New Panigale V4 is ugly?

Ducati Forum

Help Support Ducati Forum:

Is the New Panigale ugly?

  • I like the older look more

  • I like the new design best

Results are only viewable after voting.
spooky said:
There are a few videos showing it being used and it looks quite easy to use. It also looks like it does work with the SP as far as I can tell.


Don’t you think you’ll be tempted to find out what the Panigale is like on track? I don’t really think a Panigale makes much sense for the road, putting aside the feel-good vibes that you mentioned. I’ve not ridden my SP2 once this year - all my riding has been on track.

I assume you’ve ordered the base Fireblade. I’ll be interested to hear what parts you use and what you think of the bike.

For the V4 or the Fireblade I’m in two minds about going for a base or the S/SP - I suspect the third generation electronic suspension is very good and more than good enough for faster times than I’m likely to do. I do wonder if modifying the base is still the best way to go for anyone other than the fastest riders, considering improvements in electronic suspension.
Click to expand...

For sure I’ll take the new Pani V4 out on the track for a spin, easy to through some slicks on and have a go, I’m just not gunna modify it specifically for track. I also do t ride on the street much but like to have a bike I can jump on and go fir a quick 20 or 30 minute romp on especially if there is a month or so between track days.

For the Fireblade SP I ordered the very 1st thing I’m going to do is lighten the rotating assemblies. I’ve got my eye on a set of BST GP Tek wheels and a CF sprocket carrier that go with the wheels. And take as much other weight as I can out of it like headlights, taillights, etc…then the HRC Race ECU and wiring loom, Ohlins GP shock and HRC has several shock linkages in their parts catalogue to choose from, I’ll let RoadracerX sort that for me. For the forks probably carts, but I have an eye on a set of 2nd hand WSBK forks that will fit the bike that are recently serviced and in good shape that aren’t even sold to the public that will fit the bike and look badass. We have to wait a bit for an exhaust, Sparks makes a full titanium setup for the Fireblade but like all the exhausts for it they are pre-split intake engines. You can’t use those on the current bike because must of the the headers combine 4 into 2 with cylinders 1 and 3 and 2 and 4 combining. For the new split throttle body set you need the headers from cylinders 1and2 and 3and4 combing for everything to work as intended. Oh BIKEHPS has a taller windscreen for the Fireblade too, that’s a must for me.

In the Ducati I’ll get the S, with the race cans not the full exhaust, a taller windscreen, rearsets when they come out. And probably not much else.

Who knows though. I may end up riding the V4S at track more than the Fireblade SP…because real life happens, and we haven’t risen either bike yet. Although RoadRacerX steered me right as rain with pushing me to get the RC 8C, so I think he’s doing the same thing now with the Fireblade for a liter track bike. He has every bike you can imagine except the 25 V4 obviously and tracks them all, and is the fastest non-pro rider I know. Who also use to be a pro-rider, he consults little independent race teams too.
 
Steven31371 said:
For sure I’ll take the new Pani V4 out on the track for a spin, easy to through some slicks on and have a go, I’m just not gunna modify it specifically for track. I also do t ride on the street much but like to have a bike I can jump on and go fir a quick 20 or 30 minute romp on especially if there is a month or so between track days.

For the Fireblade SP I ordered the very 1st thing I’m going to do is lighten the rotating assemblies. I’ve got my eye on a set of BST GP Tek wheels and a CF sprocket carrier that go with the wheels. And take as much other weight as I can out of it like headlights, taillights, etc…then the HRC Race ECU and wiring loom, Ohlins GP shock and HRC has several shock linkages in their parts catalogue to choose from, I’ll let RoadracerX sort that for me. For the forks probably carts, but I have an eye on a set of 2nd hand WSBK forks that will fit the bike that are recently serviced and in good shape that aren’t even sold to the public that will fit the bike and look badass. We have to wait a bit for an exhaust, Sparks makes a full titanium setup for the Fireblade but like all the exhausts for it they are pre-split intake engines. You can’t use those on the current bike because must of the the headers combine 4 into 2 with cylinders 1 and 3 and 2 and 4 combining. For the new split throttle body set you need the headers from cylinders 1and2 and 3and4 combing for everything to work as intended. Oh BIKEHPS has a taller windscreen for the Fireblade too, that’s a must for me.

In the Ducati I’ll get the S, with the race cans not the full exhaust, a taller windscreen, rearsets when they come out. And probably not much else.

Who knows though. I may end up riding the V4S at track more than the Fireblade SP…because real life happens, and we haven’t risen either bike yet. Although RoadRacerX steered me right as rain with pushing me to get the RC 8C, so I think he’s doing the same thing now with the Fireblade for a liter track bike. He has every bike you can imagine except the 25 V4 obviously and tracks them all, and is the fastest non-pro rider I know. Who also use to be a pro-rider, he consults little independent race teams too.
Click to expand...

