Ducati is a motorcycle manufacturer from Italy, and one of the most highly respected and recognizable brands in the world. This motorcycle maker is full of surprises. Before they produced motorbikes, they made small bicycle engines and complex electronics.
Ducati has won the SuperBike World Championship 17 times as a manufacturer and 14 times with riders. In 2007, they won the MotoGP WorldChampionship. Before that happened, there had been 33 years since an Italian motorcycle maker won it.
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati, said that the V4 Streetfighter is "the highest performance Streetfighter ever put into production.” This is the naked version of the Panigale V4 that emphasizes the thrill of every ride.
The new bike takes a lot from the Panigale V4 but it's also bristling with technology and cutting-edge design. It offers pure performance. Here are 15 things you should know about the 2020 Ducati V4 Streetfighter.
15 The 1103cc Desmosedici Stradale Engine
The 2020 Ducati V4 Streetfighter got the 1103cc Desmosedici Stradale engine that delivers 208 hp at 12,750 rpm in a standard configuration. The maximum torque is 123 Nm at 11,500 rpm. The company promises that "dedicated engine mapping lets riders safely make the most of Streetfighter V4 performance on the road."
14 Compact And Powerful
The company said that the new engine was based on the V4 MotoGP unit. It received the same geometry and dimension, but was upgraded to offer better fluid dynamics. The engine configuration is "90° V4, rotated rearward by 42°." This configuration makes the bike very powerful but compact.
13 Desmosedici GP Engine Bores
The engine got the bores of 81 mm from the Desmosedici GP. However, the stroke is longer, which delivers higher torque on open roads and reduces engine rotation speed. Since the bore is the same as in the Desmosedici GP engine, we can expect engine performance to be very similar to that of the Desmosedici.
12 New Air Intake Configuration
4 oval throttle units connected to intake horns are responsible for air intake. Each throttle unit got 2 injectors: one works while cruising around the city and the other activates at high speeds. Each throttle unit got a separate electric motor. When the water temperature is higher than 75°, the rear cylinder bank is deactivated.
11 New Riding Position
The company already said that they wanted to keep with streetfighter culture, so they changed the riding position. Now, you get a wide bar instead of clip-ons. The bar ensures sports-style look and comfort during city drives. New seats cushioned with 60 mm of foam and an advanced footpeg position help conquer country roads.
10 Reworked Front Frame
The new engine is more compact than its previous versions, which let the company achieve higher front-frame stiffness. The frame is smaller and lighter, which ensures a better weight to stiffness ratio. The engine got shorter struts, which made the bike more compact and allowed to develop a better seat area.
9 Upgraded Suspension Setup
Telescopic forks got Brembo radial caliper mounting and chrome sliders. The steering damper and the rear shock absorber are made by Sachs. One side of the shock absorber is attached to the engine through an aluminum bracket. The bike mounts "43 mm Showa Big Piston Forks (BPF) to provide full adjustability in spring pre-load."
8 3-Spoke Marchesini Forged Wheels
The base version of the Streetfighter features cast-aluminum 5-spoke wheels and Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa II tires in sizes 120/70 ZR17 for the front and 200/60 ZR 17 for the rear. Ducati promises dynamic bike behavior and great low-temperature performance. The updated version, the V4 S, got 3-spoke Marchesini forged wheels.
7 Brembo Stylema Monobloc Calipers
The 2020 Ducati V4 Streetfighter has high-quality Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers that are an upgraded version of the M50 calipers. Each caliper has 4 30 mm pistons and clamps down on 300 mm discs to offer great braking power. Rear brakes got a 245 disc that's fitted with a 2-piston caliper.
6 Racing Accessories
The 2020 Ducati V4 Streetfighter got the 16-liter tank with a section that goes under the seat. Compared to previous Ducati bikes, the modified tank allows for installation of the 2nd seat with thick padding. Up front, space is taken by the electronics and the battery.
5 Ducati Traction Control
Ducati Traction Control is a system of sensors that monitors speed differences between the wheels, analyzing if one loses traction. An accelerometer understands lean angles and attitudes. Yaw, pitch, lift, roll and other data points are collected hundreds of times per second. If something is wrong, the unit sends the signal to the braking system.
4 Ducati Wheelie Control
Ducati Wheelie Control is a system developed together with Ducati Corse. It uses an algorithm that makes other smart units operate quicker. The system works in conjunction with the Bosch Inertial Measurement Unit and analyzes the lean angle. This smart unit keeps the best combustion parameters and ensures a smooth ride.
3 Ducati Power Launch
Ducati Power Launch is the system that starts the bike automatically. It can add the right amount of anti-wheelie and traction control to ensure an effortless start. All you need to do is to select one of 3 levels based on your riding skills and press the button on the bar.
2 Engine Brake Control
Engine Brake Control starves cylinders of fuel and adjusts throttle butterflies to deliver negative torque based on your needs. The system simplifies engine-braking control because it operates the throttles automatically. You just need to choose the degree of engine-braking cancellation. When the system is working, you will hear a distinctive engine sound during cornering.
1 Second-Generation TFT Instrumentation
The 2020 Ducati V4 Streetfighter has the same 5-inch high-resolution screen as the Panigale V4. The dashboard features the round virtual rev counter and a needle gauge. You can choose 2 driving modes: Track and Road. Track mode shows your laps times and the rev counter scale. Road mode shows you the Ducati Multimedia System interface.