Ducati Panigale V4

[robinh73]

Evening all. I am considering a Panigale V4 or maybe a 1299. It would be used primarily as a road bike but with the odd track day thrown in maybe. How are they as a road bike? I know I really need to test one before buying however my local dealership was one owned by Completely Motorbikes and we all know what happened there. I would have to head to Manchester but was wondering what ownership experiences people had had. Cheers

[Kawasicki]

I rode a new 2022 (I think) V4S for a week… it was amazing. It is (obviously) a sports bike, but the riding position wasn’t too extreme for me. I loved the precision through corners, and the “hewn from solid” ride feel.

Fast bike, fun & characterful, fast bike.

[Steve Bass]

Big difference between a 1299 and the V4.
The V4 fires like two V2's in lock step but has a higher rev ceiling and very different power characteristic.
The V2 can be a real handful with big torque whereas the V4 is still epically fast but a little more revvy.
You really need to try them and decide which flavour you prefer.
The V4, especially a newer model will also be significantly better equipped than the V2 with better resolved electronics.
Enjoy

Edited by Steve Bass on Friday 20th December 05:17

[robinh73]

Cheers for the replies. I have read so much which echoes what you all have said. I do need to try both, just need to find a dealer who can oblige. I do have a soft spot for a big old V2 but quite like the idea of the V4 and the different engine characteristic.

[Steve Bass]

robinh73 said:

Cheers for the replies. I have read so much which echoes what you all have said. I do need to try both, just need to find a dealer who can oblige. I do have a soft spot for a big old V2 but quite like the idea of the V4 and the different engine characteristic.

The V4 will arguably be the better bike but I do love the brutal shove of the twins. Personal preference is the 1098, it has just the right amount of grunt to be fast but not overwhelming. The 1198 by comparison is just a bit too much on road with huge dollops of torque in the 5k region just wanting to lift the front wheel all the time.
The Panigale motor is a bit more revvy than the Testastretta with less of a pronounced "hit".
The disappointment (for me) is the V4 firing order which basically makes it like a pair of V2's rather than a screamer configuration but it's still a stupendous engine, even more so with a saucy pipe attached.
But on the road it's really just what flavour you prefer, they're all nice and stupidity fast....

Edited by Steve Bass on Friday 20th December 15:58

[Kawasicki]

I rode the V4S for a week, then jumped back on my old 999.

It was an interesting experience… I pinned the throttle in 2nd on the 999… and was pleasantly surprised at how the power was starting to build, only to be genuinely (and physically) surprised when it slammed into the rev limiter. The big power impression in the V4 is at high revs and the engine feels so comfortable (and sounds so glorious) at those revs that I ended up actually riding it those revs.

[robinh73]

Steve Bass said:

robinh73 said:

Cheers for the replies. I have read so much which echoes what you all have said. I do need to try both, just need to find a dealer who can oblige. I do have a soft spot for a big old V2 but quite like the idea of the V4 and the different engine characteristic.

The V4 will arguably be the better bike but I do love the brutal shove of the twins. Personal preference is the 1098, it has just the right amount of grunt to be fast but not overwhelming. The 1198 by comparison is just a bit too much on road with huge dollops of torque in the 5k region just wanting to lift the front wheel all the time.
The Panigale motor is a bit more revvy than the Testastretta with less of a pronounced "hit".
The disappointment (for me) is the V4 firing order which basically makes it like a pair of V2's rather than a screamer configuration but it's still a stupendous engine, even more so with a saucy pipe attached.
But on the road it's really just what flavour you prefer, they're all nice and stupidity fast....

Edited by Steve Bass on Friday 20th December 15:58

I think the 1098/1198 is just stunning looking, one of the most desirable motorcycles ever. I had the chance of buying a friend's 1098R but was still racing at the time and needed to keep cash in the race fund. Is the riding position much different on the 1*98 to say the Panigales? I know I need to try and see if I fit them, but that isn't the easiest of things at the moment. I know none will be huge mile munchers but some comfort would be good.

[Bob_Defly]

Kawasicki said:

The big power impression in the V4 is at high revs and the engine feels so comfortable (and sounds so glorious) at those revs that I ended up actually riding it those revs.

But what do you do with the other four gears?

[Kawasicki]

Bob_Defly said:

Kawasicki said:

The big power impression in the V4 is at high revs and the engine feels so comfortable (and sounds so glorious) at those revs that I ended up actually riding it those revs.

But what do you do with the other four gears?

Yes, indeed. On one occasion, and one only, I pinned it and quickshifted through every gear at the redline… I was impressed by the rate at which it still accelerated at high speeds… I understand that it is just physics… I also now understand that maybe I’m getting too old for such sh!t.

[Skeptisk]

Kawasicki said:

Bob_Defly said:

Kawasicki said:

The big power impression in the V4 is at high revs and the engine feels so comfortable (and sounds so glorious) at those revs that I ended up actually riding it those revs.

But what do you do with the other four gears?

Yes, indeed. On one occasion, and one only, I pinned it and quickshifted through every gear at the redline… I was impressed by the rate at which it still accelerated at high speeds… I understand that it is just physics… I also now understand that maybe I’m getting too old for such sh!t.

I took one for a test ride. Straight b road. A couple of cars in front so pulled out and thought I would test the acceleration. I didn’t feel like I had the throttle pinned for that long but when I checked my speed…oops.

[Kawasicki]

Skeptisk said:

Kawasicki said:

Bob_Defly said:

Kawasicki said:

The big power impression in the V4 is at high revs and the engine feels so comfortable (and sounds so glorious) at those revs that I ended up actually riding it those revs.

But what do you do with the other four gears?

Yes, indeed. On one occasion, and one only, I pinned it and quickshifted through every gear at the redline… I was impressed by the rate at which it still accelerated at high speeds… I understand that it is just physics… I also now understand that maybe I’m getting too old for such sh!t.

I took one for a test ride. Straight b road. A couple of cars in front so pulled out and thought I would test the acceleration. I didn’t feel like I had the throttle pinned for that long but when I checked my speed…oops.

I was on the autobahn in Germany around midnight, I remember seeing 290 kph in 5th before I shifted into 6th. There was a few gentle curves and the front end felt proper light as it accelerated through 6th.

[Bob_Defly]

Kawasicki said:

Skeptisk said:

Kawasicki said:

Bob_Defly said:

Kawasicki said:

The big power impression in the V4 is at high revs and the engine feels so comfortable (and sounds so glorious) at those revs that I ended up actually riding it those revs.

But what do you do with the other four gears?

Yes, indeed. On one occasion, and one only, I pinned it and quickshifted through every gear at the redline… I was impressed by the rate at which it still accelerated at high speeds… I understand that it is just physics… I also now understand that maybe I’m getting too old for such sh!t.

I took one for a test ride. Straight b road. A couple of cars in front so pulled out and thought I would test the acceleration. I didn’t feel like I had the throttle pinned for that long but when I checked my speed…oops.

I was on the autobahn in Germany around midnight, I remember seeing 290 kph in 5th before I shifted into 6th. There was a few gentle curves and the front end felt proper light as it accelerated through 6th.

Holy!