DUCATI

Streetfighter V4 SP: the most effective naked ever made

The “streetfighter” concept is years old, as is its application on street bikes, in fact Ducati launched its first bike with this name more than a decade ago. I still remember how much fun we had at the presentation of the first version at the Ascari Circuit in 2009, even then it was a surprise how fast and fun it was on the technical Andalusian track, but Ducati never ceases to amaze us.

In this 2022 it has decided to make an SP version of the powerful naked, recovering the acronyms for "sport" "production" that are classic of the brand and that we have recently seen in the Panigale V4 SP and this year in the SP2. Before looking in detail, it must be said, although it is already a popular box, that the Streetfighter V4 is a very complete motorcycle, capable of giving you great sensations and a wide range of use, all seasoned with the sporty DNA that the motorcycles that come out of Borgo exude. Panigale.

CHOSEN...On this spectacular naked, which in turn is based on the Panigale V4, both in its Desmosedici Stradale engine and in the aluminum front frame, different elements of the cycle part have been modified to make a spectacular leap in its benefits. To check it out live, Ducati invited only nine media from around the world to an exclusive presentation at the Cremona Circuit, a recently renovated track just over an hour from Milan, and where it can be said that the Panigale V4 was born.

As those interested in this model will already know the differences between the S version and this new SP, they are found at different points in its cycle part and decoration, because the engine does not change, although with 208 CV and very modern electronics it does not lack anything either. plus.

VERY MODIFIED...What is most striking are the spectacular carbon fiber rims, the same as those used on the Superleggera V4, which are 1.4 kg lighter, and their "winter test" decoration, inspired by the bikes used by Ducati. Corse in the preseason and that has already become the hallmark of the SP. In my case, I have been lucky enough to try them all, it is seeing it and my teeth grow long because you associate it with effectiveness.

In that concise and aggressive bodywork, the carbon fiber spoilers are also striking, as are the front wing and the unpainted aluminum tank. As for the suspensions, it receives those of the Panigale V4 S 2021, with harder springs both in the NIX-30 fork (they go from 0.8 to 1.0 kg/mm), and in the TTX36 shock absorber (from 8, 0 to 8.5kg/mm).

NEW COMPONENTS...While Brembo Stylema R calipers with MCS 19.21 master cylinder are used to improve braking. The stirrups are adjustable in machined aluminum with carbon fiber protectors and the seat has a new sportier finish.

It also mounts a lithium battery, which together with the other components achieves a total weight reduction of 3 kg compared to the S. The set is finished off by an STM-EVO SBK dry clutch and the serial number that is engraved on the the handlebar.

BETWEEN CURVES... It is true that at first glance it may seem that with these elements the bike will not change much, that is why Ducati brought the S version so that we could do some heats on this very technical track and thus be able to compare it with the SP. The Streetfighter is a capable bike, with which after two stints you're already at the pace of most people who come to this circuit with sports bikes, in times around 1'42.

Since it is a very powerful bike, well managed by the electronics and with a balanced chassis. You just have to get used to the pressure you exert with the handlebars at the entrance of the turns in the linked ones, since you can use more force than you need. In any case, it is a short learning period, due to that good set-up and nobility of the chassis. So by the end of the morning we already knew the track well, thanks to the advice of Giulio and Valia, who have tested a lot here. The moment of truth had arrived.

MORE AGILE...The riding position does not change too much as the bike was in Cremona, although the footrests allow numerous adjustment options, although they raised the feet just enough to have more ground clearance, a slightly more position “ racing”, and that notably improves the ability to quickly make a couple of curves where if you don't have your foot well positioned it's easy for you to rub it with the ground. So in the first bars you already notice that you go a little more to the attack as far as your body is concerned.

But the change you notice most quickly, especially when you get to linked corners 3 and 4, is the lightness of the tires. A little pressure on the wide handlebars and the bike spins like lightning thanks to that less gyroscopic effect, which you can also see when closing those long double-radius turns and, although not as noticeable, in acceleration, which also improves.

FLYING...Also, on this track there is a long acceleration on the back straight of almost a kilometer that you access in second and you get to put sixth. In fact, it was one of the points that concerned those present, because with a motorcycle without a fairing and capable of reaching more than 270 km/h, it seemed that we were going to put our necks under pressure. But the truth is the front part, despite being very compact, deflects the air well for medium-sized riders and if you crouch well you arrive without suffering the least at the end of the straight.

That point is also a good place to test the brakes, as you have to stop a lot to get into a slow second gear corner. And in one of the sessions trying to start the stopwatch I got lost and when I looked again I had just passed the 200 m sign, my previous reference, so I had to clench my teeth and brakes... To my surprise the combination of the fork with harder springs, the good calipers, which dissipate heat and have a lot of touch, together with the pump, allow you to brake in the style of Kevin Schwantz or Toprak for the youngest. You can apply a lot of pressure, the bike has supreme stability and you also dose the pressure very well until you release the lever reaching the apex.

ELECTRONICS...The Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 suspensions that, with DES (Ducati Electronic Suspension) management, have excellent behavior in very sporty driving and you really feel like on the Panigale, but with wide handlebars, which means being able to go very fast. A confidence that you need if you want to tighten the pins on the 208 hp V4, which only gives you away that you are in the SP due to the metallic sound so characteristic and so racing of the dry clutch.

The Ducati DAVC (Ducati Advance Vehicle Control) electronics are very advanced and it's been two generations since they took a very important leap, so you can explore the limits with ease, even on a new track like this. What's more, you can choose what slides and what the bike crosses at the exit of the corners, so in this case it was better to be a little conservative in the set up until the references were clear.

CONSTANT GRIP...And that's what the Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SC1 slicks give good grip and information when they lose it. Coming out of the slowest corners, the traction control instantly makes you a better driver, since the orange light that lights up on the TFT panel tells you that it is not you who is controlling the skid… Then the V4 is noble in low and stretches to infinity, located above 14,000 rpm. The good thing is that you don't have to look because the rev scale flashes and changes color for you to change gear.

And to all this the stability, which a priori is the most compromised point of a naked when you ride on the circuit is 10. So both in the 180 degree curves, the double radius ones and the two third/fourth curves the bike it gives you a lot of confidence and you can apply yourself more and more. In the end, the empirical result was that under the same conditions the SP lapped two seconds faster than the S, which at that level is already a world. The bad thing is that practically all the units of its limited production have already been sold, which had to be expanded due to the great initial demand.

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