2018 DUCATI PANIGALE V4S
FULL TEST
P76
works in conjunction with the new
algorithms in the DQS, the O hlins
Smart EC 2.0 and Engine Brake
Control (EBC) systems. The EBC
is variable by three levels with one
being the least electronic interven-
tion and three the most (think of
it as level one is a four-stroke and
level three is a two-stroke in terms
of engine braking), so you can dial
in the exact amount of engine brak-
ing you like.
But if you want your braking to
be totally spectacular, you can
attempt to engage the Slide-By-
Brake system that's only available
in Sport, not Race, mode. The
Slide-By-Brake system is part of the
Bosch ABS Evo system and allows
you to get on the rear brake hard
and it'll help you pivot the back-end
out, and start sliding to the apex.
Personally, I didn't care for this sys-
tem too much because I am not a
heavy rear-brake user, and if I were
actually good enough to benefit
from such a move, I would pivot
the bike into the apex without the
electronics—like Kyle Wyman does
so well. For my money, this feature
is a bit pointless but it's not like it
adds weight to the bike (being just
an algorithm and all), so if you don't
like it, don't use it.
STYLE MASTERS
The Panigale V4 range is now graced
with the latest generation of the
four-piston Brembo monobloc M50
caliper, now dubbed the Stylema.
The Stylema's are machined from
a solid piece of alloy, and weigh
approximately 1/4-pound less than the
outgoing M50s. Each piston measures
30mm, gripping a twin 330mm discs.
At the rear, a twin-piston caliper stops
a 245mm disc with the entire system
modulated by the new ABS Cornering
EVO system, which uses the extra-
lightweight 9.1MP Bosch control unit.
RACE-STYLE GAS TANK
Common practice in racing machines
is to mount the gas tank with part
of it under the rider's seat. That
way, the bike's behavior becomes
more predictable when the fuel load
decreases. The Panigale V4's tank is
mounted this way for another reason—
that being the electronics/brains of the
bike, are mounted at the front of where
the tank would normally be, behind the
steering head.
