Ducati’s 2022 Panigale V2 ($17,395) continues the line of midsize-plus sportbikes from the famed Borgo Panigale factory. Every few years Ducati updates its models with a number of nice improvements, generally following the design of its flagship superbike model, and that sort of evolution is what we’re looking at here.
--
Aesthetics
This handsome streetbike continues to follow the form of the sensational-looking Panigale V4, the current design of which debuted for the 2018 model year. We love its look. We don’t know how Ducati designers do it, but almost every time the company comes out with a new superbike, its looks are stunning. Ducati always stands apart from its competition in its sleek, racy styling, its proper proportions, and the fact that these Italian bikes look like nothing else; the V2 continues that tradition.
Engine
Ducati’s familiar 955cc Superquadro L-twin, named for its gigantic cylinder bore, makes a repeat appearance here. That 100mm bore is paired with a short piston stroke, so this engine configuration likes to rev—and needs to rev as well; it has to be spinning at a high rpm to deliver usable performance...
Full story here: https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/story/reviews/ducati-panigale-v2-2022/
Photography: Joseph Agustin
Video/edit: Ray Gauger Media, Inc.
Motorcycle Riding Gear Worn
Helmet: Shoei RF-1400
Jacket: Alpinestars SP-5 Rideknit
Gloves: Alpinestars Chrome
Pant: Alpinestars X Diesel AS-DSL Shiro Denim Jean
Boots: TCX Rush 2 Air
Motorcyclist Shirts: https://teespring.com/stores/motorcyclist
Shop Products We Use: https://www.amazon.com/shop/motorcyclistmagazine
See more from us: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/
--
Aesthetics
This handsome streetbike continues to follow the form of the sensational-looking Panigale V4, the current design of which debuted for the 2018 model year. We love its look. We don’t know how Ducati designers do it, but almost every time the company comes out with a new superbike, its looks are stunning. Ducati always stands apart from its competition in its sleek, racy styling, its proper proportions, and the fact that these Italian bikes look like nothing else; the V2 continues that tradition.
Engine
Ducati’s familiar 955cc Superquadro L-twin, named for its gigantic cylinder bore, makes a repeat appearance here. That 100mm bore is paired with a short piston stroke, so this engine configuration likes to rev—and needs to rev as well; it has to be spinning at a high rpm to deliver usable performance...
Full story here: https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/story/reviews/ducati-panigale-v2-2022/
Photography: Joseph Agustin
Video/edit: Ray Gauger Media, Inc.
Motorcycle Riding Gear Worn
Helmet: Shoei RF-1400
Jacket: Alpinestars SP-5 Rideknit
Gloves: Alpinestars Chrome
Pant: Alpinestars X Diesel AS-DSL Shiro Denim Jean
Boots: TCX Rush 2 Air
Motorcyclist Shirts: https://teespring.com/stores/motorcyclist
Shop Products We Use: https://www.amazon.com/shop/motorcyclistmagazine
See more from us: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 (upbeat music)
00:26 - Hey folks, we just got done riding Ducati's Panigale V2
00:31 super bike.
00:33 This is a mid-sized plus sport bike
00:38 from Ducati out of Bologna, Italy.
00:43 Now, Ducati's done a number of nice improvements
00:47 to its mid-sized plus sport bike.
00:52 First off, the aesthetics.
00:54 This motorcycle now follows in form
00:58 of the sensational looking Panigale V4,
01:02 which debuted for the 2018 model year.
01:06 I love the aesthetics of this motorcycle.
01:10 I don't know how Ducati designers do it.
01:13 Every time they come out with a new super bike,
01:16 it always looks awesome.
01:20 Well, there have been a lot of great looking sport bikes
01:22 over the last few decades,
01:23 but Ducati always stands apart from the competition
01:27 in its racy, sleek styling and its good proportions.
01:32 I'm a big fan of the styling of this motorcycle.
01:38 Engine.
01:40 This motorcycle continues to be powered
01:43 by Ducati's 955CCL twin.
01:47 They call it a super quattro L twin engine,
01:51 and they call that that because it has gigantic cylinder bore,
01:56 nearly a 100 millimeter cylinder bore
01:59 with a much shorter piston stroke.
