Ducati Panigale V4 S
The V4 S is such an over-the-top triumph all of motorcycling-dom is talking about it. The thing is, do you have to be Dovi to ride it?
‘You’ll never do it justice, but you can’t help wanting a Panigale V4 S’
Ducati’s Panigale V4 S is an unashamed race bike with lights and slightly dodgy mirrors. Its backwardsspinning V4 engine started life in Dovi’s Desmosedici GP14 and its frame is so stiff it only really makes sense at Mugello. But it has allowed the Bologna factory to pull off a PR masterstroke…
In these days of racers using road bikes to keep their eye-in during the off-season, the Panigale V4 S is closer to the real thing than the rest, with the possible exception of Marquez’s RC213V-S. Which means at smaller tracks such as Jerez it can lap within a few seconds of a Motogp or WSB missile. Who doesn’t want to own a superbike with that kind of pub-bragging kudos?
But on the road the Ducati is a big red bag of contradictions. Despite its ability to turn in searing lap times there’s a surprising amount of legroom and the clip-ons are nicely splayed, so even taller riders will feel comfortable. Unlike the Aprilia. But it’s still no Multistrada and you’d a brave soul indeed to set off for pastures far on this device.
In the flesh the Panigale V4 S is all aggression drenched in shiny paint, designer labels and Bimota-esque billet ali parts. It’s hard not to be completely captivated just by looking at it and although it’s even more expensive than the Aprilia, you’d never feel short changed if you took the pricey plunge.
On the move the Ducati’s V4 isn’t as smooth as the Aprilia and lacks its traditional yowl. Instead, it acts more like an angry, heavy breathing V-twin thanks to its twin-pulse firing order and it clatters, rattles, shakes and booms. Unlike the RSV4 that’s so refined and flowing it disguises its speed, the Panigale V4 S feels like it’s doing a thousand miles per hour, even at 30mph, which is exactly what you want from a road bike.
You have to work the Ducati’s revvy engine to squeeze its speed pips and the chassis feels like a block of wood unless you can brake and accelerate hard enough to get it to talk to you. As a result, even on track, unless your name is Jack Redding, you’ll be faster on the Aprilia. Last year Ducati took steps to make the Panigale V4 S friendlier for mortals like us, which made a big difference. They softened the power delivery and pinched the frame from the V4 R, with its cut-outs around the headstock for more flex and feel in the corners. It also got the R’s more angular fairing and wings to stop it flying away down the straights. Suspension was jacked up to improve agility and the rider aids smoothed-off. For 2021 it gets another tickle, mainly to get its Euro5 wings. Now the exhaust is cleaner, the mapping new and the rear manifold pipes are 100mm shorter and smaller in diameter (down from 42mm to 38mm). Peak power remains at a claimed 211bhp@13,000rpm and torque stays at 91.5 lb.ft, but delivered 500rpm further down the revs at 9500rpm. Any theoretical gain in grunt is hard to detect on a Ducati that’s already quick beyond comprehension.
On the road the only electronics you’ll ever really come into contact with are the riding modes. Sport and Street are the go-to settings, giving the smoothest throttle response and supplest suspension settings. The up/down shifter works beautifully at any speed, too and Ducati have refined the traction, wheelie and engine braking control, too, but like the RSV4 it’s aimed purely for trimming lap times. You’ll only ever use Race mode on track, but now it’s been split in two: Race A is the disco setting for smooth tracks, fresh rubber and a rider who’s eaten three Shredded Wheat. It gives you direct power, minimum traction and wheelie control, less ABS intrusion and tighter suspension damping. Race B has a subtler power delivery and more electronic assistance for more normal humans.
This is the friendliest Panigale V4 S to date on the road and has more track potential, too, but it’s still hard, fidgety and single-minded. But what makes the Ducati so special is it’s a pleasure to ride slowly, albeit a complete waste of its talents. It’s only when you’re taking it easy that you appreciate the supersonic whirr of a thousand tiny parts, pushing, pulling and spinning beneath you, its Öhlins constantly adjusting to the conditions and electronics ready to throw out the safety blanket. In short: you’ll never be able do it justice, but you just can’t help wanting a Panigale V4 s. Really badly.