Cycle World gets its first sample of the 2022 Ducati Streetfighter V2, a more approachable and practical naked option from Borgo Panigale.
All we’ve ever wanted is bare-skinned superbikes with serious horsepower and cornering abilities to match. What we’ve gotten is a number of so-called super-nakeds that are merely knife-edge racetrack machines with a one-piece handlebar. Talk about untapped potential. But what if we asked for a little too much?
Take the Ducati Streetfighter V4 S we last tested, for example: A very nearly stripped-down repli-racer built upon the apex-smashing Panigale V4 superbike platform. The Italians hardly conceded to a smidge of practicality in the way of performance, considering the 180 hp from its 1,103cc Desmosedici Stradale powerplant, knife-edge handling, and no-expense-spared componentry. A wicked, adrenaline-pumping ride? No question. But that raw performance on tap comes at the sacrifice of everyday versatility, not to mention how its $25,195 starting price hinders accessibility.
Behold therefore the debut of the 2022 Streetfighter V2, a motorcycle Ducati promotes as a more practical and approachable addition to its lineup while maintaining Borgo Panigale’s serious performance and “Fight Formula’' design concept. It’s still a streetfighter, in every sense.
That means superbike influence, this time from the middleweight-plus Panigale V2. Ducati stripped the Panigale of most of its bodywork, adjusted the riding position, nipped and tucked all the right areas, and threw it to the wolves as “a new fighter in town.”
While the 955cc Superquadro 90-degree V-twin engine is in principle identical to the Panigale V2, Ducati made slight modifications for more practical street performance. Final drive gearing has been shortened via the addition of two teeth to the rear sprocket to aid engine response. Ducati claims the powerplant is good for 153 hp at 10,750 rpm and 74.8 pound-feet of torque at 9,000 rpm. Considering that’s 55 hp less than the claimed 208 hp of the flagship V4 model, it’s a more approachable engine package for a wider range of riders, yet with serious potential.
That potential can be felt on both road and racetrack. The Streetfighter V2 has the subtle touch of a gentle giant at low rpm and a rough-and-tumble personality when ridden with aggression. Off-idle fueling and initial throttle response is direct with a solid connection to the rear wheel via Ducati’s finely calibrated ride-by-wire system. It’s easy to romp around between 5,000 and 8,000 rpm, taking advantage of the V2′s broad torque spread. Honestly, riders will rarely need to leave this range while shredding their favorite winding backroads; there’s enough power to maintain chassis composure at every apex and then grunt to the exit with speed.
But once revved past 8,000 rpm, the engine experiences a power surge that’s a reminder of its superbike roots. There’s a small window from 8,000 rpm to around 10,000 where the Streetfighter punches into a higher weight class with breathtaking acceleration and lofting wheelies, which may be effective at reducing front-tire wear. Its true fighting spirit is short-lived, however, as it quickly signs off toward its 11,500 rpm redline; a gear change via the clutchless Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) EVO 2 system managing the bike’s well-spaced six-speed gearbox is required. At the racetrack, the V2 lives in this zone, making for an otherworldly good time every session.
Keeping in line with Ducati’s intentions, the Streetfighter V2′s powerplant offers a solid balance of versatility, flexibility, and fighting spirit. Credit Ducati’s sophisticated six-axis Bosch IMU-based electronic rider aids suite with tailoring the Streetfighter into a manageable motorcycle for every scenario, via the assistance of its “predictive” Ducati Traction Control (DTC) EVO 2, Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) EVO, and Engine Brake Control (EBC) EVO systems. In total, DTC is selectable in eight levels plus off, four levels of DWC, and three settings of EBC, including three choices in throttle response settings and an option to limit peak output to 110 hp.
To make sense of all of the rider-aid selections are three riding modes, each with preset parameters, including Sport, Road, and Wet. Even better, these modes can be individually customized to rider preferences via the Streetfighter V2′s 4.3-inch TFT display. Toggling to level 3 of DTC and level 1 of DWC offered a balance of predictable on-throttle control of the OE-fitted Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV rubber and sheer corner exit speed, not to mention hoisting low-trajectory wheelies. Fight on!
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