Ducati V4 Poor Man's edition
Discussion
I currently have an S1000rr and love it. However it is now just over three years old and am looking to perhaps buy a new bike. I keep getting an hankering for a Panigale for no other reason other than 'surely one must own a Ducati at some point in ones life' and at nearly 67 I don't know how much longer I'll be able to throw my sports bike around. However having been to arrange a test ride yesterday my head is still spinning from the price of them. Basically at £23000 for the bottom of the range one, substantially more expensive than a better equipped S1000rr thats as much as I would consider spending on a toy. Has anyone got one? Is it less bike than the next one up? Has anyone made the switch from the BMW to the Panigale if so what are your thoughts? Thanks
Triaguar said:
I currently have an S1000rr and love it. However it is now just over three years old and am looking to perhaps buy a new bike. I keep getting an hankering for a Panigale for no other reason other than 'surely one must own a Ducati at some point in ones life' and at nearly 67 I don't know how much longer I'll be able to throw my sports bike around. However having been to arrange a test ride yesterday my head is still spinning from the price of them. Basically at £23000 for the bottom of the range one, substantially more expensive than a better equipped S1000rr thats as much as I would consider spending on a toy. Has anyone got one? Is it less bike than the next one up? Has anyone made the switch from the BMW to the Panigale if so what are your thoughts? Thanks
Does it have to be a new bike? I’m sure there are plenty of used examples for a lot less. Both the current V4 but also the old twins eg 1299. Ducati’s back catalogue is pretty impressive. I had a V4 briefly. It was lovely. It is a lot of cash though for a bike that objectively is no better than the BMW.
Skeptisk said:
Triaguar said:
I currently have an S1000rr and love it. However it is now just over three years old and am looking to perhaps buy a new bike. I keep getting an hankering for a Panigale for no other reason other than 'surely one must own a Ducati at some point in ones life' and at nearly 67 I don't know how much longer I'll be able to throw my sports bike around. However having been to arrange a test ride yesterday my head is still spinning from the price of them. Basically at £23000 for the bottom of the range one, substantially more expensive than a better equipped S1000rr thats as much as I would consider spending on a toy. Has anyone got one? Is it less bike than the next one up? Has anyone made the switch from the BMW to the Panigale if so what are your thoughts? Thanks
Does it have to be a new bike? I’m sure there are plenty of used examples for a lot less. Both the current V4 but also the old twins eg 1299. Ducati’s back catalogue is pretty impressive. I had a V4 briefly. It was lovely. It is a lot of cash though for a bike that objectively is no better than the BMW.
It’s difficult to argue that it’s worth the cash. It’s a heart over head purchase.
That being said if you can actually afford it without having sleepless nights about the money tied up in it / the depreciation and you want it, get it.
With bikes £4k or less will get something that’s fast, exciting and better than you are.
That being said if you can actually afford it without having sleepless nights about the money tied up in it / the depreciation and you want it, get it.
With bikes £4k or less will get something that’s fast, exciting and better than you are.
I took out a panigale v4 and an s1000rr last year. As said they're very similar. Both great to ride but I preferred my RSV4 apart from them both feeling lighter than it. The panigale doesn't have the smack you in the face mid range of the RSV4 but I imagine the top end is better, although its very hard to find out on the road, and I really didn't like the sound of the Ducati but that's obviously personal preference. The panigale is definitely the most comfortable of them, the pegs felt quite a lot lower than the s1000rr and would be one of the biggest plusses for buying one, although that's negated by it not having cruise control. I rode a non S model and the suspension was very firm but obvious can be adjusted. Looks wise I really like both but again as said I just couldn't justify the price for either of them tbh compared to my RSV4.
Triaguar said:
Not necessarily brand new, but as near as dammit. And the prices for a nearly new are just as bad. I have no interest in the old twins.
If you are after V4 goodness how about the Aprilia? I had the Tuono and that was perhaps the best engine I’ve had. Handling was also sublime. Triaguar said:
I keep getting an hankering for a Panigale for no other reason other than 'surely one must own a Ducati at some point in ones life' and at nearly 67 I don't know how much longer I'll be able to throw my sports bike around.
That there is the only important part of what you said.If you have the money to get one, 100% go out and buy one right now, and don’t just got one ‘That’ll do’ get the one that you really want, go to the absolute max of your budget.
Even if you only ride it for 1 summer then move it on you’re still going to get a very large chunk of your money back, and whatever you replace it with will seem financially cheap to you.
Don’t leave yourself with feelings of ‘If only I had ….’ In years to come.
