The Ducati Streetfighter V4 S Is A Naked Bike With 1260bhp Per Tonne

Italian motorbike maker Ducati has just revealed one of the most powerful naked bikes ever made. The Streetfighter V4 is essentially a Panigale V4 stripped of its main fairing but still jam-packed full of performance engineering.

The 178kg bike’s 1103cc V4 engine launches 205bhp at the back wheel, or, if you opt for the S version, you can make that 172kg and 217bhp thanks to a 6kg lighter and freer-breathing Akrapovic race exhaust. It’s quite loud, so do check whether it’s road-legal in your country before ordering. In S spec, power to weight stands at 1262bhp – before you add essential fluids and a rider, anyway.

Peak torque comes in at 91lb ft; more than enough for any motorbike. Performance is, therefore, as dramatic as you’d expect. No firm figures have been announced but the Streetfighter has a slightly shorter final drive ratio than the Panigale, making its assault on your senses all the more instant.

Top speed hasn’t been confirmed but expect to need to up your ‘arm day’ game at the gym before you can hold on for long at the naked Streetfighter’s maximum. The only clue to the top speed comes with the revelation that the twin ‘blades’ on either side of the fairing add 28kg of downforce at 168mph.

No punches are pulled with the styling, either. Its makes say its ‘face’ was inspired by more recent incarnations of The Joker, who conveniently is the star of the latest Batman movie, which you’ll find in cinemas right now.

The standard bike uses 43mm Showa forks and a fully-adjustable Sachs rear shock. It also gets the trick rider-assist electronics that polarise riders’ opinions. It covers traction control, slide control (essentially drift mode), wheelie control, launch control, engine braking control and a do-it-all quick-shifter that makes the clutch redundant once you’re moving briskly. The S model swaps the bouncy bits for Ohlins stuff and adds a steering damper and a set of forged Marchesini wheels.

Compared to the Panigale the seat has 60mm thicker padding and the clip-on handlebars have been swapped for traditional bars. The footpegs have been moved as well, all for a more comfortable riding position.

Both models are available only in Ducati’s signature red with a grey frame and black wheels. They’re going to be expensive, too. We don’t know quite how much in the UK, yet, but on the Continent it’ll be €19,990 for the standard bike and €22,990 for the S. Ouch.