like California. Should you grab
a Panigale and fork out the extra
moolah for the Akrapovic racing
exhaust that sounds like you're a
gazelle about to be eaten by a lion
when a rider behind you closes in
(I should know, I was the gazelle
on track), you can count on a stun
-
ning 228 hp (claimed) nestled in
your right hand.
The engine has always been
the strong point of the Panigale
puzzle. A claimed 209 horse
-
power, one horsepower up on the
2024 model, is nothing to sneeze
at, however, Ducati has increased
the engine's responsiveness at
low rpm to make it a better street
bike, because everyone knows you
need 209 horsepower to ride to
the shops.
The engine's performance is
metered by the riding modes Race
A, Race B, Sport, Road, and Wet,
each offering differing access to
the engine's full potential. Howev
-
er, even in Road mode, the 1103cc
V4's performance is monstrous.
There are four different power
modes: Full, High, Medium, and
Low, the latter offering only 160
P100
RIDE REVIEW I 2025 DUCATI PANIGALE V4 S
horsepower and a much softer
throttle response).
Crank up the engine to full
power, and the slightly dulled initial
throttle response becomes iron fist
hard, necessitating the rider to be
fully and completely present.
Full power mode ensures there's
no torque metering in the first
three gears, allowing the motor to
deliver its full force in all six gears.
Ripping through the gearbox with
Ducati dug into its
back catalog, namely
the iconic 916, to
mold the Panigale's
face. New winglets
offer a similar amount
of downforce as
before but are
far easier
on the eye.
