellent. I like the electronics but I don’t like the price tag, so there you go. Just give me a stripped down V4 Scrambler and I’ll be happy!
Sounds like those that rode it can’t stop gushing about how easy it was to ride it. (Not typical Ducati hammer to your head)As I get older I enjoy the electronics making me feel like Rossi rather than rely on reflexes to my throttle hand. Now is it better than my 16 R1? That is the question!!!
Funny how things come full circle. It used to be that people loved Ducatis because of how easy they were to ride- smooth/broad power, excellent road feel & quality. I guess they had to compromise the twin’s character enough to keep it competitive on peak power that they lost that.
These guys must all be excellent riders. I’ve always believed one of the tangible barriers in defining riding skill was whether one found it easier or harder to ride a bike with huge power, especially off-road. If the former, very skilled.
Bikes have been getting much easier to ride. Literally everyone can ride a modern fuel-injected 450 motocross bike around, even if they are much more powerful than any class of mx bike before. And that includes the fire-breathing 500 two-strokes. They are much easier for a novice or even a more experienced rider to ride than a 125.
Twisting the throttle to the stops and/or riding 10/10 is of course very different and can quickly land you on the ground and hospital.
“..but it won’t let you crash..”
Famous last words.
I’m guessing Chaz Davies will appreciate an “uncrashable” Ducati!