2020 bikesales Bike of the Year Finalist: Ducati Panigale V2

Even standing still, the 2020 Ducati Panigale V2 looks menacing.

From its high, angular tail unit sitting above the single-sided swingarm, through to its sharp-edged air intakes, down to the lower fairing cutout that reveals its underslung exhaust, our Best Supersport nomination for 2020 oozes sportsbike sex appeal.

To the untrained eye, the restyled Ducati Panigale V2 could easily be mistaken for the Panigale V4, a bike that has quickly established itself as Ducati's most impressive high-performance volume-production offering to date.

But unlike the fire-breathing V4 that boasts 214hp (157kW), the Ducati Panigale V2 offers 'just' 155hp (114kW). So, is the V2 a case of all talk, no action? We had five days and some of the best roads Australia to help us answer that question...

The Bike of the Year format requires us 'test pilots' to regularly make bike swaps. Generally, that's not unusual during tests and comparisons, but rarely do you find yourself stepping off a bagger onto an adventure bike during the same ride.

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After the initial shock of such major machine swaps, I could see the benefits of this exercise. As all the bikes were such impressive offerings in their class it enabled me to quickly identify both positives and negatives in each.

The Ducati Panigale V2 is often referred to as Ducati's 'mid-sized' or 'middleweight' offering, but it’s hard to view a 959cc sportsbike as anything less than full-size. According to Ducati, the V2 is the ‘entry model’ for the Panigale bike family, and I agree with that description.

Powered by the 955cc twin-cylinder Superquadro engine, which is essentially unchanged from last year’s Panigale 959, overall power and torque outputs have risen by a claimed 5hp and 2Nm thanks to new fuel injectors (two extra per cylinder) and revised (larger) air intakes.

The engine is mounted as a stressed member in the die-cast aluminium monocoque chassis. The chassis itself incorporates the airbox along with the throttle bodies and fuelling system, all neatly located beneath the fuel tank.

The front suspension sees a Showa 43mm BPF (Big Piston Fork) doing duty, while a Sachs monoshock takes care of the rear. Both units are high spec and fully adjustable, allowing you to easily tailor the preload and clicker settings to suit your needs.

Stopping power is provided by radial-mount M4 Brembo calipers and floating 320mm discs up front, with a single 245mm rear disc with twin-piston Brembo caliper down back.

Apart from styling, the other major upgrade for the 2020 Ducati Panigale V2 is the six-axis IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit). This detects the bike’s pitch, roll and yaw to determine the level of electronic intervention provided by the cornering ABS and DTC (Ducati Traction Control).

The bike's full house of electronics features an upgraded bi-directional quick-shifter, wheelie control, adjustable engine braking and three preset ride modes (Race/Sport/Street). All these features can be adjusted via the new 4.3in colour TFT dashboard, also straight from the V4 parts list.

The Ducati Panigale V2 looks lean and climbing aboard quickly confirms this is no illusion; the bike is super slim. The riding position is open with room to move around the cockpit, although its stance is still purely head-down, bum-up sportsbike.

At slow speeds the Ducati Panigale V2 is surprisingly manageable. Smooth throttle response and gentle power delivery make stop/start progress uneventful, but then the V2 wasn't designed for riding around town. Racetracks and mountain roads are where it shines and we got plenty of time to test it on the latter.

With the open road ahead I got my head down (literally) as the Ducati Panigale V2 entered its native habitat. My instinct from previous Ducati experiences was to short-shift the twin and let it labour. But riding it this way delivered surprisingly lacklustre performance, the bike falling well below my engine-performance expectations.

The bike steers with scalpel-like precision while remaining rock-solid stable through changes of direction and under hard braking. Once committed to a sweeping turn the Ducati Panigale V2 holds its line like a high-speed train. The feedback and feel are pure Ducati at its best – engaging and exciting, yet without any hidden surprises to dent your confidence.

With some kilometres under my belt, I started to upshift higher in the rpm range, and it was then the 955cc twin awoke. Once over 8000rpm the Ducati Panigale V2 charges towards its redline, making its max power at 10,750rpm. This is a twin that needs revs to respond, but if you keep the taps open, respond it does.

At a standstill, it’s easy to navigate your way through the multitude of adjustable options on the TFT dash. I found the 'Sport' mode an ideal setting, never sensing any unwanted intervention from the DTC or ABS no matter how hard I abused the dual-compound Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa II tyres.

And as far as fuel economy goes, the Ducati Panigale V2 achieved an average of 7.1L/100km over Bike of the Year. That made it the seventh most efficient bike on test (or second most inefficient!) out of the eight bikes on test. But no-one ever bought a sportsbike for fuel economy...

Overall the Ducati Panigale V2 wasn't what I'd assumed it might be in terms of outright power, but with its sweet-steering chassis and overall refinement, Ducati's entry-level Panigale still left me smiling.

ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled, Desmodromic, four-valves-per-cylinder, 90-degree Superquadro V-twin
Capacity: 955cc
Bore x stroke: 100mm x 60.8mm
Compression ratio: 12.5:1
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 155hp (114kW) at 10,750rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 104Nm at 9000rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed, bi-directional quickshifter
Clutch: Wet, multiplate (slipper)
Final drive: Chain

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Trellis, Monocoque Aluminium
Front suspension: Showa BPF 43mm fork, 120mm travel, fully adjustable
Rear suspension: Sachs monoshock, 130mm travel, fully adjustable
Front brakes: Twin 320mm discs with radial-mount Brembo M4.32 monobloc four-piston calipers
Rear brake: Single 245 mm disc with twin-piston caliper
Wheels: Five-spoke alloy; 17in x3.5in front, 17in x 5.5in rear
Tyres: Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa II; 120/70-ZR17 front, 180/60-ZR17 rear

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed wet weight: 200kg
Wheelbase: 1436mm
Seat height: 840mm
Rake: 24 degrees
Fuel capacity: 17 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $22,900 ride away (Ducati Red); $23,350 ride away (White Rosso)
Colors: Ducati Red and White Rosso
Warranty: 24 months/unlimited kilometres
Bike supplied by: Ducati Australia