Ducati, the only motorcycle manufacturer with a passionate fan base and a venerable history, was in a bit of a pickle when design boss Andrea Amato joined the company a decade ago. Racing has long been central to the brand’s identity, but Ducati had zero wins in MotoGP and its worst-ever season in World Superbike in 2013. How could the once-hot manufacturer ever get back to its roots?
The short answer was to design race bikes that could more easily crush the competition, which required these high-strung machines to be more user-friendly for a wider range of racers. This shift eventually propelled the Italian marque back into the winner’s circle and restored its hard-earned reputation. Record street bike sales naturally followed, putting the brand back on the right track, confirming the old mantra of “win on Sunday, sell on Monday.”
Fast forward to today and the latest Ducati Panigale V4, the seventh generation of the superbike series dating back to the 851 model of the 1980s, is tasked with maintaining Ducati's status as one of the world's most desirable brands.
A surprisingly sexy tribute
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At the bike’s recent unveiling on a balmy evening in Misano, Italy, design chief Andrea Amato told me that the newly introduced model pays stylistic homage to the legendary 916 (1994–1998), arguably one of the most beautiful motorcycles of all time. Of course, there are subtle nods to the late, great superbike on the new Panigale V4: a toned-down nose, an air intake right in the middle of the bodywork, and a few other important bits and bobs that will make experts go wild.
Notable modern touches include a new pair of winglets at the front, designed to neutralise aerodynamics at high speeds. The extensions have an oddly organic appearance (in contrast to the sharper, more linear-looking wings Ducati has used in the past), but the real differentiator here is how seamlessly they fit into the bodywork in a series of complex curves.
The execution reflects Ducati’s ever-greater attention to detail and the vast resources that come with being part of the Audi family under the Volkswagen umbrella. “People often think that pure beauty can’t be super functional or perform at a high level,” Amato says. “I absolutely believe the opposite.” It echoes a sentiment once expressed by none other than Enzo Ferrari.
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Faster Than Ever
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Of course, the new Panigale benefits from a raft of performance upgrades designed to make it fly faster than ever on a racetrack. These mods include a revised chassis; a slightly lighter, progressively more powerful 1,103cc V4 engine (now making 209 horsepower in the U.S. and a dizzying 216 horsepower in European spec); a new 6.9-inch digital instrument cluster; a pro-level data logger that records 70 performance parameters; and the first application of Brembo's new Hypure brakes.
The Panigale’s ergonomics have been tweaked to make it easier to move around the bike and pick up speed on racetracks. Think—hanging better, leaning harder, and generally doing your worst impression of a MotoGP rider on the podium.
Ducatisti fans will no doubt be celebrating if the race versions of their latest superbikes perform well in the World Superbike races. However, the hottest topic of the new Panigale is not its raceability, but a mechanical feature: the swingarm. Why are they so fixated on a seemingly insignificant piece of hardware that connects the rear wheel to the chassis? Ducati has defiantly embraced the single-sided swingarm design for 30 years. Its appearance is seductive, embracing one side of the rear wheel while exposing the other side without any obstruction or visual barrier.
The problem with looking cool is that the design is typically heavier and less durable than a boring old double-sided swingarm, so Ducati engineers eventually gave up by adding a double-sided swingarm. The swingarm’s trick “empty symmetric” design provides a hidden view of the wheel, but it’s not as visually radical as a single-sided design. The new swingarm looks a bit innovative, but so far diehards haven’t bought it, denouncing the more functional form as the beginning of the end of Ducati’s unapologetic style.
A Beautiful Bike
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The latest Ducati Panigale V4 is likely to be remembered more for its departure from styling tradition than for its outright speed or the greater rideability that would help it win more races. At the end of the day, though, as long as the Italian motorcycle manufacturer continues to cross the finish line ahead of its rivals, it will be increasingly difficult for Ducati to grumble about the demoralisation of an unattractive swingarm.
Features
- Engine: 1.103cc, V4
- Infection: 6 speed manual
- Horsepower/Torque: 209 hp/89.5 lb-ft
- Seat Height: 33.5 inches
- Weight: 421 (wet, no fuel)
- Price: $25,995
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