Ducati released its “new” Panigale V2 as a major upgrade for the 2020 model year. The list of improvements to the exotic Italian sport bike is extensive, starting with a new overall design to visually set it apart from its forebears.
The electronics suite was already impressive but is even more so now with the addition of a corner-sensitive component to the existing battery of ride-control fandanglery with the new instrument display that controls them. Plus, the engine is now Euro 5 compliant, so it's compatible with any market worldwide.
New wheels and Pirelli tires with a new tread pattern complete the bulk of the upgrades, but there's more under the hood that we'll get to shortly. Performance and safety are both front-burner topics, so this bike brings a true racebike experience to the table whether you ever hit a track or not. That said, this thing will be a blast down at the quarter-mile strip.
2023 Ducati Panigale V2
- 955 cc Superquadro Engine
- Full LED Lighting w/ DRL
- Riding Modes & Power Modes
- Cornering Technology
- Wheelie Control and Engine Brake Control
- Model: Panigale V2
- Engine:: 955 cc Superquadro L-Twin
- Power Output: 155 HP @ 10,750 RPM
- Torque: 76.7 LB-FT @ 9,000 RPM
- Transmission: 6-Speed Manual
- MSRP: $18,295
- Amazing Electronics Suite
- Ample Power, But Not Overpowered
- Can Be Quickly Made Race Ready
- Limited Colorways
- Sticker Is On The High Side
- Forced Into The Race-Style Rider's Triangle
2023 Ducati Panigale V2 Performance And Capability
Power for the Panigale V2 comes from a Superquadro V-twin engine, so named for its quartet of poppets per cylinder with large, 41.8 mm intake valves and 34 mm exhaust valves for efficient aspiration. It's a Desmodromic engine, so it trades in the valve springs for a pull-closed cam. This eliminates harmonic valve float for safe operation up to above the 10k rpm range.
Oval throttle bodies have an equivalent diameter of 62 mm with dual fuel injectors, one before and one after the butterfly valves, for fine control over the air-fuel mix and smooth transitions throughout the range. A reworked exhaust has larger catalytic converters to help make the engine reach its Euro 5 obligations.
Bore and stroke measure at 100 mm and 60.8 mm respectively for a 955 cc displacement and seriously hot, 12.5-to-1 compression ratio that will definitely favor higher octane fuels. The Ducati Panigale V2 produces 155 horsepower and 76.7 pound-feet of torque. These figures come on at 10,750 RPM and 9,000 RPM respectively, so this engine likes to run near the top of the range to get the best the mill has to offer. Not surprisingly, you can expect a Panigale V2 top speed of around 167.7 mph (270 km/h).
Power flows through a six-speed transmission with Ducati's own Quick Shift feature that lets you bang your way both up and down range without having to use the clutch at all. As for the electronics, they are extensive with a Wheelie Control that keeps the front wheel down and Engine Brake Control that mitigates the effects of backtorque on hard downshifts and compression-braking actions.
The Riding Modes feature comes with a trio of preset profiles – Sport, Street, and Race – so you can dial in the power delivery to suit the conditions. Ducati Traction Control wraps up the engine electronics with a lean-sensitive component that delivers dynamic traction protection.
Design
The factory set about making the Panigale V2 compact but with beefy proportions and that unmistakable race-tastic Ducati finish. The body panels come layered. An inner wall contains the drivetrain and underpinnings while the outer layer serves to channel air to ventilate the waste heat to the atmosphere with no chance for it to build up.
Dual, LED headlights split the night with brow-like DRL bars They share their recess with dual intake ports that use the ram-air effect to deliver pressurized air from the leading edge to the airbox. This is a cool feature and all, but honestly, you won't get much benefit at speeds below the 100 mph mark, so it's pretty much a track-only item.
A small bubble screen plows the smallest of grooves in the wind, so you'll just about have to put your chin on the tank to find it. That's fine on the track but will be wearisome over distance at interstate speeds.
The new seat leaves the pilot with more room for fore-and-aft weight shifts in addition to lateral body English moves. Combination mirror/turn-signal units make it quick and easy to remove and have their holes plugged for track days. Out back, the mudguard carries the rest of the gear in the rear for quick removal. A pillion pad and fold-up footpegs accommodate a passenger as it sits on the showroom floor.
Ducati Panigale V2 Specs | |
|---|---|
Seat Height | 33.1 in |
Wheelbase | 56.5 in |
Fuel Capacity | 4.5 gals |
Curb Weight | 441 lbs |
Dry Weight | 388 lbs |
Chassis
The Panigale V2 relies on a monocoque structure that has a stressed-skin component to go with the stressed-engine system. A steering-head structure bolts directly to the engine head with a 24-degree rake and dead-short, 3.74-inch trail figure that combine to make the Panigale V2 quite nimble indeed. A Sachs steering damper takes the edge off the kickback. The subframe is a Trellis-type structure and a die-cast, single-side aluminum swingarm completes the bones.
