In terms of sheer performance the sportbike class has never been closer, but as emissions restrictions come in, overall performance is going down rather than up.
That is to say for road legal stock motorcycles, the new 2022 Ducati Panigale is no exception this year, losing around 7 horsepower compared to last year’s bike. We would not recommend going out and buying last year’s model though, as the bike already has far more power than anyone can really use and if you are really obsessed with spec sheet figures, you can just get the Akrapovic exhaust they offer as an optional extra, you will get all those missing horses back and some. Blowing minds with specs is all good and well, but this technological marvel is also able to deliver in the real world.
10 916 Roots
Few motorcycles have been able to capture the imagination as much as the 90s Ducati superbike. It changed our perspective of how a motorcycle should look, and how a motorcycle should go.
It was the return to form for Ducati after many years in the wilderness, and it was also a champion on track. It was also far from perfect, but as the years have gone on, Ducati continued to refine and build upon the foundation set by this legend of a motorcycle.
9 Abandoning The Twins
For decades, the key element of the Ducati DNA was the V-twin (or L-Twin) engine configuration. They had won several championships with it and die hard fans still swear by it.
They did unfortunately eventually hit a brick wall with it in terms of performance, with the old 1299 they were making over 200 horsepower, but still getting trounced on track, the only option for more power was to switch over to a V-4 configuration.
8 Designed For SBK Victory
If not for their burning desire to win races in the highly competitive SBK championship, we suspect that they would have persevered with the twin.
As a result, the Panigale, the same chassis they use for the SBK races, is a purpose built race machine. Everything is as light as it can be, everything is as advanced as it can be, and everything contributes to blistering speed.
7 Incredible Design
Although this is something people will throw around pretty often with Italian bikes, this really is art on wheels.
From the gorgeous swingarm to the sculpted fairing, the bike is an exercise in sportbike design philosophy. Everything is purposeful, yet elegant and incredibly well finished.
6 Advanced Technology
Ducati have been making a habit of including all the latest and greatest tech in their bikes, so naturally, this, their flagship superbike, has it all.
You will be able to set the bike up from the convenience of their TFT dash, from suspension to how aggressive you want the traction and wheelie control, everything is at your fingertips.
5 Track Focused
Although everything is at your fingertips, this is something you will need to approach with a degree of caution. It will take time and many laps around the block, or track, to get the bike set up right.
It is a critical step as there are several adjustments you will need to make considering we are all built differently, and the bike will come from the factory ready for a lean Italian. Once you get it dialed in, it is a precision instrument that will challenge even the most experienced riders.
4 Addictive Power
Nobody needs 207 horsepower, but it is certainly fun to have it. If that isn’t enough, the Akra pipe elevates that to 225 horsepower, which just boggles the mind.
It has all the electronic aids in the world to tame that, but with it weighing only 438 pounds wet, it is still going to demand all of your focus, all of the time, no matter where you are riding it.
3 Aero
Unlike a lot of other smaller bikes that get the little winglets, the wings on the Ducati are functional.
Unfortunately the caveat to that is that they are only really functional at speeds that are in no way highway legal, so if you are not taking the bike to the track, they really are only there for aesthetics, and you know, MotoGP.
2 Suspension
As you might expect on a $30,000 bike, they do not skimp on the suspension, which is a top of the line semi-active unit from Öhlins.
It is very convenient being able to set it up, but there will always be the temptation to “fiddle” with it. Once you get it right, you will need to commit to the setting, or that incredible level of customization will end up making things worse rather than better.
1 Lives Up To The Hype
It is quite simply brilliant, it is very much the ultimate modern superbike. Ducati do expect you to pay for that brilliance.
If you are looking for value, this just isn’t it, this is a masterpiece of engineering. Technically this isn’t even the fastest in the price bracket, there are several bikes that will actually show it a clean pair of heels out on track, but none of them offer the trademark Ducati experience.