We Get Up Close With Ducati’s Streetfighter V4

Want to experience the Ducati V4 madness but don't live near a racetrack? The Italian manufacturer's new Streetfighter V4 might be just the bike for you. The unveiling of this new model at Ducati World Premiere 2020 was also accompanied by Ducati giving us high-res images of the scarlet red menace, so let's dive in and take a closer look. 

The Desmosedici Stradale engine is proudly on display in the Streetfighter V4, with no fairing to cover it. The massive exhaust system is also in plain sight. In terms of body panels, the bike gets tank extensions as well as a small panel behind the oil-cooler, but no belly-pan. 

The Streetfighter gets mean-looking low-set twin LED projector headlights at the front. The LED DRL strip above the headlights gives the V4 an angry expression and it looks like it means business.

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One of the most distinctive elements of the Streetfighter's design is the winglets. These have been developed with Ducati Corse, the manufacturer's racing division. Two of these are placed on either side and Ducati claims they produce 28kg of downforce at 270kmph.

The tail section on the Streetfighter looks very similar to that on the Panigale V4, with the two vents cut out underneath the pillion seat. With no exhauts exits protruding on the side of the motorcycle, the Streetfighter has a very slim profile. It also gets a 200-section rear tyre.

The 1103cc liquid-cooled V4 Desmosedici Stradale engine churns out 211PS and 123Nm, making this one of the most powerful production naked motorcycles in the world. In fact, it is even more powerful than the supercharged Kawasaki ZH2! It also uses a counter-rotating crankshaft for increased agility and better handling. The engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox that also gets a bi-directional quickshifter as standard.

An optional track-only Akrapovic exhaust system is also available, which bumps up power to an obscene 223PS while simultaneously shaving off 6kg. Ducati has chosen to not detune the motor and give it the same output as the Panigale. This is in contrast to someone like Aprilia, whose Tuono manages only 177PS from its 1103cc engine while the 999.6cc RSV4 RR puts out 204PS.

The S variant of the Streetfighter gets extra goodies from Ohlins in the form of electronic suspension and an electronically adjustable steering damper. The standard variant gets a 41mm upside down Showa Big-Piston fork and a Sachs monoshock, both of which are fully adjustable.

Also exclusive to the S variant are Marchesini forged aluminium wheels which reduce weight as well as rotational inertia, making the bike more agile light-steering.

Rider comfort has been given a slightly higher priority on the Streetfighter, with 60mm of foam being used on the seat. The seat height is also 25mm lower than that of the Panigale, making this a more manageable motorcycle. 

Braking equipment is top-notch on this Ducati, with the Streetfighter getting huge twin 330mm discs bitten by Brembo's monobloc Stylema 4-piston calipers. Rear braking is handled by a 245mm single disc and 2-piston caliper. IMU-assisted cornering ABS is standard. 

At the front of the motorcycle, we see a full-colour TFT display. This allows you to control all the electronic rider aids including IMU-assisted traction control and slide control, launch control, wheelie control and engine braking control.