The first impression I had when I saw the new Ducati Streetfighter V4S was that the bike is simply beautiful and everything seems to be in the right place. The new Streetfighter V4S is quite different from the previous version, not so much in terms of design, but rather in terms of performance.
The changes compared to the previous version are immense on paper and in practice, they are even more noticeable. Ducati purposely chose the Almeria track because it is a very demanding track, with many blind curves. Most of the journalists present were focused on the track and forgot about the bike. That was the best compliment the Ducati engineers could have, because it only means that it is a very easy bike to ride.
Personally, I was already familiar with the previous version of this bike, which was amazing but challenging to ride, especially on public roads. The engine was calm up to 8000rpm, but after that, it gained a soul and a power that was difficult to control for less experienced riders. In this new version, ease of handling is what stands out the most. For example, Ducati has added a new seat that increases comfort without compromising the sensations that the terrain gives us.
ENGINE
This engine is inspired by MotoGP, and Ducati announces that it has the best power-to-weight ratio on the market. With only 197.5 kg in running order, 208 hp of power, and 123 Nm of torque, the new Streetfighter V4S is impressive. Oh, and 70% of the torque is available as early as 4,000 rpm.
After talking to the engineers and product managers, they were very proud of this evolution of the Streetfighter. This is one of those bikes that is hard to find anything wrong with. If there is a bike that is close to perfection, this is one of them, at least for track use. In fact, not a single journalist pointed out a flaw. That’s the level of the new Streetfighter V4S.
The engineers and product managers at Ducati said that the focus was to make the bike more agile than the previous version. To achieve this, they did several things, but the main one was to raise the footpegs by 4 mm. When I asked them if it would be possible to further improve the bike, the answer was a confident yes, pointing out weight reduction as one of the focuses for future versions. In this generation, other notable changes are the introduction of two new riding modes, WET which limits the bike to 165 horsepower and the FULL mode which, as the name suggests… unlocks the bike’s full power without the help of electronic filters, except in first gear. This mode impresses some riders, including Ducati test riders who say it has almost inexhaustible power. Of course, it’s not, but not everyone finds their limit.
Another always interesting topic is the side “wings”, which in this case at average speeds around 120 km/h provide more front wheel pressure. At high speeds, they greatly increase stability and agility.
As you know, this engine is inspired by MotoGP. The technicians changed, or rather improved, the torque saturation in all gears, so there is practically no power loss when changing gears… In FULL riding mode, it is truly impressive. With all this, the bike became even more exciting to ride and look at! Its design, the lines, and the whole bike are full of quality details. Speaking of which, another improvement was the increase in fuel tank capacity, which is appreciated by almost everyone…
IN PROGRESS
A bike that is a true computer, it has many aids, but they are so good that you don’t even notice they are there. Regarding the electronics and the instrument panel, the engineers did a very clever thing. It shows in real-time which aid is working at the moment, which is very handy because, for example, if the tires are getting worn out, you can increase traction control. Or if we feel full of confidence, we can decrease the wheelie control. Oh, and it’s easy and immediate to modify the riding, with a shortcut on the handlebar. Very easy and intuitive.
The enthusiasm of everyone present to test this motorcycle on the track was as great as that of the product engineers who developed it to show their new creation. However, when we arrived, we discovered that, as usual, there was an embargo that prevented us from talking about our driving impressions for five days. Ducati, however, allowed us to show images on social networks. After riding the bike, I understood why Ducati had imposed this restriction. It’s because the bike may look similar to the previous one on the outside, but when it’s in motion, it’s a different story. It’s a much easier bike to ride and at the same time, it’s still mind-blowing.
Regarding the suspension, they improved the rebound in the front and the compression in the rear, with this electronic Ohlins suspension adapting according to the speed and lean angle, making it safer.
In this challenging track, the most common mistakes were braking in the wrong places and correcting the trajectory line in the middle of the curves, with the bike providing such confidence that it prevents serious accidents for the less experienced and helps the riders not to lose as much time when it’s necessary to correct a line.
In summary, and to conclude, this Streetfighter is a beast (in a good way). The big difference is that it’s very safe!! It’s more comfortable and at the same time, faster and more civilized.
DUCATI Streetfighter V4 S
ENGINE Desmosedici Stradale, 90º V4, 4 valves per cylinder, liquid-cooled
DISPLACEMENT 1,103 cc
POWER 153 kW (208 hp) @ 13,000 RPM
TORQUE 123 Nm @ 9,500 rpm
TRANSMISSION 6 SPEEDS
FRAME aluminum, Front Frame
FUEL TANK 17 liters
FRONT SUSPENSION inverted telescopic fork Ohlins NIX30, 43 mm, 120 mm travel, electronic adjustment
REAR SUSPENSION Ohlins mono-shock, 130 mm travel, electronic adjustment
FRONT BRAKE 2 discs, 330 mm, Brembo radial monobloc calipers with 4 pistons
REAR BRAKE 1 disc, 245 mm, 2-piston caliper
FRONT TIRE 120/70 ZR17
REAR TIRE 200/60 ZR17
WHEELBASE 1,488 mm
SEAT HEIGHT 845 mm
WEIGHT 197.5 KG
MSRP (starting from) 26,895