Ducati: Streetfighter or Panigale? Both!
Tester Tim takes four of Ducati’s most potent bikes to the track in Sydney.
If you can’t find the bike in your country, find the country that has it. I’ve been lusting after the Ducati Streetfighter and Panigale S versions for some time. New Zealand is a small market without press bikes for these top-spec versions, so I did the logical thing and planned a trip to Australia. Where do you evaluate four of the most powerful machines in the world? On a track, of course.
I took the short flight from Auckland to Sydney, checking into the Moxy Airport Hotel, which is within walking distance of the terminal. Sunday dawned with clear skies and cool air. I jumped into my little GAC loan car for the hour’s drive to Sydney Motorsport Park, where I found the Ducati garage and met the team looking after the press bikes.
MEGA runs RideDays at Sydney Motorsport Park, a treat for anyone who wants to experience the extraordinary limits of two wheels. It also runs sessions at Phillip Island, possibly the best motorcycle track in the world. I was there two years ago and watched Ducati sweep the top six places in MotoGP.
RideDays offer open-track access from 9am to 5pm, along with bike and gear hire, marshals and photographers. It’s a chance for anyone to sharpen their skills. Sharing the garage were company owners and executives needing time out, alongside riders looking to evaluate the top-line motorcycles. The premium offering is the full Ducati experience: a dedicated bike and “factory team” support throughout the day. You too can be Marc Márquez for a day, or Casey Stoner if he’s more your generation! I was there to test the bikes, but for prospective buyers, the circuit is the ultimate place to experience the hardware.
I rode sessions on the V2 S and V4 S Streetfighters, then the V2 S and V4 S Panigales. I repeated the routine until the sun was low in the sky. OK, so I was the slowest rider on the fastest bikes on track, but I wasn’t about to put myself or the gorgeous Italian machinery at risk. To make sure I felt fast, I rode without earplugs to get a good sense of the Desmodromic music.
We all know the Panigale is the ultimate track bike. For the Streetfighter, Ducati took the Panigale, removed its fairing and gave it a more upright stance. Naked bikes are epic on the street, though at track speed there’s no escaping the buffeting wind. While the 88kW (120hp) V2 S twins are forgiving and have a fabulous exhaust note, the V4 S models step into another league.
The pinnacle is the Panigale V4 S, packing 159kW (216hp) at 13,500rpm and 121Nm of torque into a 187kg frame. Wow doesn’t do it justice. It was immense. I could reach for a dozen adjectives, but I don’t want to sound silly. Let’s just say it challenged me because it is so good. Throttle response is extreme yet progressive, and it requires just a gentle touch of the throttle out of corners. Pirelli tyres and Brembo brakes stop you on a dime with no fuss. I kept it to about 240km/h down the straight, though a more seasoned (or braver) rider would find plenty more in reserve.
I came in with high expectations, and each bike exceeded them. The Panigale V4 S is the precision track weapon, while the Streetfighter V4 S is the street king, combining looks and capability in a potent package. The V2 S versions of each bike suited me best, but it’s still a maddening choice. A friend has an elegant solution: he owns two Ducatis. I understand why. I walk to my garage. I have space.