Ducati's latest doesn't just bring an outrageous amount of power to the table, it gives you all the tools you need to exploit it.

History NOT repeating itself

Ducati introduced the Panigale model in 2012, a more evocative replacement for the old 1198. It's been a huge success, driving Ducati to massive global growth and becoming the best-selling superbike on the planet. For something so exotic, that's mighty impressive. The Panigale has since seen a series of revisions, including the V4 introduction in 2018. For a company built on twin-cylinder motors, this was not a minor development, but with years of V4 successes in MotoGP -- the global top-tier of two-wheel racing -- it's no surprise that Ducati's first full-production four-cylinder was a beast.

With a 1,103-cc displacement, the four-cylinder, 90-degree V has a 14:1 compression ratio and puts out a whopping 214 hp at 13,000 rpm and 91 pound-feet of torque at 10,000 rpm. That much power in a bike that weighs 436 pounds full of fluids could equal a proper handful, and that leads us to the many significant tweaks the 2020 Ducati Panigale V4 S received from its predecessor.

The 2020 technical changes make you better

At its core is a revised frame, borrowed from the R-spec of the earlier V4 and shared with the World Superbike model. Interestingly, this revised frame was redesigned to allow for more lateral and torsional flex, with the goal of providing more feel and compliance in the corners.

A variety of suspension and configuration tweaks follow the trend. A lower spring rate and higher preload again deliver better feel and compliance in the bike. A 5-millimeter higher seat helps raise the bike's center of gravity by -- wait for it -- 5 millimeters, resulting in a 32.9-inch seat height. Those with abbreviated inseams will be standing on their tippy-toes.

All that is wrapped by revised bodywork, also borrowed from the outgoing V4 R. Most notable? Definitely those wings, heavily influenced by the 2016 Ducati Desmosedici that raced in MotoGP. They're more than ornamental, providing a whopping 82 pounds of downforce on the front end at 300 kilometers per hour (about 186 mph). That means more stability, also keeping the nose planted under hard acceleration, so the engine can drive the rear wheel even harder. A taller windscreen and wider fairing provide a more generous pocket for riders to get out of the wind -- or the rain, in my case.

All those changes are easy to spot, but perhaps the biggest advancements in the new Panigale V4 S lie in the software, controlled through a bright, surprisingly readable, 5-inch LCD screen. Thumb controls on the bars deliver access to a dizzying array of configurations, allowing the rider to customize the bike's many riding modes, adapting everything from preload to throttle map.

Ducati Traction Control (DTC) Evo 2 relies on a six-axis inertial measurement unit, sampling the bike's movement on every axis and adjusting power delivery to suit. This new flavor cuts in earlier but more subtly, preventing wheelspin as well as unintended wheelies. For braking, a lean-sensitive ABS keeps the wheels from locking, also easing off the braking force when it detects the rear wheel lifting up.

The point? Making the already outrageously powerful Panigale a bit more accessible to less-experienced riders without decreasing its outright performance. As it turns out, a soaking wet circuit at Bahrain would be an excellent place to see just how accessible that performance was.

Wrap-up

Ducati really has done a wonderful thing with the Panigale V4 S. The company has of course created a bike with outrageous speed, but it then layered on enough systems to make it genuinely enjoyable in even the worst conditions. While I still wouldn't recommend it for a total novice, an experienced rider who's still getting their track-day legs under them could do a good job of piloting one of these around a track -- and, crucially, keeping it upright.

As that rider gains confidence they can gradually dial back those systems, toggling through the bike's comprehensive permutations to slowly peel away the safety blankets and reveal the monster within. This is a bike that can grow with you, but you'll have to be disciplined enough to actually chart your progress and not just rely on the nannies all the time.

The 2020 Ducati Panigale V4 S is an impressive thing, a combination coach and safety blanket, a hugely confidence-inspiring machine and, most importantly, an absolute riot.

Check out our new V4 S inventory

Need financing?

Value your trade!