Panigale V4 - easiest to ride sportsbike?
Panigale V4 - easiest to ride sportsbike?
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Esceptico

Original Poster:

8,897 posts

140 months

Saturday 5th May 2018
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Planned to spend the day on the V4 but when I woke up found that the dog has a broken claw (again) so now have to sort that. Still managed quick blast on the Panigale.

It really is the easiest to ride sportsbike I’ve owned or tested. Of course I have to qualify that by saying that I’ve only ridden it on the road and I’m an average rider. For me and at my pace it is just a delight. Feels like you can place it anywhere on the road and changing lines mid corner is no problem. Only issue I’ve had is sometimes turning too quickly and finding myself heading towards the apex too early because you think you need more effort than you actually require.

Have already booked the 600 mile service but will probably hit thst before the date.

Next decision is whether to get it wrapped to look like a speciale. £300. Seems good value. Thoughts?


knitware

1,486 posts

224 months

Saturday 5th May 2018
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I test rode a V4S yesterday. I read and watched the various videos and thought that I should have a ride out of curiosity. I ride a BMW S1000R and that is a good bike, however the V4S is a fantastic bike, so much so I now have a build spot at the Ducati factory and the BMW is for sale, how did that happen?

I had the bike in sport, figuring it would be a good place to start, slipped the clutch and wobbled away, a few seconds later I was knocking up the gears and tootling, it felt great, very comfortable. I opened it up in 4th and suddenly I'm into big numbers, but not in a 'waaaa slow down' sort of way. The acceleration built up in such a linear and relaxed manner it felt safe and fun. The bike feels light, the position is comfortable, but more than that I had a feeling that the bike was looking after me, it's hard to explain, but whatever the feeling I got I didn't want to go back to the dealer, the hour disappeared and I handed the chap a deposit.

I rode off on the familiar BMW and tried to recreate the sense of occasion but the acceleration seemed harsh, the bike felt bulky and I missed those extra 50 horses. Is the V4 too much for the road, I don't think so, I thinks it has to be the safest bike you can currently buy and the happiness is brings is indescribable.

dibblecorse

7,662 posts

223 months

Saturday 5th May 2018
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Surely wrapping the bike in the Speciale colours is the equivalent of covering a 320d in M3 badges????

Kneedragger95

272 posts

106 months

Saturday 5th May 2018
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dibblecorse said:
Surely wrapping the bike in the Speciale colours is the equivalent of covering a 320d in M3 badges????
Personally I think it's ok as long as the word 'Speciale' isn't on the bike.
I think all of the V4's should have that paint job as it brings out the shape of the bike much better.

FezSpider

1,135 posts

263 months

Saturday 5th May 2018
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dibblecorse said:
Surely wrapping the bike in the Speciale colours is the equivalent of covering a 320d in M3 badges????
I understand what you mean, but it depends if one is trying to pass it of as a speciale.
I have the panigale 1299r fuel tank on my panigale 1199 because the naked alloy colour against the red looks far better than the standard red.


dibblecorse

7,662 posts

223 months

Saturday 5th May 2018
quotequote all
FezSpider said:
dibblecorse said:
Surely wrapping the bike in the Speciale colours is the equivalent of covering a 320d in M3 badges????
I understand what you mean, but it depends if one is trying to pass it of as a speciale.
I have the panigale 1299r fuel tank on my panigale 1199 because the naked alloy colour against the red looks far better than the standard red.
That’s cool, my own 996 has been upgraded in many ways, that’s different to ‘passing off’ which is what I’d think of a Speciale wrap .... just my opinion ...

mak

1,445 posts

257 months

Saturday 5th May 2018
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I don't think anyone including non bikey people would not agree the speciale colours look better on this bike, in fact they don't just look better they make this thing absolutely stunning so I would go for that wrap

Walter Sobchak

5,739 posts

255 months

Saturday 5th May 2018
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I got the running in service and recalls done this week, so I’ve been taking it higher up the rev range bit by bit, as well as being an amazing handling bike it is really,really fast, felt noticeably quicker than the RSV4 that it replaced.

TonyF

2,300 posts

307 months

Saturday 5th May 2018
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Got a call from my dealer yesterday to say my speciale will be delivered a week this Monday after previously telling me September !!!
So not having ridden the V4 at all to date I went over today to have a go on one and was very impressed. As mentioned above it’s so easy to ride and very comfortable also the power delivery is immense and linear very impressive indeed.

Esceptico

Original Poster:

8,897 posts

140 months

Saturday 5th May 2018
quotequote all
dibblecorse said:
Surely wrapping the bike in the Speciale colours is the equivalent of covering a 320d in M3 badges????
I sort of understand the point but not really the same. The base V4 has the same engine as the Speciale, same chassis, same electronics. The race pipe and nicer wheels don’t turn the Speciale into a different bike.

Esceptico

Original Poster:

8,897 posts

140 months

Saturday 5th May 2018
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Kneedragger95

272 posts

106 months

Sunday 6th May 2018
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The luminous red paint job used on the aruba.it Ducatis in WSBK would look pretty good I reckon.

Zarco

21,162 posts

240 months

Sunday 6th May 2018
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Esceptico said:
dibblecorse said:
Surely wrapping the bike in the Speciale colours is the equivalent of covering a 320d in M3 badges????
I sort of understand the point but not really the same. The base V4 has the same engine as the Speciale, same chassis, same electronics. The race pipe and nicer wheels don’t turn the Speciale into a different bike.
I'm with Dibble on this. Smacks of trying to make it something it is not.

poo at Paul's

14,621 posts

206 months

Sunday 6th May 2018
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If you are going to wrap it, wrap it a totally different colour. Yellow would look ace;.

MrGman

1,670 posts

237 months

Sunday 6th May 2018
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poo at Paul's said:
If you are going to wrap it, wrap it a totally different colour. Yellow would look ace;.
Something similar to this

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&a...

Always loved Ducati's in yellow!

Edited to add, first pic in the link - didn't quite work as i'd hoped

dibblecorse

7,662 posts

223 months

Sunday 6th May 2018
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Esceptico said:
dibblecorse said:
Surely wrapping the bike in the Speciale colours is the equivalent of covering a 320d in M3 badges????
I sort of understand the point but not really the same. The base V4 has the same engine as the Speciale, same chassis, same electronics. The race pipe and nicer wheels don’t turn the Speciale into a different bike.
But ones a Speciale and one wouldn’t be, so, yes, they are different bikes differentiated by their differences, wheels, pipe, paint from the factory, I can put all the 996R bits I like on my 996, still won’t be an R and I wouldn’t run R panels on it either .... maybe I’m just a purist ....