I haven’t even sat on the Fireblade and there aren’t any nearby, whereas I have sat on the V4S and I immediately loved it. The tank felt great, it felt light and the throttle was excellent as well.

I have a feeling that a V4S with a half exhaust, TPMS, DDL, remove the lights and stick some protection on and some rearsets and it would be more than enough for an awesome track bike that would be capable of far more than I’m ever going to throw at it (some springs for my weight as well I expect). For the same money or probably quite a bit less I imagine you could have a very nicely tricked out Fireblade that would probably be better, although maybe not with me on board… 🤣

Do they not sell the base Fireblade in the US or did you go for the SP for other reasons? I don’t think you can get the base model in the UK but we do get it in the EU.
 
It may sound a bit ridiculous but I have a question in my mind. In Wsbk races all bikes are equipped with high-end components and usually 3 of the top 5 are Ducati, now that the situation is like this how can Honda be better than Ducati? The costs may be expensive but I still don't understand how it is faster :)?
 
mamo said:
It may sound a bit ridiculous but I have a question in my mind. In Wsbk races all bikes are equipped with high-end components and usually 3 of the top 5 are Ducati, now that the situation is like this how can Honda be better than Ducati? The costs may be expensive but I still don't understand how it is faster :)?
Click to expand...

Because the differences are tiny but very important at the sharp end of the sport. That and the quality of the riders, crew chiefs etc. There are a lot of moving parts to a successful campaign, sure the Ducati is "better" but in the context of us here on the street and trackday scene its pretty much irrelevant. Get the bike that you like, that fits you and you can ride is about the sum of it. Any top of the line litrebike is going to be more than good enough for going fast, e.g. I spoke to a guy who just go his first Duc which was a 23 V4. He loved the looks and sound but he was more confident and faster on track with his older S1000RR.
 
Paul G said:
I spoke to a guy who just go his first Duc which was a 23 V4. He loved the looks and sound but he was more confident and faster on track with his older S1000RR.
Click to expand...

I know a SP2 owner who was quicker and felt more confident on his RSV4.

It’s a good point you made about just getting the bike you want – all of them will be far more capable than 99% of us on the forum.
 
mamo said:
It may sound a bit ridiculous but I have a question in my mind. In Wsbk races all bikes are equipped with high-end components and usually 3 of the top 5 are Ducati, now that the situation is like this how can Honda be better than Ducati? The costs may be expensive but I still don't understand how it is faster :)?
Click to expand...

1st, neither you nor I can get realistic access to the parts that make the Ducati faster in the WSBK race series…so the bikes that are winning races no one can buy.

You see there are multiple race series with different levels of modifications allowed.

The Superstock 1000 racing class is very easily attainable in terms of modifications for you and me…in that class of bike, that’s actually attainable by the average person, Ducati is no where to be seen. Honda Fireblades dominate that class with BMW 2nd and Yamaha 3rd.

Ducati doesn’t want to sell you an attainable race bike, they want to sell the Ferrari of road bikes and only spend money on the very highest levels of racing to sell you on a racing ‘heritage’ for your very fancy road bike, similar to Ferrari’s biz and marketing model. WSBK and Moto GP gets the most attention so they focus on those. In those racing classes you need professional race teams to manage the tech on the bike, tech that you can’t realistically buy.

So you and I, who do not have a team of professional race personnel, and access to the engines and suspension components and custom fabbed seats and tanks brakes and all the other stuff cannot simply buy the stuff needed to have a similar bike.

You can however fairly cheaply and with easy access buy the parts needed to win races in Superstock 1000’s…just not from Ducati 😂😂😂…has to be from Honda, BMW, or Yamaha. With Honda far and away being the leader of the pack.

So if you want a very sexy bike that’s excited all your senses in a road bike, Ducati is your best choice. If you want a race bike Honda is your best choice.

If you want a bike that easy to learn to ride fast at the track then liter bikes in general are the wrong choice. But if your an experienced track day rider and fairly fast already and want a liter bike that’s the fastest you can get it’s probably a Honda right now. If you want the liter bike that’s the easiest of the liter bikes to ride fast but not as competitive at the very fastest levels of track day riding the 2025 Ducati looks like the best bet. But it’s also by far the most expensive way to get a bike that’s on par with other very fast liter bike options.

To be fair to Ducati though, the total package of the new 2025 bike will probably be the easiest liter bike to ride fast (though not the fastest) at the track day level.
 
