Ducati Streetfighter V2:Track Ride Review

The Visuals

But before we tell you how it gets along on a race track, let us walk you through what has changed visually on the street bike compared to its full-faired twin.The most obvious change is the missing full fairing. Instead, the Streetfighter uses an angry, sharp, and almost alien-faced front bikini fairing. And to fill out the massive gap in the mid-section, it uses plastic extensions for the tank, a radiator cover, and a big belly pan.

Another aspect that helps it deviate from the committed sportbike norm is the revised rider seating triangle. Compared to the Panigale, the naked V2 gets a wider and higher one-piece handlebar and lower set footpegs to make street riding more comfortable. But when you get up to some serious speeds, there is nothing to protect you against a wall of wind courtesy of the more upright seating.

The Package

As we said at the start, the Streetfighter is almost identical to the Panigale when it comes to the building blocks. It uses the same Superquadro 90-degree engine that makes a little over 150bhp. And the engine again is mated to the same six-speed gearbox as the sportbike with the exact same gear ratios. The only change is in the final drive. The Streetfighter uses a shorter final drive, which should make it quicker off the line. And not without it losing some kilometres per hour right at the top.

The monocoque chassis continues unchanged as well. However, it does have a different subframe to accommodate the wider seat. The suspension - front and back - is similar to the sportbike too. The Streetfighter employs fully adjustable Showa upside-down big piston forks (BPF) at the front with a horizontally mounted Sachs fully adjustable monoshock for the rear. However, favouring stability over responsiveness, the Streetfighter uses a longer swingarm compared to the Panigale.The tyres are different too. The specifications are the same - 120-section upfront and a 180-section for the rear tyre. However, the fully-faired Ducati uses the more performance-oriented Rosso Corsas, while the naked Streetfighter uses the more entry-level Rosso IVs. Thankfully, the braking hardware remains the same on the two bikes.

The complete suite of electronic rider aids is carried over as well. You have all sorts of technical abbreviations engulfing the motorcycle. There is DTC, DWC, EBC, and the like, which simply means the Streetfighter decides how it wants to deliver the power and curtail the speed. It does not base this completely on rider inputs but on the grip, speed, and lean angle the motorcycle carries. The goal obviously is to keep the motorcycle right-way-up and the rider away from harming him or herself. And this is a good thing when there is so much power and speed to contend with.

The Ride

For me, these electronic aids were god-sent. You see, unconsciously, on a motorcycle, I am a big believer in the saying - what fails to kill me, makes me stronger. So, if I continue to get away with higher speeds lap after lap on a race track - be it corner entries or exits - I tend to take things for granted. And stop being careful.That’s what happened at the final corner of the MIC.I was out on my second session of the day, and the Streetfighter V2 had been brilliant so far. The acceleration in Sport mode was power-packed but linear. And the wheelie control was doing a stellar job of keeping me from flipping over every time I ham-fisted the throttle open.

The handling of the V2 on warmed-up tyres was equally wonderful. It almost felt like it was reading my mind and going into a corner. Now, this is a 200kg motorcycle that’s traded-in race ergos for upright seating and lower footpegs. But even so, it was so easy and intuitive on the brakes, and it dropped into corners with effortlessness and fluidity while it brimmed with front-end feel all the way. It seemed everything was happening in slow motion.Even when fully cranked over with the footpegs scraping the tarmac, the Streetfighter felt unflappable. It refused to squirm or wallow under the cornering and powertrain forces or my inelegant mid-corner inputs. It stayed as unshakable on its line as a mother protecting its calf. And when it was time to gun it out of the corners, the traction control managed the power delivery so seamlessly I couldn’t tell if I was god’s gift to throttle control or the motorcycle’s computer was outsmarting me into believing it.

Then, on the fourth lap, coming out of turn 12 - the final turn at MIC - I got greedy.There’s a trough at turn 12 where the apex is supposed to be. And it’s difficult to avoid it unless you are a master rider. As I have proven in the past, I am not. And so, one only begins rolling on the throttle hard once the motorcycle has passed the dip and settled on its springs. And that’s what I was doing as well.Till I got arrogant.

So, even though the Streetfighter and I still hadn’t negotiated that trough, I opened the throttle with tremendous gusto for a harder drive onto the straight. And before I knew it, the V2 was crossed up under me with its rear wanting to overtake the front. To say I needed a change of pants under my leathers would be a gross understatement. Now, in such a situation, experts will tell you not to shut the throttle but to ride out the slide while tapering off on the gas. Because, if you do, the latter will launch you into outer space as you high-side towards a cluster of broken bones.So naturally, I shut the throttle.

Should you buy it?

The Streetfighter V2 costs a little over Rs 20 lakh on the road in Mumbai. And that’s a lot of ‘lakh’ for a 955cc, twin-cylinder, street naked. So if you are looking for value, you are in the wrong place.However, if you want a motorcycle that will put a smile on your face every time you take it to a race track, the V2 is a fantastic option. I had it for three days at the track, and every time I came in after a session, I was beaming from ear to ear. It’s exciting, fun, intuitive, and so forgiving with the electronic suite that it makes you feel like a much better rider than you are. And just for that, it’s worth it if you have the monies.The fact that I am writing this without a single broken bone in my body is a testament that the V2 knows what it is doing. I might have shut the throttle, but the bike somehow brought me back in line instead of launching me into a high-side. And for that, I am a fan.

Photography by Aditya Bedre