Motorcycle specifications Ducati1100 Panigale V4 S 2022 A road-legal racing motorcycle

" In practice, the Panigale V4 is a road-approved racing bike," says Giulio Fabbri, Panigale Product Development Manager. " The Panigale V4 S is a bike on which all you need to do is fit slick tires and the Ducati Performance racing exhaust and you'll immediately be in a position to secure victory in the various promotional trophies ," he also points out. And that's all there is to it!

Introduced in 2018, the Panigale V4 underwent a first series of improvements in 2020, including, most visibly, the appearance of large aerodynamic fins on the fairing, positioned on either side of the headlight lenses. By the end of 2021, the Bologna beauty will be even sharper. According to Ducati, the 2022 model marks the most significant evolution since its launch. And the project leader emphasizes, " while pursuing the same ambitious goal: to become faster on the track and, at the same time, more intuitive while being less restrictive for riders of all levels."

For 2022, Ducati has worked on all aspects of the bike: engine, chassis, electronics, ergonomics and aerodynamics. In fact, at first glance, you'll notice that the size of the fins has been significantly reduced, without reducing their effectiveness, says Ducati, which has announced a vertical downforce of 37 kg at 300 km/h. The lower fairing has also been redesigned to optimize cooling, with new air extractors and vents.

In terms of ergonomics, the seat and seat cover have been reworked to make it easier to move around the bike, and the fuel tank features a new crotch shape to increase thigh support and provide better control, while minimizing effort and fatigue.

the incredible 1103 cm3 Desmosedici Stradale 90° V4,^with four valves per cylinder and desmodromic valve timing, benefits from work on its lubrication circuit, a new oil pump, new mapping, and a new gearbox with revised gear ratios offering longer first, second and sixth gears. The up & down shifter is even more efficient, with a completely new calibration. Finally, the diameter of the exhaust silencer outlets has been increased by 18%.

Numerically, the Panigale V4 S boasts 215.5 hp at 13,000 rpm, 1.5 hp more than the previous version. Torque is 123.6 Nm at 9500 rpm, of which 80% (approx. 100 Nm) is available from 6000 rpm. Enough to get you out of any curve, bend or hairpin! This V4 is also equipped with a contra-rotating crankshaft to reduce the gyroscopic effect when cornering, enhancing the bike's agility and precision.

To channel all this energy and power, the Panigale V4S also features a new calibration for the four riding modes on offer: A, B, Sport or Street. Of course , the Panigale V4 S 2022 is equipped with the very best in electronic assistance and management: ABS Cornering EVO, Ducati Traction Control (DTC) EVO 3, Ducati Slide Control (DSC), Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) EVO, Ducati Power Launch (DPL), Ducati Quick Shift up/down (DQS) EVO 2, Engine Brake Control (EBC) EVO, Ducati Electronic Suspension (DES) EVO. Phew..

All this is, of course, fully parameterizable and adjustable via the controls and the 5" TFT instrument panel. And while it will of course take some getting used to to navigate all the sub-menus and master the various possible settings, Ducati assures us that the layout and user-friendliness have been further improved, including a new additional info mode called Track EVO.

chassis-wise, the Panigale V4S retains its aluminum frame with magnesium front end, as well as its cast aluminum rear end. A 43 mm Öhlins NPX 25/30 upside-down fork with 125 mm of travel (5 mm more) is used, and an Ölhins TTX36 shock absorberis also fitted. The entire suspension system is electronically controlled via the Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 system, and the steering damper is also by Öhlins. The swingarm axle has been raised by 4 mm to enhance stability under acceleration.

To stop this new red missile, Brembo Stylema M4.30 4-piston monobloc radial calipers with Bosch EVO cornering ABS clamp a pair of 330 mm semi-floating front discs.

Finally, this ultra-honed athlete weighs in at 174 kg dry, or 195.5 kg in running order (with 90% fuel). This brings the power-to-weight ratio to a staggering 0.90 kg/hp! Giulio Fabbri has a point: more than ever, the Panigale V4S 2022 is a genuine road-approved racing bike.

Michaël Levivier - Manufacturer's photos