Ducati last night lifted the covers from its new Streetfighter V2 middleweight naked bike, which is set to go on sale in Australia in February, priced from $22,500 rideaway.
The Italian bikemaker has also revealed a high-spec Streetfighter V4 SP variant to top its naked bike line-up, which will be released locally in May, priced from $48,400.
The new Ducati Streetfighter V2 makes use of the Panigale V2’s 955cc V-twin engine generating 112kW and 101.5Nm, while its chassis has been tuned to suit the naked configuration with wider bars and a more upright seating position.
Ducati claims the bike will retain the essence of the V4 but deliver an easier handling package thanks to its 178 kilogram weight figure (dry).
The ‘Fighter’ persona is instantly recognisable with the front headlight design. DRLs are now familiarly shaped in a definite ‘V’ and DC Comics character The Joker is claimed to offer the inspiration for the bike’s frontal visage. Ducati Designer Sam McCafferty referred to ‘the notorious grin of the Joker’ at the global web launch that took place overnight.
Ducati has foregone ‘aerodynamic appendages’ to arrive at a much narrower and more streamlined body shape for the V2. For those looking to use the bike on the racetrack, an aerodynamic package is available as an option.
The bike gets a suite of electronics that include traction control and wheelie control along with cornering ABS which now features on all Ducati production motorcycles. Riding traction modes are different to those of the Panigale V2 with the introduction of a ‘Wet’ option. Power modes are ‘High’, ‘Medium’ and ‘Low’ with torque delivery progressively softened from the full power ‘High’ mode.
Effort has been aimed at user-friendliness with a thicker seat than that of the Panigale and higher bars to take the racer crouch out of the equation. A much more upright rider position has been employed and the seat height is 845mm. There’s also a shorter final drive ratio to quicken engine response.
The six-speed gearbox comes with an up/down quickshifter fitted, and the frame is a cast monocoque design with the engine representing a stressed member. The single-sided swingarm is grafted to the rear of the engine and is 16mm longer than that of the Panigale V2. Ducati reckons this will make the Streetfighter a more stable option.
Forks are the same Showa 43mm fully adjustable ‘Big Piston’ items that grace the Panigale V2 and the stern gets a Sachs, side-mounted, fully-adjustable monoshock. The chassis is rounded out by a Sachs steering damper. Spring rates and damping characteristics are completely revised to offer a softer, more comfortable road ride.
The bike gets especially developed Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tyres and shares brakes with the Panigale V2 – 320mm discs with Brembo M432 Monoblock calipers do the job at the front. At the rear a single 245mm disc is fitted.
Interestingly, Ducati has seen fit to make use of softer pads on the Streetfighter V2.
The now familiar 4.3-inch TFT dash gets the nod and a dedicated range of Ducati add-ons are available for the Streetfighter V2. This includes ‘biplane wings’ identical to those on the Streetfighter V4 available in both plastic and carbon. A full Akrapovic exhaust is also available which pulls a substantial seven kilograms from the bike’s weight while adding 3.3kW to performance numbers.
Also new is the larger Streetfighter V4 SP. Developed by Ducati Corse graced by the brand’s Desmosedici Stradale V-Four engine. It gets biplane wings, the full Panigale V4 Electronic Suite, comes in at 178kg dry (three kilograms lighter than the Streetfighter V4 S) and delivers a hefty 153kW and 123Nm.
The ‘SP’ designation stands for ‘Sports Production’ and these units will be individually numbered to add to the exclusivity of the bike. Matte black fairings and carbon wheels and wings feature.
Ohlins Smart EC suspension inherited from the Panigale V4 comes as standard equipment on the SP along with Brembo Stylema brakes and the Ducati Superbike derived dry clutch.
Snag’s career in motoring journalism spans 29 years with stints at major bike mags Australian Road Rider, Motorcycle Trader and AMCN along with contributions to just about every other outlet worth a hill of beans. He was editor of Unique Cars magazine and hosts his legendary podcast ‘Snag Says’ when he gets off his date.
