What do you get if you take one of the sexiest bikes on the planet and remove its clothes? Not all of its clothes mind you, just enough to pique your interest and make you wonder what else is hiding behind those subtle curves and cleans lines. You get the new Ducati Streetfighter V4, that’s what.
It’s easy to think that the Streetfighter V4 is a lazy offering from the team in Bologna. Take a proven performer, remove a fairing or two, scrap the clip-ons in favour of some risers, and voila; the Streetfighter is born. And sure, on the surface, you’d be right, hell the media release literally states that this was the concept. However dive a little deeper, and you soon discover that this is more than a half-naked super model.
Performance
Lighter, shorter and with similar power and torque to the Panigale V4, the Streetfighter looks like a weapon on paper. Power has been scaled back to a ‘mere’ 208bhp (153kW) from the Panigale’s 214 (157kW), but it delivers that power slightly earlier in the rev range. When paired with a lighter bike, and more aggressive ergonomics, this brawler is ready to hit the streets.
Ride
Apart from the subtle, yet important, performance and styling tweeks, the Streetfighter V4 and V4 S remain largely unchanged from their Panigale progeny. The V4 comes equipped with 43mm Showa Big Piston Forks and a rear monoshock courtesy of Sachs. Upgrade to the V4 S and you get 43mm Ohlins event-based forks and rear shock.
As with the suspension, braking is also supplied by the same radially-mounted Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers, with 4 x 30mm pistons biting down on dual 330mm discs, as the Panigale. Rear-braking is taken care of courtesy of a single 245mm disc, clamped by a 2-piston caliper.
Rubber comes courtesy of Pirelli, with the Streetfighter fitted with Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa II tyres front and rear.
Electronics
Cornering ABS, Traction Control, Slide Control, Wheelie Control, Launch Control, Quick Shift up/down, Engine Brake Control, Electronic Suspension and three rider modes, all selectable from a 5″ full-TFT high resolution colour screen. If you want more electronics, buy a Playstation.
