Ducati has unveiled the world’s most powerful street bike, the Panigale V4 1409, powered by the MotoGP-derived V4 Desmosedici Stradale engine with 157.5kW (214hp) of power.
That is less than the Kawasaki H2R at 240kW and Honda RC213V-2, but they are track-only bikes.
However, it the most powerful street-legal sports bike beating the MV Agusta F4 RC with 151kW (205hp). It also has a track kit that brings output up to 158kW (212hp).
The Panigale 1409 and 1409S have 17hp more than the Panigale 1299.
But wait, there’s more. They also unveiled the Panigale 1409 V4 Speciale with 168kW (226hp) thanks mainly to the titanium Akrapovic exhaust system!
Casey Stoner rides the Speciale on stageThe Speciale was ridden on stage by Aussie MotoGP champion Casey Stoner who told ZDucati boss Claudio Domenicali that his job as a tester for the MotoGP team was “something special”.
Casey and ClaudioThe unveiling today precedes the EICMA motorccycle show in Milan this week.
Ducati also unveiled the Scrambler 1100, Multistrada Enduro Pro, Multistrada 1260, 1260S and Pikes Peak, Monster 821, white XDiavel S and 959 Panigale Corse with titanium Akropovic exhaust and Ohlins suspension.
2018 Ducati Scrambler 1100Claudio says the new Panigale V4 will be affordable and the price “aligned with other sports bikes”.
“We had a V4 which was very exotic, but this will be the average price of mass production bikes,” he says.
Ducati Australia says the bike will arrive in March with the Speciale in April/May with pricing announced closer to the date.
The Desmosedici 90-degree V4 engine features much of the MotoGP engine architecture including layout, bore, twin pulse firing order, demo valves and rearward rotating camshaft.
However, valve maintenance is 24,000km.
The chassis is based on the former L-twin Panigale, but stiffer, a little longer, but still compact.
It is fitted with specially developed Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP tyres and Brembo Stylema brake callipers and a Bosch cornering ABS that works only on the front wheel.
Brembo Stylema brake callipersClaudio says riders will be able to power-slide the rear wheel with the safety net of Bosch a traction control on the rear wheel.
The bike will also come with an updated up/down quick shifter that uses lean angle information to maximise stability during shift changes in corners.
The fairing looks a little on the plump side, but Ducati says it has been developed in a wind tunnel to improve aerodynamics.
It features a lightweight 16 litre aluminium race tank with a portion of the capacity under the rider’s seat for better weight distribution.
The new Panigale V4 has 43mm diameter Showa Big Piston Forks (BPF). They are fully adjustable for compression and extension of the hydraulic brake and in the spring preload.
This is not the first V4 from Ducati, but the first full-production V4.
Ducati recently produced a small number of gear-actuated, desmo-valved V4 prototype Desmosedici RR models while only two pushrod-actuated, spring-valved V4 Apollo prototypes were made in 1964.
Panigale V4 1409, 1409 S
DISPLACEMENT: 1103cc
POWER: 157.5kW (214hp) @ 13,000rpm
TORQUE: 124Nm (91.5lb-ft) @ 10,000rpm
DRY WEIGHT: 175kg (386lb), S model 174kg
SEAT: 830mm (32.48in)
SAFETY EQUIPMENT: Riding Modes, Power Modes, Bosch Cornering ABS EVO, Ducati Traction Control (DTC) EVO, Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) EVO, Ducati Slide Control (DSC), Engine Brake Control (EBC) EVO, Auto tyre calibration
MAINTENANCE (KM/MONTHS): 12,000km (7,500m) / 12 months