Loaded fun
Ducati’s latest streetfighter V2 might be a ‘lite’ version but still provides the thrills to satisfy riding fans.
MY favourite naked bike, the Ducati Streetfighter, is back with another offering.
It is the Streetfighter V2 now. This version is the tamed version of the Streetfighter V4.
When the Streetfighter V4 was launched, the design of the bike caught my eyes immediately.
It was love at first sight. The bike is drop-dead gorgeous and it looked aggressive.
The bike easily drew lots of oohs and aahs.
Besides the sexy design, the sensuous curves and strong lines definitely catches attention.
My favourite part of the bike is the design of the tank which makes the bike look macho and not to forget the front light with LED strip, and the rear end which is slim making the tyre stand out.
The rear end further enhances the aggressive look of this bike.
The Streetfighter V2 looks exactly like the Streetfigher V4 minus the winglets and the size.
At a glance, you will never know the difference between the Streefighter V2 and the Streetfighter V4 unless you are a hardcore Ducati fan.
This powerhouse is small but fully loaded.
I got the chance to review this bike during the recent World Ducati Week 2022 in Italy.
The minute I took the bike onto the highways, after the second gear, I could feel the abundance of power the Streetfighter V2 had.
This bike is meant for the speed aficionados and unlike the Streetfighter V4 is only for the speed demons.
I am of the opinion that, if you are not into serious speed, you are not doing justice to the Streetfighter V2.
However, Streetfighter V2 is more for the street than the track, unlike Streetfighter V4.
The Streetfighter V2 comes with a host of riding assistance.
Among them are three riding modes of Sport, Road and Rain followed by ABS Cornering EVO, Ducati Traction Control EVO 2, Ducati Wheelie Control EVO, Ducati Quick Shift up/down EVO 2 and Engine Brake Control EVO.
The minute I swung my leg over this bike and within 45 minutes of riding this machine on the highway, I realised how comfy this bike was.
The saddle is firm yet cushy. Meanwhile, the ergonomics of this bike are spot on.
The reach to the handle was natural and there is plenty of legroom for me to move around.
Visually, this pocket rocket looks small but in reality, the size of the bike is well thought through for tall folks especially 182cm and above.
The Streetfighter V2 design has a more spacious design compared with the Streetfighter V4.
The extra space is made possible by the slight modification of the height of the saddle.
On city streets, the bike can be ridden easily.
While riding on the streets and taking the opportunity of straight roads with little traffic, it was obvious that the engine could be rough, especially on the throttle.
It is manageable and I can live with it.
However, the minute I got on the highway, the bike was roaring to chew up the tarmac and slice through the air like the Streetfighter V4.
I also rode on the mountain roads just outside Bologna.
This part of the mountain called Passo della Raticosa is very popular with the Ducati test riders.
I was told that many Ducati bikes including the Streetfighter V2 were tested here before it was made available to the public.
At the mountains, the Streetfighter V2 was nimble and agile.
No corners or twisties were hard to conquer and it was a walk in the park.
The bike was well planted on the road.
Every time I enter and exit the corner, I feel so proud of myself because of my ability to tame this machine.
While it is not as wild as the Streetfighter V4, don’t be fooled.
The Streetfighter V2 has enough power and torque that it is not for the faint-hearted.
Its 955cc engine delivers 153hp at 10,750rpm and 101.4Nm of torque at 9,000rpm, compared to the Streetfighter V4 whose 1.1-litre engine dishes out 208hp and 123Nm of torque.
While riding downhill, the acceleration of the bike was manageable.
The throttle response was quick and exactly like that of a superbike.
On mountain roads, I felt at home compared to the Streetfighter V4 as the Streetfighter V2’s lower torque and horsepower suited my riding style.
Even in Sports mode, I did not feel intimidated by this machine.
In fact, I was happily revving it between 90kph-100kph on the twisties.
Meanwhile, the Brembo brakes were as impressive as those on the Streetfighter V4.
The brake bite on the front and rear wheels is perfect.
The front is fitted with two 320mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Brembo Monobloc four-piston callipers with Bosch Cornering ABS EVO.
Meanwhile, the rear comes with a 245mm disc and a two-piston caliper with Bosch Cornering ABS.
I did a few hard brakings and it did not nosedive at any point in time as the suspension had been tuned perfectly.
The Streetfighter V2 was launched locally in June and priced from RM101,900 before SST.