2026 Ducati Panigale V2 S Overview | Phillip Island Observe Take a look at

2026 Ducati Panigale V2 S Overview

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, usually with Aussies on the bars, had set a transparent expectation.

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

My guess? Gross sales of the older Panigale V2 had been dropping under the important gross sales mass. Numerous 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The opposite drawback was that attaining most efficiency from the outdated 955 cc Desmo engine meant warmth.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 I discovered the outdated bike to be a bit of labor round city. It solely made sense to me and labored greatest 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2026 Ducati Panigale V2 S vs outdated Panigale V2

After sampling the brand new Panigale V2 at Phillip Island, I believe they’ve made the correct 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 would possibly suppose… and is evening and day extra usable, extra comfy 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 (That compares to 955 cc, 155 hp and 104 Nm within the outdated mannequin).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 impression on dealing with and agility.

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

It has just about all the newest Ducati tech you’d anticipate – 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 all the time run an excellent present. Even when it’s important to sit out the primary couple of moist classes 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 if you throw the leg over is that it feels low, and the attain to the bars is comfy with out being overly racy. With a seat top of simply 837 mm and a slimmer profile than the V4, it presents a straightforward, 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 of shorter would really feel proper at dwelling.

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

Seat foam is surprisingly comfy, too. There’s a slight step within the foam in-built that you simply really feel at first, but it surely disappears on the transfer. That cozy seat, mixed with a very compliant rear shock, gives a stage of consolation that the outdated 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 via the settings and with a few classes already missed to the aforementioned rain, selected the next: Full energy, Wheelie Management on, TC set to a few 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 using place feels a bit of unfamiliar at first. Regardless that it feels fairly low, I nonetheless really feel like I’m sitting on high of the bike. That feeling doesn’t final lengthy, although, and I’m quickly feeling comfy.

I’m instantly impressed with the nook entry and turn-in. Fantastically agile but managed. The short right-to-left flick from MG to show 11 is sort of too straightforward. It comes over almost 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…

Total, you’ll be able to’t assist however discover how easy and steady the bike feels. In all places: entry, mid nook, exit. It’s planted. And that progressive charge 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 of, 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 an honest, clear lap was difficult.

Time to go up into the subsequent group…

I had a lot enjoyable over the remaining two classes within the quicker 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 ought to be), however the rear was holding up rather well. So it instructed me that the Diablo Rosso IV tyres, the Ohlins shock and the electronics had been all working collectively actually properly.

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

Including a bit of extra preload and rebound to the rear helped issues even additional, giving me extra suggestions underneath brakes into flip 4, with the Brembo M50 Monoblocs providing loads of chunk 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 provide the flamboyant Race eCBS from the V4 S as an possibility, as a result of I used to be critically impressed with that setup.

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

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

Within the period of 200-plus hp superbikes, it’s straightforward to fall into the lure of pondering that 120 hp isn’t going to be all that thrilling. Effectively… I hate to be the one to inform you, 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, should you’re counting). And the 996 was roughly 20 kilos heavier.

From a power-to-weight perspective, it comfortably shades what was Ducati’s ‘high canine’ Superbike. Extra importantly, the V2 is 100 occasions 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 on the lookout for extra energy was on the high finish. Most noticeable down the primary straight, the place issues began to tail off across the 230 km/h mark. About the identical as my outdated 600 racebike, which made barely much less energy and noticeably much less torque. I reckon most individuals can be comfortably quicker on the V2. And do it rather more simply.

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

Panigale V2 S remaining ideas

The most recent Ducati Panigale V2 S is simply really easy to experience. Tremendous forgiving. Tremendous versatile. The engine feels a bit of extra old-school-forgiving-twin than excessive revving to make most energy in any respect prices race engine. Means simpler to tip into corners or change traces than the large 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 high, however with advantages in every single place – together with a a lot more healthy soundtrack. That may put it fairly near excellent as a critical mid-level possibility for many who wish to do the occasional observe day and nonetheless have a way more comfy 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 transferring to a smaller, lighter, easier non-Desmo engine additionally extends your valve service intervals to 30,000 km. I believe they’ve made the correct name.

Finally, gross sales will verify it both method. At simply over 27 grand for a usable road-going sportsbike that’s critical enjoyable on observe, I believe 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 discount as a Panigale will get. It’s in all probability the most effective worth bike of their lineup.

I used to be so impressed that I instructed the PIRD guys they need to critically contemplate getting some for his or her rent fleet. I believe 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, finished that, and simply wish to have a little bit of enjoyable with out having to work so arduous for it.

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

• Tremendous usable, effectively‑balanced bundle at a pointy worth
• Versatile engine with loads of grunt from low rpm, with a wholesome, extensive midrange
• Light-weight engine and chassis make it straightforward to vary path and regulate traces mid-corner
• Surprisingly comfy experience from the progressive‑charge Ohlins rear shock

The Panigale V2 S can be even higher if:

• Race eCBS was obtainable as an possibility
• The tank form was extra sculpted for a stronger mid‑nook lock‑in
• Price range for the total Termi system – let’s be sincere, you’d must tick that possibility

2026 Ducati Panigale V2 S Specs