Ducati Panigale V4 S 2026 Review

A day riding around Phillip Island is a good day. A day riding a Ducati Panigale V4 S around Phillip Island is an even better day.

Even with some classic Victorian rain ending the experience early, the opportunity to ride a masterpiece around one of the world’s best racetracks was too good to pass up.

It’s like driving a Ferrari around Monza. Who would say no to that?

And while Ducati litre-class superbikes were once an intimidating prospect for anyone without Rossi or Stoner in their name, the modern iteration is surprisingly user-friendly.

Yes, it’s still stupidly fast and a little scary, but modern electronics mean it’s far more accessible. Even a slower-paced weekend warrior like me can feel like a bit of a hero after stringing a good lap together.

But don’t mistake easy for simple. The Panigale V4 S is one of the most complex, awe-inspiring, and sexiest motorcycles on the planet. And, in the right hands, it’s a surefire race winner. Is that really surprising, though? It’s a Ducati, after all.

Thanks to the brilliant Phillip Island Ride Days, I was able to tick this off the bucket list and gain some insight into why Ducati sportsbikes are so revered in the motorcycle world.

And, sadly, it might be the last time I ride at the iconic circuit while it is still officially part of the MotoGP calendar. But that’s a separate story.

Okay, so as good as the Panigale V4 S is, it comes with a catch. It’s not cheap. But exquisite art rarely is.

The V4 S will set you back around $50,000 ride away. That’s quite a bit more than BMW’s range-topping S 1000 RR M Sport, which checks in at around $41K, but less than the BMW M 1000 RR, which sits closer to $58K.

Aprilia’s RSV4 Factory is probably the only other example that gets close in price, and that will set you back roughly $40K.

Of course, there is also a standard Panigale V4, priced from $39,300 ride away, but there are a few important differences between that and the higher-spec S version.

For starters, the S version adds high-end Öhlins electronic suspension front and rear, along with an Öhlins electronic steering damper.

The S also benefits from lighter forged aluminium wheels and a lithium-ion battery, contributing to a 4kg weight reduction. All told, the Panigale V4 S weighs in at 187kg before fuel.

Power and torque from the 1103cc Desmosedici Stradale V4 engine remain the same between the two bikes, with 216hp and 121Nm.

Without getting too technical, the 90-degree V4 engine is rotated backwards by 42 degrees, and utilises MotoGP-derived Desmodromic valve timing, a "twin pulse" firing order, and a counter rotating crankshaft, while cooling has been improved on the latest model. All of this adds up to a unique power plant which goes some way to making the price tag more palatable.

Excuse me for stating the obvious, but the Panigale V4 S looks incredible. With its sculpted lines, aggressive winged front end, and that timeless red colourway, the bike oozes sex appeal like few others. And Ducati knows it.

But I’m a man who needs personality as well as looks. And the V4 S has that too. It’s confident, athletic, strong, and fierce, but also playful, cheeky, and – believe it or not – even a little caring. I think I’m in love.

With a mind-boggling array of state-of-the-art electronic rider aids, the Panigale V4 S is nothing shore of confidence inspiring. The boldest riders will probably turn everything off, but I kept most of it on, and it gave me the courage to push harder around the track knowing there was a safety net underneath me.

A great example is the Race eCBS system, which Ducati claims is a first for a production sportsbike.

The Bosch-developed system links the front and rear brakes with cornering sensitivity, allowing riders to apply the front brake while the system automatically adds rear brake pressure based on lean angle and load.

In simple terms, you can focus on the front brake and let the electronics manage the rest – a system derived directly from racing.

The Öhlins electronic suspension setup is brilliant too. Like all the electronics on the bike, there’s a huge amount of adjustability, but it works so seamlessly you barely notice it.

All of this is controlled through a new 6.9-inch TFT display, which is both user-friendly and easy on the eye, with multiple layouts depending on whether you're riding on the road or track.

But enough tech talk – let’s get to the nitty gritty.

Swinging a leg over the bike, the first thing I notice is how big it feels. It’s an imposing machine and quite wide through the flanks (the winglets exaggerate this), but once you’re moving, that disappears along with the weight. The V4 S feels light, agile, and incredibly composed. The handling is smooth and predictable, yet razor sharp when you need it.

With leathers on, it’s surprisingly comfortable too. At around 6'1" and carrying a few extra kilos, I often feel cramped on sportsbikes. Not here.

From the first lap to the last, I had plenty of room to move and never felt sore. Sure, it would be a different story on the road in jeans, and it’s still an aggressive riding position, but on track it works beautifully.

The power delivery is urgent but linear, and depending on the ride mode, quite predictable. But it will still grab you and fire you down the straight when you ask it to. With 216hp, it’s eye-watering. This bike is seriously fast – faster than I have any business riding.

At one point, a rider on much smaller and slower bike passed me in the tight stuff. He was clearly more skilled than me, but the speed at which the Panigale reeled him in on the straight was staggering. I expected it – just not that quickly.

Eventually, I couldn’t ride slowly enough to stay behind him, and it turned into an awkward game of cat and mouse before I finally managed to pull away. I do believe that a good rider on a bad bike will out perform a bad rider on good bike. But with the V4 S, I'm not so sure.

An ideal review should be balanced, but it’s hard to criticise a bike like this. Cliche, I know. But it's the truth in this case. That said, a couple of things stand out.

Firstly, the V4 S would be a handful in urban environments. That’s typical of superbikes, but this one really doesn’t enjoy low-speed riding. It runs hot, it would be uncomfortable in traffic, and it constantly feels like it wants to be unleashed. It's like a dog that hasn't been for its daily walk yet and has too much energy.

And I won't mention the threat this machine could have to your license.

The other obvious drawback is the price. Unless money is no object, it’s hard to justify spending this much on what is, for most people, a weekend toy.

My view? The standard Panigale V4 is more than $10K cheaper and still incredibly capable. The S is better – no question – but whether it’s $10K better depends on the rider.

The equation is simple: if you can afford it and want a track-ready piece of Italian exotica, this is hard to beat.

Put simply, the Panigale V4 S is one of the most impressive machines I’ve ever ridden. Its electronics and engine work together to make you feel faster and more capable than you probably are.

And despite all that technology, it still delivers the emotion, style, and theatre you expect from a Ducati.

If someone ever offers you the chance to ride one around Phillip Island, it's important you don’t say no.