Upside-down Showa Big Piston Forks float the front end on 43 mm tubes with full adjustments and 4.72 inches (120 mm) of travel. Out back, a Sachs mono-shock supports the rear, also with the full trinity of tweaks, on 5.12 inches (130 mm) travel. Cast wheels mount Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa II hoops in a 120/70-17 ahead of a 180/60-17, both with top speed ratings that can take whatever you can dish out.
Serious go needs serious stop, so toward that end the factory mounted dual, 320 mm discs with four-bore Brembo Monobloc calipers to handle the bulk of the work up front, with a 245 mm disc and twin-piston anchor out back. Cornering ABS comes stock to help you safely get the most out of the anchors.
Chassis & Suspension | |
|---|---|
Frame | Monocoque Aluminum |
Swingarm | Aluminum single-sided |
Front Suspension/ Travel | Showa BPF, fully adjustable, 43 mm chromed inner tubes/ 4.72 in |
Rear Suspension/ Travel | Fully Adjustable Sachs unit/ 5.12 in |
Rake | 24° |
Trail | 3.7 in |
Front Wheel | 5-spokes light alloy 3.5” x 17” |
Rear Wheel | 5-spokes light alloy 5.5” x 17” |
Front Tire | Pirelli Diablo Corsa II 120/70 ZR17 |
Rear Tire | Pirelli Diablo Corsa II 180/60 ZR17 |
Front Brake | Dual 320 mm semi-floating disc, radially mounted Brembo Monobloc M4.32 4-piston calipers; Cornering ABS EVO |
Rear Brake | 245 mm disc, 2-piston caliper; Cornering ABS EVO |
2023 Ducati Panigale V2 Price And Availability
The Ducati Panigale V2 costs $18,295. That's the price for that fabulous Ducati Red colorway. If you prefer the Star White Silk livery, you'll have to cough up another $300.
Pricing & Features | |
|---|---|
Features | 4.3-in color TFT display, Full LED w/ DRL |
Safety Equipment | Riding Modes, Power Modes, Cornering ABS EVO, Traction Control, Wheelie Control, Engine Brake Control |
Warranty | 24-month unlimited mileage |
Colors | Ducati Red, Star White Silk |
Price | $18,295 |
Competitors
Bikes like this deserve another apex predator, so I went straight for the jugular with the S 1000RR from BMW. Gotta' love those Bavarians, they're so meticulous.
BMW S 1000RR
Like the Duc, Beemer wastes not an ounce on unnecessary fluff to leave its entry looking lean and mean. The bodywork isn't quite as extensive as with the Eye-Tie but designed with speed in mind as this is another street-legal racebike meant to be ready right off the showroom floor.
The BMW S 1000RR mill displaces a skosh more at 999 cc, but punches above its weight with a 205-horsepower and 83-pound-feet output that leaves the Duc looking a tad weak by comparison. The electronics are almost a wash, but the Duc ekes out a minor win with its robust electronics suite. Beemer's own Motorrad Race ABS feature comes with selectable modes, and you can turn it off for a nice bit of fandanglery. Suspension and brakes are a wash, but BMW ramps up the pain for Ducati with its $16,995 sticker which is mighty attractive, especially given the power differential between our two machines.
He Said
“An impressive machine; too bad you'll never do it justice on public roads. Is it enough to know that you {could} blow the doors off anything you are liable to encounter in regular traffic. Plus, it's difficult to beat the Italians for elegant and efficient body designs; a legacy that the Panigale V2 easily upholds with its curves and lines.”
She Said
My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says,
“When comparing the Panigale V2 versus the V4, don't think of the V2 as half the engine of the V4. It's two cylinders, but they're big cylinders compared to the V4. The V2 is almost a liter whereas the V4 is a little over a liter.”
“Power is manageable in the Panigale V2, and while it isn't as fast as the V4, if fast track capability is what you're interested in, then you aren't looking at the V2. If running on the track isn't your bag, the V2 is worth a look. It's solid, and it'll take care of you. You almost have to purposely mishandle a corner to try to get it to bobble.”
FAQ
Q: How much is the Panigale V2?
MSRP on the 2023 Ducati Panigale V2 in the classic Ducati Red colorway is $18,295. The Star White Silk model starts at $18,595.
Q: Is the Panigale V2 fast?
Top speed of the Ducati Panigale V2 is a claimed 167.7 MPH.
Q: What is the difference between Ducati Panigale V2 and V4?
While there are a few differences in the chassis and suspension, the main difference between the Panigale V2 and V4 is in the engine. The V2 carries a two-cylinder 955 cc Superquadro engine that produces 155 horsepower at 10,750 RPM and 76.7 pound-feet at 9,000 RPM. The V4 has a four-cylinder 1,103 cc Desmosedici Stradale engine that produces 215.5 horsepower at 13,000 RPM and 91.2 pound-feet @ 9,500 RPM.
Q: How much HP does a Ducati Panigale V2 have?
The Ducati Panigale V2 with its 955 cc Superquadro engine produces 155 horsepower at 10,750 RPM and 76.7 pound-feet of torque at 9,000 RPM.