New Ducati Streetfighter V4 S
Latest Ducati Streetfighter V4 S gets more punch… and a moody new paintjob
Ducati wowed us last year with their Streetfighter V4 – a straight-barred 200bhpplus superbike with biplane wings. Insanely rapid, sharp handling and dripping with tech, it proved to be one of MCN’s bikes of 2020, rubbing shoulders with the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory and KTM 1290 Super Duke on the supernaked podium. But now, less than 12 months later, it gets its first update. The changes are mainly aimed at Euro5, but also add extra excitement lower in the revs and as if it didn’t look mean enough already, it’s now also available in satin black.
2 Bleeding clever
First seen on the Superleggera V4, the Streetfighter now has a selfbleeding brake (and clutch) master cylinder (although they still have bleed nipples), so there’ll be no degradation in performance over time. The rest of the hardware is unchanged, wearing the same powerful Brembo Stylema calipers, monster 330mm twin discs and braking electronics as the Panigale V4. It has cornering ABS, the ability to disable the rear ABS for the track and slide control – a system that lets you skid on the back brake, letting it off if you get too sideways with too much lean.
Cleaner new exhaust 1
The underslung exhaust can may look identical, but inside the catalysts are 10mm longer. The exhaust manifold to the rear cylinders is 100mm shorter, pipes are narrower (down from 42mm to 38mm), there are now four lambda sensors and new engine maps. The Panigale
V4 gets the same mods for 2021. It still emits a delicious, groundshaking rumble, but it’s no louder than before, so all but the quietest trackdays shouldn’t be a problem. Fuel economy is still poor. We managed 34mpg and 79 miles to the reserve light (and a theoretical 120-mile range).
3 Even more midrange muscle
Claimed peak power remains at 205bhp, but it’s produced 250rpm further up the revs at 13,000rpm. That’s something you’re not going to feel unless you’re revving the dingleberries off it on a racetrack, but the Desmosedici Stradale V4 now makes its 90lb.ft of torque (the same as before) at just 9500rpm instead of a head-banging 11,500rpm, which is a big change. So, while the meat of the immense power is still kept on the top shelf you now get to it slightly sooner. Now it feels more alive and urgent at road speeds, compared to the peakier 2020 model.
4 Beats the superbike out on the road
Nothing’s changed in the way the Streetfighter is laid out, but that’s fine by us. It’s still spacious and easy to manage and therefore a nobrainer for the road compared to a superbike. They’ll crush wrists and crick necks, but the upright Ducati operates as a normal everyday motorcycle as well as a blisteringly fast one when you just want to cruise. Motorways aren’t its forte, but it’s comfier than the Panigale thanks to its extra legroom, seat padding and natural bar position. Like last year’s model, rear cylinders cut at a standstill to keep exhaust heat down beneath you.
Still bonkers 5
That fatter midrange makes the Streetfighter more playful than before, but like the Panigale V4 S its potential is way beyond what mere mortals can tap into on the road or track. Its stiff ali monocoque chassis, semi-active Öhlins and Pirelli Diablo Rossi
II tyres work better the harder you push and the V4 thrives on punishment and screaming revs. The irony, of course, is despite all that performance you’ll rarely use it, being so exposed to the wind. But it’s nice knowing it’s there and impressive how Ducati have made such a speed demon so refined.