Have you considered also getting a comparative test ride on a Streetfighter V4S? I know a Streetfighter is a slightly different proposition to a Panigale, but they are so easy to ride compared to a full-on sports bike and make absolute mincemeat out of s
tty B-roads. (Like-for-like they obviously tend to be a fair bit cheaper as well.)
Panigale or Streetfighter, I'd definitely recommend the S version over the base.
tty B-roads. (Like-for-like they obviously tend to be a fair bit cheaper as well.) Panigale or Streetfighter, I'd definitely recommend the S version over the base.
Thanks for the input. From my original post I was after a comparison of the difference between the base model. Ie
Would it be £23000 wasted or would going up to the S be £4000 well spent.
I suppose what I'm looking for is someone on here to tell me they've got the base and it is superb. Or not and I'll get another BMW
Would it be £23000 wasted or would going up to the S be £4000 well spent.
I suppose what I'm looking for is someone on here to tell me they've got the base and it is superb. Or not and I'll get another BMW
Yeah, my post wasn't very clear...I meant it might be worth trying a v4s Streetfighter against a base Panigale. Not really relevant beyond the fact that s spec Streetfighter is probably around the same price as base spec Panigale, and not relevant at all if you're only interested in out and out sports bike!
I have owned a base V4 2018 and a V4S 2021 so can give you my thoughts.
If you are mainly riding on the road, which I think is where you will be spending your time, I would suggest biting the bullet and opting for the s model. The semi-active suspension really does make a difference in terms of comfort and overall rider enjoyment when crunching the miles. And they are all gold and blingy !
If you are planning to ride on track, then the standard suspension, dialed-in to your preference is absolutely fine.
If you are looking for a used buy, I would not go for anything pre-2020, they would feel totally agricultural compared to your RR. I had to wrestle my 2018 bike around the track. Good fun, but knackering. So any V4 with the "wings" would be an easier ride because Ducati updated the software.
Whilst a V4 / V4S is a capable machine, they will behave very differently to your S1000RR. I know this because I now have a 2023 RR. I love the BMW, it's so easy to ride fast, electronic trickery literally oozing out of it, and with a few added creature comforts for the road.
But if you want to feel special, and have a piece of motorcycle art to pander over and admire .... get a Ducati !!
If you are mainly riding on the road, which I think is where you will be spending your time, I would suggest biting the bullet and opting for the s model. The semi-active suspension really does make a difference in terms of comfort and overall rider enjoyment when crunching the miles. And they are all gold and blingy !
If you are planning to ride on track, then the standard suspension, dialed-in to your preference is absolutely fine.
If you are looking for a used buy, I would not go for anything pre-2020, they would feel totally agricultural compared to your RR. I had to wrestle my 2018 bike around the track. Good fun, but knackering. So any V4 with the "wings" would be an easier ride because Ducati updated the software.
Whilst a V4 / V4S is a capable machine, they will behave very differently to your S1000RR. I know this because I now have a 2023 RR. I love the BMW, it's so easy to ride fast, electronic trickery literally oozing out of it, and with a few added creature comforts for the road.
But if you want to feel special, and have a piece of motorcycle art to pander over and admire .... get a Ducati !!
It may not be what you're looking for, but come the summer I was going to advertise my V4s.
It's 2019, I think it has about 2500 miles on it and other than lots of carbon and Ducati bits, it's as new.
It's a stonking bike and given the relatively few changes over the years is a cheaper way into v4 ownership, though I realise you may want a brand new one :-)
It's 2019, I think it has about 2500 miles on it and other than lots of carbon and Ducati bits, it's as new.
It's a stonking bike and given the relatively few changes over the years is a cheaper way into v4 ownership, though I realise you may want a brand new one :-)
airsafari87 said:
That there is the only important part of what you said.
If you have the money to get one, 100% go out and buy one right now, and don’t just got one ‘That’ll do’ get the one that you really want, go to the absolute max of your budget.
Even if you only ride it for 1 summer then move it on you’re still going to get a very large chunk of your money back, and whatever you replace it with will seem financially cheap to you.
Don’t leave yourself with feelings of ‘If only I had ….’ In years to come.
This man gets it. If you have the money to get one, 100% go out and buy one right now, and don’t just got one ‘That’ll do’ get the one that you really want, go to the absolute max of your budget.
Even if you only ride it for 1 summer then move it on you’re still going to get a very large chunk of your money back, and whatever you replace it with will seem financially cheap to you.
Don’t leave yourself with feelings of ‘If only I had ….’ In years to come.
And the side note is the Ducati holds their value so if it's going to be short term it won't hurt financially as much.
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