‘Red-hot V4 rules the road’

Paniagle V4 S is far more friendly than you might think

‘I know how Guy Fawkes effigies feel’

Q It’s a road-legal racer. Is it useless at normal speeds? Nigel Short

A It’s ballistic on track, but the V4 S is no more compromised on the road than any other superbike. The extra 100cc the Ducati has over its rivals gives you instant thrust, the throttle response is perfect, wind protection is decent and there’s a selection of electronic safety nets making it one of the most controlled and controllable superbikes on the road.

Q Have you adjusted the suspension settings? Lucky O’Leary

A Standard semi-active damping settings suit most situations. In ‘Street’ mode the Öhlins suspension is supple for everyday riding, ‘Sport’ is that bit firmer for fast, smooth roads and ‘Race’ has lots of support for the track. I changed to ‘non-active’ settings for a Brands trackday and added more compression for stability.

Q How are your b ****** s coping with the heat? Gary Holdsworth

A Ducatis have a reputation for kicking out serious engine and exhaust heat. It’s not a problem in the UK’s normally cool climate, but it’s different when temperatures climb beyond the late 20s, especially when riding slowly. My V4 S is like sitting on a bonfire. I know how those Guy Fawkes effigies feel every November now.

Q How is the riding position after an hour? Robin Doughty

A The Ducati offers almost sports-touring levels of legroom so for a six-footer with creaky knees like me, it’s much comfier than any other superbike apart from the R1. Clip-ons aren’t too low and the seat isn’t too hard, so an hour’s ride is fine, but bum and wrist-ache sets in pretty soon after that.