VOLUME 56 ISSUE 45 NOVEMBER 12, 2019 P79
Willow's long front straight,
you just need to bang down
a couple of gears and let the
electronics take care of every-
thing, the engine brake control
mixing with the slipper clutch,
mixing with the quick shifter.
It's a beautiful dance and al-
lows you to focus on the job of
the quick left-hander approach-
ing. Remember, there's $40K
worth of bike underneath you.
The Ducati Panigale V4 R
is one of those bikes that will
become an instant classic, not
so much for any one part but for
just what a beast of a package it
is. There's so, so much perfor-
mance from a standard machine
on offer, it's hard to believe this
is a street-legal ride.
My three sessions at Willow
Springs were indeed eye-
opening. Simply put, this is the
finest Ducati superbike ever
created. CN
S P E C I F I C A T I O N S
2019 DUCATI PANIGALE V4 R ($39,995)
ENGINE: ................. Desmosedici Stradale 90° V4,
rearward-rotating crankshaft, 8 Desmodromically
actuated valves
DISPLACEMENT: ...........................................998cc
BORE X STROKE: ............................... 81 x 48.4mm
COMPRESSION RATIO: .....................................14:1
FUEL SYSTEM: .......EFI, twin injectors per cylinder,
full ride-by-wire elliptical throttle bodies w/aero-
dynamic valves, variable-length intake system
POWER: ........218 bhp @ 15,250 rpm (234 hp w/
Akrapovic race exhaust)
TORQUE: ............................83 lb-ft @ 11,500 rpm
EXHAUST: ................4-2-1-2 system w/2 catalytic
converters and 2 lambda probes
CLUTCH: ......................................... Dry multi-plate
TRANSMISSION: .... 6-speed w/Ducati Quick Shift
(DQS) up/down EVO
CHASSIS: .................................. Steel monocoque
FRONT SUSPENSION: ............... 43mm Ohlins NPX
pressurized fork w/TiN treatment, fully adj.
REAR SUSPENSION: .... Single Ohlins TTX36 shock,
aluminum single-sided swingarm, fully adj.
FRONT BRAKE: .......2x330mm semi-floating discs,
radially mounted Brembo Monobloc Stylema
(M4.30) 4-piston calipers w/Bosch Cornering
ABS EVO
REAR BRAKE: ..... 245mm disc, 2-piston caliper w/
Bosch Cornering ABS EVO
FRONT TIRE: .................... Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa
SP 120/70 ZR17, 3.50 x 17 in. rim
REAR TIRE: ...................... Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa
SP 200/60 ZR17, 6.00 x 17 in. rim
WHEELBASE: ...............................................57.9 in.
SEAT HEIGHT:..............................................32.7 in.
FUEL CAPACITY: ........................................4.23 gal.
ELECTRONICS: ........Riding Modes, Power Modes,
Bosch Cornering ABS EVO, Ducati Traction Con-
trol (DTC) EVO, Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC)
EVO, Ducati Slide Control (DSC), Engine Brake
Control (EBC), Auto tire calibration
WEIGHT (CURB, CLAIMED): ........................425 lbs.
COLOR: ................................................. Ducati Red
Bank the
Panigale in, and
it'll turn faster
than any 1000cc
superbike. But
that turn speed
comes at the
expense of a
little stability.
