The Ducati Streetfighter V4 is the new benchmark in the hypernaked motorcycle segment with 211PS of power and weighing just 178 kg dry.
Ducati has finally unveiled the Streetfighter V4 and it was long coming. The Streetfighter V4 is essentially the naked sibling of the mental Panigale V4, the motorcycle which is currently the benchmark of superbike segment. The Streetfighter V4 joins the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro and the recently unveiled Kawasaki Z H2 in a new league of hypernaked motorcycles. Let’s look at this new sensation from Italy in a little more detail.
Design
It sure looks intimidating, doesn’t it. The Streetfighter has a minimalist approach towards design with the bulk of the motorcycle comprising of that engine and other mechanical components around it, kept exposed in all its glory. The tank is well sculpted and gets some muscular tank extensions. The low-set twin projector LED headlights look mean and the LED DRLs look like a stretched wingspan of a predatory bird. While there is no real belly pan as such, there are a couple of small body panels placed behind the oil cooler. The tail section seems to have been lifted straight from the Panigale V4 and the two air vents on either side are also present.
What the Streetfighter V4 gets additionally are two bigplane wings on either side of the motorcycle. These have been developed with Ducati Corse, the brand’s racing division, and claim to produce 28kg of downforce at 270kmph, helping keep the front wheel planted on the road at high speeds and also improving braking stability.
Powerplant
The Ducati Streetfighter uses the same 90 degree V4 Desmosedici Stradale engine from the Panigale V4 and it is common in both the variants. The engine produces a massive 211PS of power and 123Nm of peak torque in the Streetfighter. However, this being a naked street bike, the engine has been tuned for better on road usability. The Streetfighter thus has a much stronger mid-range and a shorter final drive ratio. There is 14% more torque on offer at 100kmph in 3rd gear than the Panigale V4.
The Streetfighter also has the best power-to-weight ratio in its class with 211bhp and weighing just 178 kg dry. Until now, it was the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro which had the honor of being the most powerful naked motorcycle in the world, also producing 211PS. However, it weighs heavier at 185 kg. If you want the Streetfighter lighter still, you can opt for the Akrapovic exhaust system is available as a track-only accessory, which boosts output to 223PS and 130Nm while simultaneously shaving off 6kg.
Cycle Parts and Electronics
This being the flagship Ducati naked motorcycle, it gets the entire suite of electronic rider aids from the Panigale V4. The suite includes 6-axis IMU-assisted traction control, slide control and ABS, along with launch control, wheelie control, engine brake control and a bi-directional quickshifter.
The Streetfighter V4 also gets friendlier ergonomics than the Panigale V4. The low-set clip-ons are gone and there are new wider and flatter handlebars. The footpegs seem to be quite high set and the overall riding position will still be fairly forward-inclined. The seats have also been set 25mm lower than the Panigale and it also gets 60mm of foam for better riding comfort.
For braking, the Streetfighter V4 gets Brembo Stylema Monobloc calipers and twin 330mm discs at the front and a 245mm disc and two-piston caliper at the rear. The braking system is governed by the IMU and Ducati Cornering ABS EVO electronic aid. For suspension, the motorcycle gets Ohlins electronic suspension along with Ohlins steering damper.
Also Read : Ducati Unveils the Panigale V2 – The ‘Baby’ of the Panigale Family!
Variants
Just like the Panigale V4, the Streetfighter V4 also comes in two variants – the standard Streetfighter V4 and the Streetfighter V4 S which is an even sportier version with some better hardware. The difference mainly lies in the suspension setup of both the motorcycles.
The standard V4 gets an upside-down 43mm Showa Big Piston Fork at the front and Sachs Monoshock at the rear, both fully adjustable. Meanwhile, the V4 S gets electronic suspension as well as an electronically adjustable steering damper from Ohlins. The S version also gets an exclusive Marchesini forged aluminium wheels which reduce the unsprung weight and rotational inertia.
Also Read : Five Things To Know About The Benelli Imperiale 400
India Launch and Price
The Streetfighter V4 has been launched as a Euro4 compliant motorcycle and it will go on sale from March 2020 onwards in the international market. Ducati sells the Panigale V4 in India at a price Rs 20.57 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and its naked sibling in its standard guise is expected to be priced around Rs 17.5 lakh (ex-showroom) in India. However, we might have to wait some while for this motorcycle to arrive in India as it is still in Euro4 guise. An Euro5 upgrade will follow in sometime since the updated emission norms come into effect from 2021 onwards in Europe. When the Streetfighter gets its Euro5 update, it will naturally become BS-VI complaint and will make it to our country only then.