02:02 So this engine configuration likes to rev.
02:07 You have to really have this engine spooling at high RPM
02:12 for it to really deliver usable performance.
02:16 Now, back in the old days, Ducati L twin engines,
02:19 they used to have a lot of torque.
02:21 Well, that changed when they went to the super big bore,
02:24 short stroke engine configuration.
02:27 And love it or hate it,
02:29 the power band on this motorcycle is very exhilarating.
02:34 This motorcycle likes to be operated at very high RPM.
02:38 It's a very thrilling power band,
02:41 even though it doesn't have much acceleration off the bottom
02:44 or even in the mid range,
02:46 you keep this thing singing on the pipe
02:48 and this thing gets you to where you're going fast.
02:52 An electronic quick shifter makes it easy to work
02:55 that six speed gearbox.
02:58 And on this bike, you are gonna be shifting all the time
03:01 because it likes to be revved at a very high RPM
03:05 to get good acceleration power.
03:07 We rode this motorcycle at the racing circuit.
03:12 And even though Ducati's done a number
03:15 of styling improvements and a number of electronics,
03:19 electronic improvements over the years,
03:21 I couldn't help but to think that this motorcycle,
03:24 the engine and even the chassis and suspension,
03:27 it rides very much like the old Panigale 899.
03:32 I know Ducati will not like me saying that, but it's true.
03:36 Even though they've done a lot of changes over the years,
03:38 it still feels like that old bike.
03:41 And that's not a bad thing.
03:42 The chassis on this motorcycle with a full 4.5 gallons
03:47 of premium fuel, this thing weighs in at 441 pounds.
03:52 Even though that's not the lightest sport bike
03:54 out in the market, this thing handles very well.
03:57 I love how sharp it steers.
03:59 It's a very sharp steering motorcycle.
04:02 If you're the kind of rider that wants a motorcycle
04:04 that really likes to turn, this bike will work well for you.
04:10 Now, suspension wise, this vehicle still employs
04:14 the older style Showa BPF fork.
04:19 I love this fork.
04:21 I believe it debuted for the 2011 model year
04:25 with the Suzuki GSX-R sport bikes.
04:28 And this BPF fork is really awesome.
04:30 Number one is because it has a super wide range
04:34 of adjustment.
04:35 Number two, the adjusters are right there on top
04:38 of the fork leg for the damping,
04:40 where the preload's on the bottom
04:41 and it's very easy to make adjustment.
04:44 And this suspension does very well on the road.
04:48 It delivers decent road comfort while still having
04:52 a good degree of sport road holding on the racing circuit.
04:57 Still, even though it does employ a nice,
05:00 versatile running Showa BPF fork,
05:04 the reality is this suspension technology
05:07 is getting a little bit long in the tooth
05:10 in the hardcore sport bike arena.
05:13 Realistically, we'd like to see a higher specification fork
05:17 on there that would give a little bit sharper
05:20 dampening response when you're really getting after it
05:24 at the racing circuit.
05:25 Ergonomics in typical Ducati form,
05:28 this is a very racy feeling motorcycle.
05:32 The clip-on style handlebars are very low.
05:35 The seat is very high.
05:37 I like the knurled rear sets that give good amount
05:42 of grip against the sole of the rider's shoes or boots.
05:47 That's a nice touch.
05:48 I also like the pseudo Alcantara suede-like fabric
05:53 that the seat and passenger seat are adorned with.
05:56 It looks really nice.
05:58 It really keeps your rear end in place
06:01 when you're hustling this motorcycle through the canyons.
06:04 And that's where this bike really shines.
06:06 This bike really shines when you're at the racing circuit,
06:10 when you're at a medium to high speed set of corners.
06:15 This bike just loves turning
06:17 the Pirelli Diablo Rosso 3 tires.
06:21 They offer good, versatile performance
06:23 on the racetrack, on the street.
06:25 They heat up quick.
06:27 They even work really good in the rain.
06:31 Brakes on this motorcycle, triple disc hydraulic brakes
06:35 keep the speed on check on this bike,
06:38 but I wish the brakes were a little bit sharper.
06:42 When you really get into that front brake lever,
06:44 the brake pads just lack a degree of bite.
