Ducati is known for its hard-edged sports bikes with race-tuned stiff suspension, but the 2020 Pangale V4 comes with softer springs to make it more user-friendly and less fatiguing.
The updated V4 is now lighter and has upgraded aerodynamics with a wider side fairing, wider front fairing, racing screen and winglets.
The result is 30kg of downforce at 270km/h on the front wheel to reduce wheelie tendency and improve high-speed stability.
Ducati Australia should have the bikes early next year with pricing announced closer to the date. Current Panigale V4 prices are:
- Panigale V4 $ 31,390
- Panigale V4 S $ 39,990
- Panigale V4 Speciale ALU $ 63,190
- Panigale V4 Speciale MAG $ 68,190
- Panigale V4 S GP $ 42,790
- Panigale V4 R $ 63,190
Softer springs
Ducati Panigale V4 SThe Panigale V4 is equipped with a fully adjustable 43mm Showa Big Piston Fork (BPF) and a fully adjustable Sachs shock absorber, one side of which is attached to the Desmosedici Stradale engine via a forged aluminium bracket.
The Panigale V4 S, instead, mounts an Öhlins NIX-30 fork, an Öhlins TTX36 rear shock absorber and an Öhlins event-based steering damper. On this version suspension and steering damper are controlled by the second-generation Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 system which, among other things, features the new OBTi (Objective Based Tuning Interface).
On both versions, fork rear shock has softer and more pre-loaded springs, resulting in more efficient use of suspension travel to even out pits and ripples on the asphalt. The combination of reduced spring rate and higher pre-loading gives better dive control during braking, resulting in easier, more intuitive turn-ins, especially for the less expert rider.
The softer changes were apparently made in response to “feedback/data numbers from customers all over the world”.
The Panigale V4 now has more components from the V4 R such as the aero pack (aerofoils, Plexiglas screen, nose fairing and larger lateral fairings, more efficient side vents for radiator through-air).
“This provides better airflow protection and improves overall vehicle stability, enhancing confidence,” Ducati says.
The front frame has modified stiffness to :give better front-end ‘feel’ at extreme lean angles”.
Thanks to a new ‘predictive’ control strategy, Ducati Traction Control (DTC) EVO 2 significantly improves out-of-the-corner power control; Ducati Quick Shift up/down (DQS) EVO 2, instead, shortens up-shift times, allowing sportier high-rev gear shifts (over 10,000 rpm) and boosting shift stability during aggressive acceleration and cornering.
The bike also features specially-developed Ride by Wire system mappings with several different torque delivery control logics.
Powering the Panigale V4 is the 1103cc Desmosedici Stradale: a MotoGP-derived 90° V4 with Desmodromic timing, with a counter-rotating crankshaft and Twin Pulse firing order.
The engine can deliver 21hp at 13,000rpm and 12.6Kgm of torque at 10,000rpm.
Ducati Panigale V4 tech specs
| ENGINE | |
| Engine | Desmosedici Stradale 90° V4, counter-rotatingcrankshaft, 4 Desmodromic timing, 4 valves percylinder, liquid-cooled |
| Displacement | 1,103 cc |
| Bore X stroke | 81 x 53.5 mm |
| Compression ratio | 14.0:1 |
| Power (EU homologation) | 157.5 kW (214 hp) @ 13,000 rpm |
| Torque (EU homologation) | 124.0 Nm (91.5 lb-ft) @ 10,000 rpm |
| Fuel injection | Electronic fuel injection system. Twin injectors per cylinder. Full ride-by-wire elliptical throttle bodies. Variable length intake system |
| Exhaust | 4-2-1-2 system, with 2 catalytic converters and 2 lambda probes |
| TRANSMISSION | |
| Gearbox | 6 speed with Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) up/down EVO 2 |
| Primary drive | Straight cut gears; Ratio 1.80:1 |
| Ratio | 1=38/14 2=36/17 3=33/19 4=32/21 5=30/22 6=30/24 |
| Final drive | Chain; Front sprocket 16; Rear sprocket 41 |
| Clutch | Hydraulically controlled slipper and self-servo wet multiplate clutch |
| CHASSIS | |
| Frame | Aluminum alloy “Front Frame” with optimized stiffnesses |
| Front suspension | Fully adjustable Showa BPF fork. 43 mm chromed inner tubes |
| Front wheel | 5-spokes light alloy 3.50″ x 17″ |
| Front tyre | Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP 120/70 ZR17 |
| Rear Suspension | Fully adjustable Sachs unit. Aluminum single-sided swingarm |
| Rear Wheel | 5-spokes light alloy 6.00” x 17” |
| Rear tyre | Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP 200/60 ZR17 |
| Wheel travel (front/rear) | 120 mm (4.7 in) – 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Front brake | 2 x 330 mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Brembo Monobloc Stylema® (M4.30) 4-piston callipers with Bosch Cornering ABS EVO |
| Rear brake | 245 mm disc, 2-piston calliper with Cornering ABS EVO |
| Instrumentation | Last generation digital unit with 5″ TFT colour display |
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS | |
| Dry weight | 175 kg (386 lb) |
| Kerb weight* | 198 kg (436 lb) |
| Seat height | 835 mm (32.9 in) |
| Wheelbase | 1.469 mm (57,8 in) |
| Rake | 24,5° |
| Front wheel trail | 100 mm (3,94 in) |
| Fuel tank capacity | 16 l – 4.23 gallon (US) |
| Number of seats | Dual seats |
| EQUIPMENT | |
| Safety equipment | Riding Modes, Power Modes, Cornering ABS EVO, Ducati Traction Control (DTC) EVO 2, Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) EVO, Ducati Slide Control (DSC), Engine Brake Control (EBC) EVO, Auto tyre calibration |
| Standard equipment | Ducati Power Launch (DPL), Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) up/down EVO 2, Full LED lighting with Daytime Running Light (DRL), Sachs steering damper, Quick adjustment buttons, Auto-off indicators |
| Additional equipment | Passenger seat and footpegs kit |
| Ready for | Ducati Data Analyser+ (DDA+) with GPS module, Ducati Multimedia System (DMS) and anti-theft, Ducati Lap Timer GPS (DLT GPS) |
| WARRANTY | |
| Warranty (months) | 24 months unlimited mileage |
| Maintenance (km/months) | 12,000 km (7,500 mi) / 12 months |
| Valve clearance adjustment (km) | 24,000 km (15,000 mi) |
| CONSUMPTION AND EMISSIONS (only for countries where Euro 4 standard applies) | |
| STANDARD | Euro 4 |
| CONSUMPTION/EMISSIONS | 6,9 l/100km – CO2 165 g/km |
| *Kerb weights indicate total bike weight with all operating consumable liquids and a fuel tank filled to 90% of capacity (as per EU Regulation 44/2014 Annex XI). |