Published: Today 18:38

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Following their brand new announcement 890 cc V-Twin engine, Ducati they took the covers off a radically redesigned Panigale V2 and the Panigale V2 S.

Available from January 2025 at £14,995 for the base bike and £16,995 for the S, virtually every element of the bike has been changed with the update in a move that aims to make the supersport easier to ride and easier to live with, while still delivering plenty of track performance

For the first time, younger riders will also be able to swing their leg over a Borgo Panigale sports bike, with the factory also offering 47bhp. License A2 compatible version as well.

At the heart of the changes is the move to the new smaller 54.4kg twin engine, which produces 118bhp at 10,750rpm, alongside 68.8lb.ft of torque at 8,250rpm.

The overhaul has produced what the Bologna brand describes as “the most fun sports bike ever created”, as well as the lightest Panigale yet, tipping the scales at 172kg.

While the Ducatis of yesteryear – including others like 748THE 848 and the 959 – sacrificed road manners for performance, the new bike is geared more towards everyday enjoyment, with improvements to midrange and rider comfort – including improved heat management thanks to a fresh air ventilation system that directs hot air from the radiator away by the pilot’s feet.

That’s not to say performance is lacking. It might come in at a 35bhp deficit to its 955 Superquadro predecessor, but Ducati says the new Panigale V2 lapped the Vallelunga by just two-tenths of a second over the previous model – a machine that leaves big shoes to fill having just taken Supersport. World Championship crown for the second consecutive year.

Thanks to a significant diet of 17 kg and a completely redone chassis, such performance was achieved. The new frame is a monocoque aluminum structure with a weight of 4 kg. In addition to fulfilling the classic function of a frame, the monocoque also acts as an air box; houses the air filter, throttle bodies and fuel circuit complete with injectors.

In a nod to its flagship sibling, the Panigale V2 also switches to a double-sided aluminum swingarm setup that’s more compliant than the former single.

On the suspension front, the V2 uses 43mm fully adjustable Marzocchi forks paired with a fully adjustable Kayaba rear shock. The more premium V2 S, on the other hand, gets Öhlins components at both ends – also fully adjustable, naturally.

Both the base model and the S ride on new six-spoke wheels, with the rear 1kg lighter than the old rims. They are shod with Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tires from the factory.

Holding the new machine back are four Brembo M50 calipers gripping twin 320mm discs – again these contribute marginally to the diet, shedding a combined 280 grams from the previous bike’s M4.32 units.

As expected, Ducati has crammed its latest suite of electronics into the new Pani, all accessed via a new 5-inch TFT dash that can be configured between three display modes – namely Road, Road Pro and Track .

The jewel in the crown of the rider’s electronic system in Ducati’s ‘predictive’ traction control system, as revealed on Panigale V4 at the beginning of this year.

A six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) also enables a lean-sensitive ABS system that offers three different levels of intervention, including a “brake slide” function at level two or the ability to completely disable the assist from back in Level One.

There is also a built-in wheel control system, an engine braking control system, a quick up/down shifter for starting. Riders can also use four distinct ride modes, from a Full Fat Race mode that reduces electronic assistance while still providing maximum power and the most aggressive throttle map, to a Rain setting that boosts power to 96 CP.

Stay tuned for the full review of the 2025 Ducati Panigale V2 coming soon to MCN.