At a track day a few years ago I rode a V4 Panigale S back to back with a V2 Pani. The instructor I was riding with told me I was faster everywhere on the track with the V2... except the front straight. Granted some of that may have been due to not wanting to trash a bike I couldn't afford to pay for, but still. The V4 was an amazing bike but for my money/skill level the V2 was the better choice. When they announced the V2 Streetfighter (A V4 version already existed) I put my money where my mouth was and bought one. (I'm done buying superbikes). And I had to sell my 851 to get it at that.Exactly! What took 'em so long.
P.S. Love the Ducatti Panagale V4S
The performance of the V4 Ducs are so far over my head I doubt I'll ever own one, but I like that they exist. I think Ducati's size delayed the inevitable for longer than it should have on the racebikes. Honda and Ducati got into the bike busiiness around the same time. The same year Ducati built bike number one million, Honda built bke number 300 million. I don't think many people realize(d) how small Ducati is (was). The underdog aspect was one of the draws for me. They simply didn't have the money to develop a V4 in the earlier days. As big a V twin fan as I am, I welcomed the V4 with open arms. But, I'm no purist and also wouldn't mind if desmo valvetrains went away. Some might think that is blasphemy, but they've already gone back to springs on some of the Multistradas.
Features define eras, not brands. Everything has it's day.
The reign of the Vtwin was fooking glorious, but it's over. Long live the V-twin!
PS. In 30+ years of riding I've never owned a bike with more than two cylinders, but I do regret not buying an RC30 back when I could still afford one. Dang I love those things.
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