Ducati has launched the Panigale V4 R in India priced at ₹84.99 lakh ex-showroom. It is essentially Ducati’s World Superbike contender, but in a road-legal form. It is also one of the most expensive superbikes currently being sold in India.
At the heart of the Ducati Panigale V4 R is the 998cc liquid-cooled V4 Desmosedici Stradale R engine, which produces 218PS and 114.5Nm, with a screaming redline of 16,500rpm. Ducati is also offering a racing exhaust for the V4 R, which takes the output to 235PS. The motorcycle is claimed to reach a top speed of 330kmph in its full racing form.
The gearbox on the Panigale V4 R is a racing gearbox which has the neutral placed below the first gear, a layout typically seen on race bikes. It also gets a six-axis IMU, which adds a host of electronics to the motorcycle, like – traction control, launch control, cornering ABS, wheelie control, engine braking control, slide control and a quickshifter. The inputs to the system are managed through a 6.9-inch full colour TFT display.
To extract such high level performance from the engine, the Italian bike maker has used lightweight cast aluminium pistons, forged steel crankshaft, gun-drilled titanium connecting rods, titanium intake valves, and 56mm oval-shaped throttle bodies. The air intake system has also been worked on to allow better airflow and thus enhance performance.
Additionally, the Panigale V4 R gets a lot of tech and features directly trickled down from its MotoGP counterparts. The corner sidepods are the first to be seen on a road-legal motorcycle. The sidepods generate aerodynamic loads at high speeds which allow better lean angles and improve tyre grip at high-speed cornering situations. The motorcycle also features larger biplane wings, which are said to generate 25 percent more downforce than the previous model.
The Panigale V4 R sits on an aluminium alloy frame and a hollow symmetrical swingarm (which is not single-sided anymore) which are designed to maximise the performance of the slick tyres. Suspension duties are handled by fully-adjustable Öhlins NPX 25-30 pressurised front fork, and Öhlins TTX36 rear shock absorber. It also gets a fully adjustable Öhlins steering damper. The motorcycle gets forged aluminium wheels and is shod with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa V4 tyres – a 200/60 section at the rear. Braking duties are handled by Brembo Hypure monobloc calipers which are designed for extensive track usage.