06:48 Yeah, the brakes work good on this motorcycle
06:50 and it gets down, slow down in a quick,
06:53 but the brake pad material feels a little hard
06:56 and a little wooden.
06:57 I would like a racier compound if this bike was mine.
07:02 I also like all of the modern electronics
07:06 that Ducati has fitted on this Panigale V2.
07:10 This has the same electronic systems as the Panigale V4.
07:15 So you have adjustable power modes.
07:18 You have Ducati traction control.
07:21 You have independently adjustable wheelie control.
07:24 You have the quick shifter.
07:26 You have engine brake control.
07:28 And I really like the wide range of adjustment
07:32 in this motorcycle.
07:33 There's actually a big amount of difference
07:36 when you have the motorcycle in maximum engine braking mode
07:39 and just one level down.
07:42 Again, because the brakes aren't super adept
07:45 at really shedding speed on this motorcycle,
07:47 they don't have that kind of feel I like.
07:49 I kind of run a higher engine brake mode
07:53 just because the brakes aren't quite as sharp
07:56 as I would like.
07:57 If the brakes were sharper,
07:58 I could definitely use a lesser engine brake setting,
08:01 but it's cool that Ducati gives you the option.
08:05 It also has three-way adjustable ABS.
08:09 You can even put it in the lowest ABS setting,
08:12 ABS level one, and that disables rear ABS
08:16 if you're the kind of person
08:18 who wants to slide the rear of the bike
08:20 or lock up the rear wheel with the brake.
08:24 Another gripe I have with this Panigale V2
08:28 is in regard to the fit and finish.
08:32 Now, for $17,200,
08:35 there is an awful lot of plastic on this motorcycle.
08:40 Some of the bodywork feels a little chintzy.
08:44 The mirror stocks look cheap,
08:47 and I think Ducati could do a lot better job
08:52 in the fit and finish.
08:53 We recently test rode the 2021 Ducati Supersport XR.
08:58 Supersport S, which carries a lesser MSRP than this vehicle,
09:03 and that bike felt much better put together
09:07 than this Panigale V2.
09:10 It's worth noting,
09:11 Ducati stands behind its new motorcycles
09:15 with a two-year unlimited mileage warranty,
09:19 so if anything does break,
09:20 they will get it repaired for you.
09:23 Overall, I really like riding this Ducati Panigale V2.
09:28 Realistically, it doesn't feel a whole lot different
09:34 from the original Panigale 899 or the Panigale 959,
09:39 but I still like the updated Panigale V4 aesthetics.
09:44 I like that Ducati threw the kitchen sink at it
09:48 with the electronics package,
09:50 and I like that even though it's a motorcycle
09:53 that has a displacement of almost one liter,
09:56 realistically, this is more of like 600, 700 midsize bike.
10:01 It doesn't quite have the acceleration brute force
10:05 of a liter bike,
10:06 yet it has a little bit more peppin' it step
10:09 than an old school 600i4,
10:14 which gets us to the price.
10:16 This vehicle costs $17,200,
10:22 which is a lot of money.
10:24 Realistically, you'd be better served
10:27 just picking up an older Panigale 959 or an 899
10:32 just because the performance envelope of this vehicle
10:36 isn't vastly different from those predecessors,
10:39 so you could probably save a lot of money
10:42 by buying one of those used things,
10:44 but still, if you're the kind of rider
10:46 who wants the flashiest thing on the road from Ducati,
10:50 this $17,000 Panigale V2 might be the bike for you.
10:55 All right, folks, that's a wrap from today's review
10:59 on Ducati's Panigale V2 sport bike.
11:02 Make sure to surf on over to MotorcyclistOnline.com.
11:06 That's where all of my written content lives.
11:09 Give this video a thumbs up if you enjoyed it.
11:12 Please thumbs it down if you didn't
11:14 because we always like to hear
11:16 from the contradictory fans out there,
11:19 and we'll see you next time.
11:20 Thanks for watching.
11:21 (upbeat music)
11:24 (crowd cheering)
11:26 (upbeat music)
11:29 (crowd cheering)
11:32 (upbeat music)
11:34 (crowd cheering)
11:37 (upbeat music)
11:40 (upbeat music)