Think the Panigale V4 and V4 S are special? The V4 R has so much more
Öhlins makes way for mechanically adjustable units. Front forks are pressurised and 600 grams lighter.
MORE POWER Ducati have taken its new 1100cc V4 Stradale motor and shrunk it to fit superbike racing rules. Running the same 81mm bore the stroke is shortened by 5.1mm to 48.4mm bringing capacity down to 998cc. The redline is set to 16,000rpm and 16,500rpm in top. It has higher lift cams, titanium instead of steel conrods, a lighter crank, variable intake trumpets and bigger elliptical throttle bodies (up from 52mm to 56mm) and a dry clutch. Despite its raciness, the valve clearance service is still every 15,000-miles. It’s Ducati’s most powerful road bike engine making 218bhp, or 231bhp with the race kit exhaust.
MORE FEEL In a sea of high technology Ducati have used a very basic solution to give the ultra stiff V4 frame more flex and feel in the corners; they’ve cut dirty great holes in it. There’s also a four-way adjustable swingarm pivot and the electronic semi-active suspension MORE STABILITY For the first time the Ducati Corse racing department have had a hand in designing a road bike’s bodywork and aerodynamics. The V4 R’s nose is 15mm wider each side, the screen 34mm taller and each side panel is chunkier by 38mm. Single blade wings come from the 2016 MotoGP Desmosedici, which Ducati says is more effective at controlling high-speed wheelies and helping braking/turn-in stability than the faired-in, regulation-friendly versions MotoGP now use. New fairing louvres help suck out hot air from the radiator and oil cooler.
MORE SAFETY Electronics are taken from the V4, but new ‘predictive’ traction and slide control systems are smoother for the track. Dash features a new lap timer showing two splits.