I think on a track it may feel as though it lacks power but for the road it will be ideal. My 110hp Monster was as quick as my other bikes on the roads I use and my 120hp 890R was deceptively fast. Doesn’t matter how powerful it is you can only go around a corner at a certain speed. Track straights are a different matter. I will be having a test ride when the local dealer registers theirs in March. I still think that link pipe looks shit though.
It appears its been tuned for torque rather than power. As Chris Northover says, if you want more power you may as well go V4 and have the full works. I've been razzing around the back roads of France on my 40bhp Triumph Scrambler 400x. Its still got me a speeding fine. If we are truly honest with ourselves, outside of track riding how much power do we really need?
The 120bhp wouldn’t bother me on the road if it makes the power all through the revs rather than hopelessly held back between 4-5500rpm like the old Panigale v2 was
The Mcn review seems more genuine than some others and it does sound like it will be a great road bike.
Lamb chop has had a wobble around on a dealer demo and says it’s fab, I don’t think he’s even on the Ducati payroll
I think it’s close mate! He goes to all the Ducati dealer events etc at silverstone and gets to borrow their bikes. reminds me a bit of shmee150 the car bloke, you’ll never see a Porsche review or one in his collection because they presented him with a contract at a launch saying he was obliged to only say positive things. I don’t like the bloke but I think that’s going on a lot, honestly now the only we can do is what the reviews for the pictures and b roll and go ride the bikes and make our own minds up. If you need further proof, watch the 44t video launch of the last model V2 and then watch the very latest one back to back
Regardless of the journalistic superlatives, the fact remains that stylistically, the new V2 still looks like the lovechild of a Chinese 125 and an Origami project, Just compare the outgoing and incoming models below. I've no doubt it's a great trackbike that appeals to a wider demographic because of it's ease to ride, but visually IMHO, it looks like the dog's dinner. Lots of awkward incoherent lines, afterthought of an exhaust, Supersport stance and that front end . And breathe.....now cast your eyes over to the right, after they have finished being assaulted, for some respite.
The tag says the photo was taken at Circuit Aspar, which was a session he did on a race prepped old V2 last December
he’s there all the time, the other reels following it were pics of what he was up to that day as well as one in the morning with a reverse view of the bike in the garage and it was the old bike
44 Teeth's recent Panigale V2 Q&A video builds on their full review from a few days earlier. It is fair to say that it is almost certainly an easier bike to live with on track and more "real world" in terms of legitimate road use, BUT many purchases are made subjectively on looks alone and on this basis, the V2 fails to deliver. I suppose it remains to be seen if Ducati's complete 180 towards function over form, is enough to bolster sales of the new platform (at least for intentionally road based bikes). Were I in the market for a V2, I would still hanker after the Superquadro Final Edition, as opposed to the awkward aesthetics of the new bike, irrespective of any improvements it offered. TBH for most mere mortals (which is a category I defintely fall into) I think either bike would flatter the average rider, so it more often than not comes down to personal choice as opposed to hype, which many of Ducati's customer base are swayed by.
the heat issues etc would sway me towards a new one. My Panigale V2 was just too hot and uncomfortable, solely due to Euro 5, as my 899 runs 10-20 degrees cooler in all conditions. If they have addressed this in the new bike, and the looks are good in the flesh I’d be tempted as a road bike, just the pricing to get over…
a mate of mine has a 2013 911 gt3, its stunning, black, manual, gold wheels, red calipers, apparently was owned by jay k no nonsense body work, like vents, or spoilers or bits stuck on simple dash, no buttons on the steering wheel, its sparse, basic and perfect. it looks right and goes right, no doubt the new ones are faster, better and uglier. bikes are going the same way, is it progress tho as they put more stuff on as improvements are they taking something away?
Stylistically they have gone down a rabbit hole in terms of the V2 and V4. There is no doubting the latter has some huge improvements technically and in terms of performance and handling over it's 2018-2024 predecessor, but I wonder if the uptake is going to be as seismic as it was for the 2018-2024 V4, which had a much greater impact on first glance than the current 2025 model. Since a very large percentage of Ducati's client base buy with their hearts and not their heads, then that leaves the new V4 as a very subjective purchase as opposed to an object of desire. IMHO the current incarnation of V2 and V4's are reminiscent of the 999 when it first launched. On paper and on track a sound bike but failed to spark the imagination of a would be buyer. Fast forward a few years and now they are a sought after commodity. Perhaps the latest crop of superbikes from Bologna will echo such sentiments and in years to come it will appreciate as a timeless design in it's own right. As for the here and now, I am not so sure Ducati will enjoy the same enthusiasm they received when the 2018 V4 was first unveiled. At the end of the day, for all it's wizardry, DSSA, tech-rich features etc, if it doesn't hit the spot in terms of how it looks, then it's already on shaky ground.
Interestingly I actually really like the new V4, I much prefer it to the first shape one. I didn’t like the ‘hunchback’ look of the fuel tank. The wings do indeed put me off though, I don’t care that they are essential to stability at 180mph, I really don’t. maybe someone on here can post as soon as they have ridden a v2? I think those that ride it will say the suspension is soft, maybe that’s not a bad thing though, I think it will ride great, but like others have said the Ducati strategy seems a bit off
