The Ducati Panigale V2 S is the sharper specification of Ducati’s twin cylinder superbike, a machine designed around the argument that a lighter, more manageable sports bike is more rewarding on a real road than outright power. It is the Panigale for riders who want genuine superbike feel without the intimidation that usually comes with it.
At its centre is the 890cc Superquadro L-twin, producing 155hp at 10,750rpm with 104Nm of torque at 9,000rpm. The Superquadro name describes a very wide bore and short stroke, which is how an 890cc twin revs to nearly 11,000rpm without feeling strained. The character that results is the point: a broad, generous spread of drive low down, then a hard sporting top end as the revs climb, so the bike is tractable at road pace and thrilling when you commit. A six speed gearbox handles the ratios, and a bidirectional quickshifter lets full throttle upshifts and blipped downshifts happen without the clutch, which matters more on a twin than a four because it keeps the drive unbroken out of a corner.
The chassis is built for precision. Telescopic forks and a monoshock keep the bike composed under hard braking and mid corner, and twin front discs give stopping power to match the performance. It runs 120/70-ZR17 front rubber, weighs 200kg at the kerb and sits on an 840mm seat, tall enough for the committed riding position a superbike needs while staying manageable at a standstill. The 17 litre tank supports a full day out, whether that is a favourite road or a track day.
Above all it is the electronics that separate the modern Panigale from what came before. Lean sensitive rider aids work quietly in the background, giving a safety net that lets you enjoy the performance instead of merely surviving it. This is a bike for the rider who has decided that lightness and feel beat brute force, and who wants something beautiful as well as fast. Come and see it at GT Motorcycles in Plymouth, serving Ducati riders across Devon and Cornwall, where finance is available and a test ride can be arranged to suit you.
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