2026 Ducati Panigale V2 S Review | Phillip Island ...

2026 Ducati Panigale V2 S Evaluate

A lot has already been mentioned about Ducati’s transfer to a smaller, lighter, much less highly effective Panigale V2. First, there was disbelief, then outrage that Ducati would step away from a observe‑focussed, excessive‑output L‑twin, the very factor the model constructed its Superbike repute on. Years of success on booming twins, typically with Aussies on the bars, had set a transparent expectation.

Then got here acceptance. The parents again at Borgo Panigale HQ should not foolish in any case. They’d seen the numbers. Regarded on the trendlines. Needed to make some selections.

My guess? Gross sales of the older Panigale V2 had been dropping under the vital gross sales mass. A variety of patrons had moved to the barn-storming V4, which, due to Ducati’s class‑main electronics, is nowhere close to as intimidating to experience because the spec sheet suggests. Extra differentiation was required.

The opposite drawback was that attaining most efficiency from the previous 955 cc Desmo engine meant warmth. An arse-frying quantity of it on the street. And an appropriately race-focussed experience place. I discovered the previous bike to be a bit of labor round city. It solely made sense to me and labored finest above 8/10ths in your favorite little bit of tarmac, or on observe – the place admittedly it was very, very, critically good at delivering grins.

Ducati additionally had what many noticed as a niche in its lineup: a correct mid-level sports activities bike.

They don’t anymore.

2026 Ducati Panigale V2 S vs previous Panigale V2

After sampling the brand new Panigale V2 at Phillip Island, I feel they’ve made the appropriate name. Whereas it’s not as outright potent because the outgoing mannequin on the observe, it’s in all probability not as far behind as you may suppose… and is night time and day extra usable, extra snug and extra nimble. The brand new mannequin’s efficiency is noticeably extra accessible and simpler to pedal.

So what we now have, by way of topline numbers, is as follows:

The massive change: energy is down. Ducati’s lightest ever twin. An 890 cc non-Desmo L2 engine pushing out 120 hp at 10,750 rpm and 69 Nm at 8,250 rpm. (That compares to 955 cc, 155 hp and 104 Nm within the previous mannequin).

The counterargument, weight can also be down. At 176 kg (moist minus gas), it’s an astonishing 14 kg lighter than the outgoing V2. That’s large. It has a real-world influence on dealing with and agility.

The S variant I rode comes with Ohlins NIX30 43 mm fork and Ohlins shock. And like the massive V4, it has moved again to a double-sided swingarm (much less weight, extra management).

It has just about all the most recent Ducati tech you’d count on – six‑axis IMU, cornering ABS, traction and wheelie management, engine‑brake management and quickshifter. However not the superior Race eCBS brake‑by‑wire blended braking setup from the V4, which, in layman’s phrases, will trail-brake the rear for you automagically for tighter cornering.

Okay, that’s the background out of the best way.

What’s the Panigale V2 S like on observe?

Any day at Phillip Island is an efficient day. The gang at Phillip Island Experience Days at all times run an excellent present. Even when you must sit out the primary couple of moist periods amid thunderous rain. Fortunately, the observe dries pretty shortly, and we had been capable of get out earlier than lunchtime and type an impression of the brand new ‘little’ Panigale.

The primary impression once you throw the leg over is that it feels low, and the attain to the bars is snug with out being overly racy. With a seat top of simply 837 mm and a slimmer profile than the V4, it gives a simple, non-intimidating standover. At simply over 180 cm tall, I don’t discover it cramped in any respect, and I’d think about that these a bit shorter would really feel proper at house.

The tank form isn’t as sculpted as I’d anticipated (or I’d have preferred to be sincere – Aprilia’s RS660, although not a direct competitor, takes the win there for sculpted tank perfection).

Seat foam is surprisingly snug, too. There’s a slight step within the foam in-built that you simply really feel at first, however it disappears on the transfer. That cozy seat, mixed with a extremely compliant rear shock, supplies a stage of consolation that the previous bike can solely dream about.

Flip the important thing, and the sprint feels very Ducati. It’s clear, effectively laid out, and simple to make use of. I cycled by the settings and with a few periods already missed to the aforementioned rain, selected the next: Full energy, Wheelie Management on, TC set to 3 of eight (eight being most intrusive), throttle set to Dynamic, engine braking at minimal. Time to get at it.

Rolling out onto the circuit, the driving place feels a bit unfamiliar at first. Though it feels fairly low, I nonetheless really feel like I’m sitting on prime of the bike. That feeling doesn’t final lengthy, although, and I’m quickly feeling snug.

I’m instantly impressed with the nook entry and turn-in. Superbly agile but managed. The short right-to-left flick from MG to show 11 is nearly too straightforward. It comes over practically weightlessly and drops straight down on its aspect for my favorite flip at The Island. Simply magic. Search for the apex and wind on the throttle…

General, you may’t assist however discover how easy and steady the bike feels. All over the place: entry, mid nook, exit. It’s planted. And that progressive fee spring within the shock is much extra supple than you’d think about with out it being overly gentle.

As I began to push on a bit, it grew to become clear that there was nonetheless loads left in it – I’d misjudged the V2 S’s functionality… A number of too many full-power bikes had been holding me up in that medium group for my liking – getting a good, clear lap was difficult.