Last edited:
Steven31371 said:
1st, neither you nor I can get realistic access to the parts that make the Ducati faster in the WSBK race series…so the bikes that are winning races no one can buy.

You see there are multiple race series with different levels of modifications allowed.

The Superstock 1000 racing class is very easily attainable in terms of modifications for you and me…in that class of bike, that’s actually attainable by the average person, Ducati is no where to be seen. Honda Fireblades dominate that class with BMW 2nd and Yamaha 3rd.

Ducati doesn’t want to sell you an attainable race bike, they want to sell the Ferrari of road bikes and only spend money on the very highest levels of racing to sell you on a racing ‘heritage’ for your very fancy road bike, similar to Ferrari’s biz and marketing model. WSBK and Moto GP gets the most attention so they focus on those. In those racing classes you need professional race teams to manage the tech on the bike, tech that you can’t realistically buy.

So you and I, who do not have a team of professional race personnel, and access to the engines and suspension components and custom fabbed seats and tanks brakes and all the other stuff cannot simply buy the stuff needed to have a similar bike.

You can however fairly cheaply and with easy access buy the parts needed to win races in Superstock 1000’s…just not from Ducati 😂😂😂…has to be from Honda, BMW, or Yamaha. With Honda far and away being the leader of the pack.

So if you want a very sexy bike that’s excited all your senses in a road bike, Ducati is your best choice. If you want a race bike Honda is your best choice.

If you want a bike that easy to learn to ride fast at the track then liter bikes in general are the wrong choice. But if your an experienced track day rider and fairly fast already and want a liter bike that’s the fastest you can get it’s probably a Honda right now. If you want the liter bike that’s the easiest of the liter bikes to ride fast but not as competitive at the very fastest levels of track day riding the 2025 Ducati looks like the best bet. But it’s also by far the most expensive way to get a bike that’s on par with other very fast liter bike options.

To be fair to Ducati though, the total package of the new 2025 bike will probably be the easiest liter bike to ride fast (though not the fastest) at the track day level.
Click to expand...

As I learned these, Ducati is no longer exciting for me :(, Ducati, which is very beautiful but not fast, is very contrary to my understanding of Ducati.
 
Steven31371 said:
The Superstock 1000 racing class is very easily attainable in terms of modifications for you and me…in that class of bike, that’s actually attainable by the average person, Ducati is no where to be seen. Honda Fireblades dominate that class with BMW 2nd and Yamaha 3rd.
Click to expand...

Yep. You can tell an easy to ride bike by what's competitive in Superstock and EWC.
 
mamo said:
As I learned these, Ducati is no longer exciting for me :(, Ducati, which is very beautiful but not fast, is very contrary to my understanding of Ducati.
Click to expand...


Oh it’s VERY fast…don’t get that wrong.

It’s just very expensive and less practical to make it into the most top tier track bike.

A buddy of mine made a good analogy: The 2025 pani V4 Is probably good enough off the showroom floor with the race, exhaust and software, and a set of slicks to go to any superstock 1000 race series and run lap times That will qualify you for the race. But you won’t win those races on that bike.

Still, though if you think about that statement, you can buy off the showroom floor is capable enough in essentially its road legal configuration to qualify for super 1000 races. That’s pretty bad ass. And it’s a very fast bike.

But to get it set up to win those races? It’s not the right bike for that, which is why you rarely see them running in superstock 1000 race classes
 
Last edited:
bp_SFV4 said:
What are you talking about?
Click to expand...

He’s the guy Ducati markets to. And why unless becoming more informed people like him buy the bikes. Superstock 1000 races are only watched by hard core fans who are in the know about motorcycle racing. While MotoGP and WSBK are more widely watched.

So the feral rider/buyer of a Ducati that just wants the ‘fastest bike’ looks and those too race series and says Ducati wins everything so they have the fastest bike and I want it, and will pay a premium for ‘the best’.

But if you know what you are watching Superstock 1000 should be what you watch to see what’s currently the fastest ATTAINABLE bike…because without jumping through crazy hoops and paying crazy prices a WSBK and MotoGP bike is not obtainable.
 

Similar threads

D
Panigale V4 throtte case switch
Replies
1
Views
209
Chriss
Chriss
mayhan1980
Panigale to Streetfighter?
Replies
7
Views
466
baggerman
B
F
Brand new panigale v4 burst in flames
2 3
Replies
44
Views
2K
NYCV4S
NYCV4S
V
2023 Panigale driver seat hight too high
Replies
9
Views
662
Drotti
D
P
SC PROJECT on Panigale V4 2022>
Replies
4
Views
999
Rio16
Rio16

Register CTA

Register on Ducati Forum! This sidebar will go away, and you will see fewer ads.

Recent Discussions

Back
Top