Ducati’s Streetfighter V2 is something of a surprise packet. While it’s pretty much half the price of its Panigale V4 S stablemate, it offers a whole lot more bike for the money than you might expect. Aggressively styled, it’s a genuinely practical motorcycle.
Billed as a performance naked bike, it delivers an adrenaline fuelled ride when you need it to, while still remaining commuter friendly. It’s powered by a 955cc SuperQuadro 90-degree V-Twin, pumping out a very usable 114kW of power and 101Nm of torque.
That’s helped by Ducati’s new six-axis IMU electronics package, which includes 8-stage traction control, 4-stage wheelie control, up and down quick shift, 3-stage engine brake control, 3-stage cornering ABS, slide-by-brake ABS mode, and a partridge in a pear tree.
While that sounds like a lot, and might be a little confusing, we can confirm it does actually help deliver a better all round experience and ensures the Streetfighter V2 has a natural feel that’ll satisfy even the most discerning rider. It has three riding modes.
These include Sport, Road and Rain, and each has its own ride-by-wire setting. On the road, and above 6,000rpm, the Ducati is exceptional. The power delivery lifts the front wheel with ease, even while exiting corners.
It makes you look like you know how to ride, and all while the bike itself is maintaining total control. The ergonomics are spot-on, with a near upright position, and a wider, more cushioned seat making it easy to ride all day.
That’s enhanced by repositioned foot pegs, and high and wide handlebars, culminating in a bike that’ll have you coming back for more. The Streetfighter V2 really is a comfortable bike to ride, even for this writer, who tips the scales at 183cm tall and 120kg.
It didn’t matter if it was a 100km commute or 400km down country roads, it was ready for the challenge, with pretty much no body ache. Up against the brutality of Sydney CBD traffic, it handled lane filtering with aplomb.
Braking is as you’d expect, phenomenal, thanks to the Brembo M4.32 monobloc callipers with twin 320mm discs up front and a single 245mm disc at the rear. The setup offers plenty of bite and feel for the rider.
Throw in Ducati’s cornering ABS system, which adjusts brake pressure based on the bike’s lean angle, and this rider was never left wanting for stopping power. We will say, if you’ve never ridden a Supermotard, the slide-by-brake function may take a little getting used to.
The Ducati’s handling is agile and nimble, making it an easy bike to ride, and one that builds confidence in pretty much every riding situation. Suspension comes in the form of a adjustable 43mm Showa big piston fork up front.
At the rear, there’s a Sachs rear shock and steering damper, and both are adjustable. The package allows a feeling of control, even while pushing hard through the twisties, although some have deemed the suspension a little soft for high speed riding. We didn’t.
In fact, we reckon the Streetfighter V2 is one of the most fun and usable on-road options on the market. Its even easy to “flip-flop” your way through corners, such is its agility. It’s no Panigale V4 S, but nor is it meant to be (and so it’s priced accordingly).
On the tech front, it comes with an easy-to-read 4.3-inch full colour TFT dash that works well in all lighting conditions, and displays a good range of information. The menu system is easy to navigate and allows customisation of the bike’s settings to your liking.
With stiff competition from BMW’s S 1000 R and Yamaha’s MT-10, the Ducati Streetfighter has to be good, and it is. It offers enough to hold its own in this space, and leave fighting off the premium naked bikes to its V4 big brother.
The 2023 Ducati Streetfighter V2 is available in classic Ducati Red or Storm Green, both with black wheels. We’ll leave it up to you to decide which colour to choose. Pricing starts from $24,200 ride away, making this model an astounding amount of bike for your cash.
To find out more about the 2023 Ducati Streetfighter V2, visit the Ducati Australia website or contact your local Ducati dealer.
Our test bike was provided by Ducati Australia for review purposes.
