Ducati Paningale V4S UK First Ride

Ducati’s new V4 may have astounded on track but what about back here in the UK? Time to get busy with one, and find out...

- Benjamin J Kubas-Cronin

Ever since Gigi Dall’Igna subtly mentioned that Ducati were working on a V4 production bike during an unrelated press junket, it’s been the most anticipated sportsbike for years. Then, a year later, Bruce attended the launch at Valencia and, on track at least, was blown away.

Now, I’ve been a proper fan-boy of the big L-twin Ducati line since they introduced the first Panigale. When it comes to testing in a professional capacity though, their foibles held them back, and I often conceded the fact that when compared to the competition, just being bat-shit crazy wasn’t even nearly good enough for a winner’s gong.

Yet, it was those exact foibles and unabashed F-you attitude that made me fall in love with them on a personal level. When using the word ‘character’ to describe a motorcycle, usually that’s the way of putting a positive spin on inherent flaws. However with the 11 and then 1299 Panigales, said flaws were indeed part and parcel of the entire experience. You either got it, or you didn’t, and likely chose something a little easier to live with instead.

So it was with some amount of trepidation that I approached my first ever ride on the new V4 S here in the UK – with literally no clue what it was going to be like. In matter of fact, the first hour on the bike during a quick getting to know each other session was rather telling, with realisations, disappointments and revelations coming thick and fast.