DESMOSEDICI RR VS PANIGALE V4 – UNDER THE SKIN
The MotoGP bike's chassis has long been a source of frustration for Ducati and the race team has experimented with a carbon monocoque, steel trellis and aluminium beam, which it now runs. In the early days it used Ducati's traditional steel trellis, which is what the RR runs where the Panigale has the firm's new aluminium alloy ‘Front Frame,' which is an evolution of the monocoque design debuted on the 1199 Panigale.
With an adjustable rake of 23.5º-24.5º (claimed by Ducati to be the same geometry as the GP6) and 1430mm wheelbase, the RR is shorter than the 1469mm Panigale, which has a fixed 24.5º rake. Uniquely, the RR also runs a 16in rear wheel (which was the size used in MotoGP at the time) where the Panigale has the now industry standard 17in items. The RR also manages to usurp the Panigale by having its Marchesini wheels made from magnesium
alloy where the V4 has forged aluminium wheels. Impressively, the RR's rear is a 200-section, like the Panigale's, but the modern bike's tyre has a taller 60 profile where the RR is a 55.
Suspension-wise, the RR was the first, and only, road bike to run Öhlins FG353 gas-pressurised forks, while the Panigale gets event-based Öhlins Smart E 2.0 semi-active suspension. Both use 43mm diameter forks and both run Öhlins shocks, but again the Panigale's shock is semi-active.
Due to its GP heritage, the RR gained a doublesided swingarm where the Panigale gets a singlesided unit. This is very much a race track vs fashion and style decision and it is believed the WSBhomologation Panigale will have a double-sided swingarm as it is both stiffer and lighter, which matters on a track. When it comes to stoppers, it's radial four-piston monoblock Brembos all the way, however the Panigale benefits from the latest design and construction, not to mention electronics…
Finally, the RR has a carbon fairing and selfsupporting carbon seat unit where the Panigale has a plastic fairing with a shell-cast aluminium subframe that mounts to the rear cylinders and the frame.