Motorcycle specifications Ducati Panigale V2 S 2026 Les beaux penchants de la route

When you think Ducati, you think Panigale. Because that's the name of the district of Bologna where the factory is located? No, we don't care about that. It's because sport has always been part of the brand's DNA, and that's why its sports bikes are called Panigale. But can we still talk about sport with the Panigale V2? Even in the S version?

Certainly, yes. But not like the 955 Panigale V2 before it. With its redesign, this Ducati has slowly shifted from characterful tracker to assertive sport-GT. With a more welcoming on-board environment, a less powerful engine... much less powerful, yet more suited to dynamic, enthusiastic, human-scale use as a tourer. Occasionally, even on the track, with a little adaptation - i .e. listening to Ducati's "advice" and buying a pair of half-guidelines, set-back controls, a racing line and firing the mirrors.

A story of suspates

New design, new chassis, new engine, and new S variant with a few more advanced specs for increased efficiency. Apart from the gold color of the front end, it's impossible to tell it apart from the standard version. It's the technical side that counts. The inverted Marzocchi fork has been replaced by a 43 mm Öhlins NIX 30, while the Kayaba rear shock has also been replaced by a Swedish unit; both are, of course, fully adjustable. The installation of a Li-Ion battery saves 3 kilos, bringing the Panigale V2 S to 176 kg without fuel.

The electronics are also more gratifying, with the addition of a DPL stop-start assistant and pit-limiter. These are in addition to the co-pilots: cornering ABS, traction, wheeling and engine braking controls, Up&Down shifter, and 4 riding modes (Road / Rain / Sport / Race). A central inertial unit informs all these functions, for even finer reactions.

Slightly lighter, with better suspension, the V2 S takes to the curves with the manufacturer's new mid-size block. An ultra-modern twin, lighter and more technical than the Superquadro. It loses the desmodromic valve train, 35 hp and its exclusive, snarling character, but gains variable valve timing, enhanced comfort and availability.

The next logical step

The Panigale V2 already existed with Öhlins suspension, but was not yet called S. It was the Bayliss 20th Anniversary, a numbered series marketed since 2021.
Its replacement is less flashy, no longer a racing replica, but focused on the sporty feel of the road. Preferably for singles, as it is sold in a single-seater configuration (the passenger kit is available as an accessory); and for wealthy young licence holders. It is offered in A2 version, with three times less power. But with its Japanese hypersport price tag, the passion must be as strong under the skin as in the wallet.

M.B. - Manufacturer's photos

Driving modes :

- Race : dedicated to track driving, with high-grip asphalt. By selecting Race, the rider can count on 120 hp, with direct Ride by Wire response to throttle opening. Race mode offers low-intrusion electronic intervention, without however diminishing safety levels, with ABS at level 2 without lift control and activation of the "slide by brake" function, the controlled sliding during braking that allows the bike to be safely on its side as it enters a curve.

- Sport : the rider can count on 120 hp with a sporty Ride by Wire response to acceleration. The electronic controls are tuned to perfectly assist the rider when riding on dry roads. Rear wheel lift control during braking is engaged, and the ABS Cornering function is set for maximum cornering performance.

- Road : recommended for use on low-grip surfaces. The electronics provide the rider with 120hp of power with a progressive Ride by Wire response, as in Sport Mode. The default level of electronic control is set for maximum safety, guaranteeing the best possible grip and stability.

- Rain : dedicated to slippery surfaces, for example in the rain. In Low Power mode, the default setting, Ride-by-wire response is particularly smooth, and the DTC, DWC, ABS and EBC engine braking systems intervene even more progressively. Maximum power is limited to 95 hp.

Of course, the rider can customize the Driving Modes parameters and then restore the default settings.