Panigale V4: the production bike closest to a MotoGP

Ducati Panigale V4 – Ducati engineers have once again managed to push the boundaries of road motorcycles a little further and thanks to the Panigale V4, the first mass-produced motorcycle from the Bolognese company to be equipped with a 4-cylinder engine, strictly derived from the MotoGP Desmosedici.

We are talking about a motorcycle that is a concentration of technology, style and performance in true Ducati style, with a displacement of 1.103 cm3, 214 HP of power and a power/weight ratio of 1,1 HP/kg, destined to become the new reference in the production super sports bike segment. The Panigale V4 replaces the iconic 1299 Panigale and does so by increasing its performance and ease of riding, to offer every rider, from the less experienced to the top rider, great emotions and fun. Developed in close collaboration with Ducati Corse, it uses know-how and technology from the racing world to be the road bike closest to a MotoGP. Its performance is underlined by a design which, although in continuity with that of the super sports bikes that preceded it, transmits in an even more marked way the sense of power and essentiality typical of Ducati racing bikes. The name Panigale V4 combines the name "Panigale", and the charm it evokes among enthusiasts, with the acronym "V4", identifying the engine that opens the new era of the Italian motorcycle manufacturer.

In addition to the Panigale V4, the family is made up of the Panigale V4 S, equipped with refined Öhlins suspension with Smart EC 2.0 system and top-level components such as forged aluminum wheels and lithium ion battery. The range is completed by the exclusive Panigale V4 Speciale made in a limited, numbered series, characterized by a dedicated livery, titanium exhaust and machined from solid aluminum components.
The philosophy followed by the Panigale V4 development team is the same that guides the design of a racing motorcycle in Ducati: the search for total integration between engine, chassis and rider. To achieve this objective, use was made of technologies derived from MotoGP while the development on the track, carried out together with the technicians and riders of Ducati Corse, made it possible to create a motorcycle that is extremely effective on the track but also enjoyable on the road.

The Desmosedici Stradale engine is a 4° V90 with Desmodromic distribution like the Desmosedici GP, from which it also takes the bore value of 81 mm (the maximum allowed by the MotoGP technical regulations). This has been associated with a longer stroke (which leads to a total displacement of 1.103 cm3) to increase torque at low and medium speeds and reduce the maximum rotation speed in order to make power delivery more manageable. The new Ducati engine has a power of 214 HP, at 13.000 rpm, which makes the Panigale V4 the best performing motorcycle in the segment, but still enjoyable on the road thanks to a torque of 12,6 Kgm at 10.000 rpm. Despite this reference performance, the Desmosedici Stradale allows long maintenance intervals which include checking the valve clearance every 24.000 km. The Panigale V4 engine is the only one in the sports car segment to have a 90° V configuration and to use technologies such as the counter-rotating crankshaft and the "twin pulse" firing order. These solutions help make the bike both agile when changing direction and stable and fast when traveling, as well as ensuring easy management of torque when exiting corners. The already high power of the Desmosedici Stradale engine in standard configuration grows further, reaching 226 HP, fitting the completely titanium racing exhaust, made by Akrapovič to Ducati Corse specifications.

Ducati has also developed a new frame called "Front Frame", more compact and lighter than a perimeter frame and uses the engine as a stressed element of the chassis. This solution guarantees the right torsional rigidity when driving at the limit, always offering great feeling to the rider. By taking advantage of this chassis choice, the designers were able to create a slim motorcycle in the connection area between the tank and the saddle to guarantee great freedom of movement for the rider in sporty riding. Careful design and the use of lightweight materials have made it possible to keep the kerb weight for the “S” and Speciale versions down to 195 kg.

This weight, combined with the power of 214 HP, places the Panigale V4 S at the top of the sports bike segment with a power/weight ratio of 1,1 HP/kg. The Panigale V4 not only sets new absolute benchmarks in terms of performance but also raises the standards of active safety and vehicle dynamics control thanks to a latest generation electronic package that makes the most of the potential offered by Bosch's six-axis inertial platform . New controls have been introduced on this bike such as controlled skidding when braking, ABS Cornering which acts only on the front brake with a setup specifically designed for track riding and Quickshift Up & Down with a strategy that takes into account the steering angle. fold. All these controls, developed on the track together with official Ducati testers and riders, are integrated into the three Riding Modes (Race, Sport and Street) and can be modified via the new and innovative TFT dashboard which places the Panigale V4 as the technological leader in the category.