I only ride in leathers if not a full suit then 2 piece suit. The full exhaust & carbon exhaust covers also help with the heat. I run water wetter but have used engine ice in other bikes with good results. My take is if you want the Ducati and can't or don't want the heat go for the SF V4.
The above is somewhat true but if you like Ducati get the StreetFighter V4. The RSV4 is just as hot the only reason the Tuono is not is because of the lack of fairings. I have owned the RSV4, TV4 now Ducati V4. I agree that it is made to be a track bike.
First, let me make clear if you live where it rarely goes over 80° the V4 is tolerable, TOLERABLE but that's all.
I live half the year in Arizona and half in So. Cal. In Arizona, it's over 100 a THIRD of the year, in So Cal it's 90 in the summer the Ducati V4 will never be fun in that environment.... the Tuono is better for all the reasons I've already stated and the reasons below.
I've not ridden an RSV4 on the street so won't comment but the BIG problem with ANY V4 Ducati, even the SF V4 is the front headstock frame NOT fairings.... it is a HUGE cast piece of aluminum which in essence IS a GIANT heat sink.... that if you ride under 70mph it WILL bake your legs like a cast iron skillet.
If you want to wear thermal solutions to deal with that instead of not having that issue and riding a better bike there's no other polite way to say you are in FACT a Ducati fanboy.
That IS the problem with the Ducati V4 & SF, it's NOT the engine temperature NOR the exhaust... NONE of that will alleviate the HEATSINK right next to your legs. The design is just NEVER going to be fun on the street unless you live where it never gets hot.
The OP is complaining of heat so obviously he was riding somewhere over 75° and the Tuono is a MUCH better bike in the heat and having both I can say the Tuono does EVERYTHING better.
The Ducati quick shifter is crappy compared to the Aprilia, this I'd NOT just my opinion watch the videos from 44Teeth they compare EVERYTHING to the Aprilia. Fact.... the Aprilia's are just better, if you don't know why, you obviously aren't a good enough rider so I'm not going to waste my time explaining how crappy ALL Ducati suspensions are from the Factory.
As to the heat the Aprilia's don't have that problem because their frame is boxed sheet aluminum, the trellis frame Ducati's didn't have the heat sink issue either. My full race, but barely, street legal 1098R NEVER burns my legs, I don't mind heat I just can't and won't tolerate a hotplate next to my legs... AND there is NO reason to because the Aprilia won't do that to you.
No amount of defending Ducati's BAD design is going to change that FACT.
I bought the Tuono right AFTER buying my V4S because I found out it is STUPID HOT for the street and NOTHING is going to fix the front headstock frame, except SELLING IT!
It does get quite hot, no question. Definitely better when I'm wearing my thick "riding jeans" (Klim). I don't really ride it around town, it's a superbike. Riding around hunched over with clip-ons, 200 HP, barely getting out of second gear, with hot legs - no thanks. Just an exercise in frustration. But any kind of open road where I can go 65+? Pure joy.
