2021 V4S vs 2022 V4

Good evening everyone. I apologize for my English, it's not my native language.

I have been wanting to buy a Panigale v4 motorcycle for a year now. I am in Europe and there is an opportunity to finally make my choice. The forum has repeatedly discussed the choice between V4 and V4S of the same years and for myself I already realized that if track days are a priority, then it is better to take the base v4 and improve it to fit your needs. I'm looking for a motorcycle for the city 80% / track 20%. My budget will allow me to buy either a low mileage 2020-2021 V4S or a brand new 2022 v4.

Have there been so many significant changes in 2022? Or is V4S 2020/2021 more interesting?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

There were small engine changes between every year from 2019 to 2022. I think there's an additional engine mode of the 21s and 22s that's suppose to make track riding even easier. I would say buy S since you're using it on street and track and you can make adjustments on the fly to the suspension with the S. Plus I think the 2020-2021 look better overall compared to 2022. For the Showa's on the base, It's annoying to have to adjust the suspension for my street riding and track riding. So you know where I am coming from, I have a 2020 base V4 and a 2014 899. I use the 899 for strictly track and the V4 for street with a few track days here and there.

There are a ton of viable arguments back and forth on this topic. It seems that those who race a lot tend to want much better suspension than is offered on either stock options, though they say the 2022 V4S have upgraded the forks over the 2021 V4S. My riding is similar to yours in that I ride a lot of street in Europe as well, and some track days, but not every weekend. I'm not racing and don't feel I'm beyond the capabilities of the Öhlins on the V4S. So there this big giant preference thing you have to understand for yourself.
I'm riding mostly in Italy where streets go from new glassy smooth asphalt to really rough and broken and back again on most rides. The electronic Öhlins on the V4S adjust in milliseconds as well as having "brake assist" which stiffens the forks if you have a softer setting and you hit the brakes hard, the nose doesn't dive. Then you can hit a button and switch to a pre-tuned track specific mode. I have a Mugello tuning for example. None of that is possible with manual suspension. Some say "the right settings" are good for everything, but personally I have a range of use that's way beyond that. I add a passenger now and then as well.
mr inkredibul was mentioning: The 2022 has an extra engine mapping in RACE mode. So there's RACE A, and RACE B, so you can A-B test you engine mapping on the fly.
Some food for thought. Preference is a big part of this.
The criticism has been that the electronic Öhlins in the V4S have components that are not as good as some of their high end work. That said, computerized, they seem to be performing at pretty high levels. There are a few video reviews of the stock V4S with slicks doing track times that were getting pretty close to WSBK times. You can also find MOTOGP riders doing crazy fast lap times on the stock S version as well. It's a lot of marketing - I'm not sure it's science as we're talking about Jack Miller testing - I'm sure he's fast on anything he sits on with wheels.

The 2021 has Race A and Race B. By default Race A has the high engine mapping and all other modes medium. The 2022 adds presets for different tracks.

Every newer model year is an incremental improvement over the previous. 2022 is a bigger jump than 2021 was to 2020.

The Ohlins is more than adequate for me, especially after changing the springs for something more suitable.

For 80% street and 20% track I'd shop for a 2021 V4S.

2022 gearbox I am told is alone worth the upgrade.

Because of gear ratio changes?

Each to their own, but the swingarm position on the 22 bikes is a bike improvement over the older bikes. And apparently, can't be retrospectively fitted, to the older bikes.
Get the base 22, and over time, as budget and interest allows, upgrade its suspension/wheels/exhaust. Everybody enjoys modding their bike!

Seat and fuel tank are better on the 22 bike too.

Still comes with a free ball cooker too.

Nothing like a brand new bike.

My vote goes to 22 base model, for the same reasons that Rick mentioned. And the new dash and refinements to the electronics are also nice.

For a bike that's 80% street do you really think swingarm angle matters? The new dash mode only shows up if its set to Track Evo for the display mode IIRC, but its a new interesting thing I suppose. If they offered it as a paid software update I'd probably buy it.

At this point I'm just presenting a counter argument for conversation purposes. I'm not at all invested in what other people buy with their own money.

Paul G said:

Nothing like a brand new bike.

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Let someone else pay for the first service? But, I do get the new feeling thing. When I bought my first house it was new construction, so I'm the first for just about everything. Including fixing all the drywall nail pops.

I appreciate your answers. Lots of great ideas and knowledge. At the moment, for some reason, my heart is pointing towards 2022, but I will give myself another week to think about it.

You cant go wrong with either, but the 22MY has had rave reviews as a significant improvement on previous years. The base looks great and you can justify getting bling! This is 22/21 for comparison, the 22 has the vents and black lettering

bp_SFV4 said:

Because of gear ratio changes?

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Correct, but more to it than just 1st, 2nd and 6th ratios (all taller). SBK "seamless transmission" handed down from V4R. "The seamless transmission is set to be the latest innovation handed down from MotoGP that has subsequently inspired sportsbikes to compete in the WorldSBK Championship too. Locking blades on the gear wheels are the innovation brought in to ensure the clutch doesn’t go south when it is placed under too much stress. It calls it a small but fine mechanical ‘masterpiece’ that should ensure longevity"

Unless your tracking at high level your not going to notice all the improvements IMO

TomFoolery said:

Correct, but more to it than just 1st, 2nd and 6th ratios (all taller). SBK "seamless transmission" handed down from V4R. "The seamless transmission is set to be the latest innovation handed down from MotoGP that has subsequently inspired sportsbikes to compete in the WorldSBK Championship too. Locking blades on the gear wheels are the innovation brought in to ensure the clutch doesn’t go south when it is placed under too much stress. It calls it a small but fine mechanical ‘masterpiece’ that should ensure longevity"

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Where does Ducati mention they're using a seamless transmission on the 2022?

This is all I could find about it on their site.

They don't. The '22s don't have seamless gearboxes.

If I remember correctly, there has been some rumours about a new seamless style gearbox on the next/redesigned R model

lenyafish said:

I appreciate your answers. Lots of great ideas and knowledge. At the moment, for some reason, my heart is pointing towards 2022, but I will give myself another week to think about it.

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I'm with you on considering a base 22. I currently have a base 21 and I am very happy with it for now