Time to go up into the subsequent group…

I had a lot enjoyable over the remaining two periods within the sooner group. Now capable of get some clearer laps. Nook speeds got here up. Exit speeds got here up. Braking factors stretched deeper. And all of the whereas, the ‘little’ V2 had my again. Pushing me on with barely a second. I felt completely in management. Not chasing the bike.

After wanting on the tyres and chatting to the PIRD lads, we added some preload and rebound to the rear for the final session. I’m usually fairly harsh on tyres at PI (moreso once I’m a bit rusty and never holding as a lot nook velocity as I must be), however the rear was holding up very well. So it advised me that the Diablo Rosso IV tyres, the Ohlins shock and the electronics had been all working collectively actually properly.

The TC specifically was tremendous good, and I lastly discovered the berries to constantly belief it out of Siberia and 11. That’s a primary for me. Name me old style. Even after there’d been a little bit of oil dumped proper on the racing line… And sure, that first lap driving throughout a unclean mud line had the center fee up…

Including a bit extra preload and rebound to the rear helped issues even additional, giving me extra suggestions beneath brakes into flip 4, with the Brembo M50 Monoblocs providing loads of chew and good lever really feel, too. It runs a six-axis IMU and has three ranges of ABS setting adjustability, in order that they aren’t mucking about. I do marvel in the event that they’ll supply the flamboyant Race eCBS from the V4 S as an choice, as a result of I was seriously impressed with that setup.

The preload additionally had a optimistic impact on dialling up the suggestions mid-corner. Particularly by 11, the place I may really feel the aspect of the tyre fairly properly. Tremendous communicative. But nonetheless tremendous easy and cozy. I needed to ask if the bump at Lukey was nonetheless there or not as a result of I hadn’t seen it…

By that third session, nook speeds had been fairly cheap, and the engine’s flexibility was beginning to shine. I used to be utilizing fifth by flip 12 and exiting there at a bit over 200. I used to be working out of revs in third popping out of Southern Loop, which was a bit problematic working street sample shift – I in all probability may have and may have been utilizing fourth by there as an alternative. One to attempt subsequent time!

Within the period of 200-plus hp superbikes, it’s straightforward to fall into the entice of considering that 120 hp isn’t going to be all that thrilling. Nicely… I hate to be the one to let you know, however the ‘little’ V2 is definitely up about 8 hp on the mighty 996 and has nearly precisely the identical torque (0.3 Nm extra, for those who’re counting). And the 996 was roughly 20 kilos heavier.

From a power-to-weight perspective, it comfortably shades what was Ducati’s ‘prime canine’ Superbike. Extra importantly, the V2 is 100 instances higher behaved. Higher fuelled. Smoother. Extra usable. Close to faultless quickshifter. Significantly better electronics and dealing with.

The one place I used to be actually in search of extra energy was on the prime finish. Most noticeable down the principle straight, the place issues began to tail off across the 230 km/h mark. About the identical as my previous 600 racebike, which made barely much less energy and noticeably much less torque. I reckon most individuals could be comfortably sooner on the V2. And do it far more simply.

And for me, that’s the massive win for the little Panigale.

Panigale V2 S ultimate ideas

The newest Ducati Panigale V2 S is simply really easy to experience. Tremendous forgiving. Tremendous versatile. The engine feels a bit extra old-school-forgiving-twin than excessive revving to make most energy in any respect prices race engine. Manner simpler to tip into corners or change traces than the massive bikes, and it’s simply much less tiring general. Each bodily and mentally.

A full Termi system drops roughly 4.5 kg and provides about 5-6 hp, a few of it up prime, however with advantages all over the place – together with a a lot more healthy soundtrack. That might put it fairly near good as a critical mid-level choice for individuals who need to do the occasional observe day and nonetheless have a way more snug bike to experience on the street each different day.

And whereas the drop in energy over the outgoing mannequin will likely be a little bit of a unfavourable for some, the flip aspect is that shifting to a smaller, lighter, easier non-Desmo engine additionally extends your valve service intervals to 30,000 km. I feel they’ve made the appropriate name.

In the end, gross sales will affirm it both method. At simply over 27 grand for a usable road-going sportsbike that’s critical enjoyable on observe, I feel they need to promote a bunch. That’s round half the value of a V4 S… Half. In Ducati phrases, it’s about as near a cut price as a Panigale will get. It’s in all probability the perfect worth bike of their lineup.

I used to be so impressed that I advised the PIRD guys they need to critically take into account getting some for his or her rent fleet. I feel they’d be a giant success for these riders who aren’t fairly able to step onto a 200 hp bike simply but. And even these extra skilled riders who’ve been there, performed that, and simply need to have a little bit of enjoyable with out having to work so exhausting for it.

We just like the Panigale V2 S as a result of:

• Tremendous usable, effectively‑balanced package deal at a pointy worth
• Versatile engine with loads of grunt from low rpm, with a wholesome, huge midrange
• Light-weight engine and chassis make it straightforward to vary course and alter traces mid-corner
• Surprisingly snug experience from the progressive‑fee Ohlins rear shock

The Panigale V2 S could be even higher if:

• Race eCBS was accessible as an choice
• The tank form was extra sculpted for a stronger mid‑nook lock‑in
• Finances for the total Termi system – let’s be sincere, you’d should tick that choice

2026 Ducati Panigale V2 S Specs